Albert Katz International School for Desert Studies
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Environmental Physics and Solar Energy

​​The M.Sc. program is a two-year program.

The chairperson of the teaching committee is: Prof. Muhammad Bashouti.

Academic Program for students who began from November 2024

Students are required to complete the following courses during the two-year program:

Subject

Credits

A. Mandatory Course: Academic Writing

2

B. Seminars & Thesis Writing

13

C. Core courses

9

D. Elective courses

18

Total

42

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-0153Dr. Scott Hansen and Dr. Christopher J. Arnush

Writing a Scientific Paper

2

Students are required to attend Departmental Seminars (one seminar per semester).

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-4444Prof. Muhammad Bashouti and Dr. Leah Orlovsky (coordinator)

Departmental Seminar A (first year)

0.25

001-2-4454

Departmental Seminar A (first year)

0.25
001-2-4464

Departmental Seminar A (second year)

0.25
001-2-4474

Departmental Seminar B (second year)

0.25

In the third and fourth semesters, students must register for Thesis Writing.

Course #SubjectCredits
001-2-9991

Thesis Writing A

6
001-2-9992

Thesis Writing B

6

Students who have completed the above Thesis Writing courses and continue their studies for a fifth semester must register for the following course:

Course #SubjectCredits
001-2-1000Thesis Writing – Continuation0
Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-4027Prof. Yossi Ashkenazy / Dr. Roiy Sayag*

Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamic​

3
001-2-4038Prof. Golan Bel / Prof. Ido Regev*

Stochastic Processes in Physics

3
001-2-4045Prof. Eugene Katz / Dr. Avi Niv*

Physics of Solar Cells

3
001-2-4050Prof. Iris Visoli-Fisher / Dr. Muhammad Bashouti*

Nano-Materials and Nano-Technology for Sustainable Energy

3
001-2-4053Dr. Avi Niv / Prof. Eugene Katz*

Thermodynamics of Radiating Systems and the Optics of Solar Cells

3
001-2-4060​Prof. Ido Regev

Partial Differential Equations in Continuum Transport Processes

3

*Substitute Lecturer

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-0009Prof. Avraham Be'er

Physics of Bacterial Communities

3
001-2-1103Prof. Hadas Hawlana

​Introduction to Ecology in Arid Environments

4
001-2-1200Prof. Simon Barak & Dr. Buzi Raviv

BGU Radio Academy – Podcast production

2
001-2-2038​Prof. Naftali Lazarovich

Soil Physics

3
001-2-2205​Prof. Ido Regev

Modeling in the Earth and Plant Sciences

3
001-2-4010​Prof. Georgy Burde

​Topics in Environmental Fluid Mechanics

3
001-2-4011Dr. Roiy Sayag

Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics

3
001-2-4012Prof. Isaak Rubinstein

​Electro-Diffusion of Ions and Membrane Desalination Processes

3
001-2-4016Dr. Leah Orlovsky

Geography of Desertification

2
001-2-4022Prof. Ehud Meron

Pattern Formation and Spatial Ecology

3
001-2-4026Prof. Yosef Ashkenazy

Introduction to Physics of Atmospheres

3
001-2-4029Prof. Yosef Ashkenazy

​ Introduction to Statistics and Probability

3
001-2-4031 Fall 001-2-4033 Spring​Prof. Isaak Rubinstein

​Topics in Physico-Chemical Hydrodynamics and Electrodiffusion

4
001-2-4042Prof. Golan Bel

Statistical Analysis in Climate Research I

2
001-2-4044Prof. Golan Bel

Statistical Analysis in Climate Research II

2
001-2-4046Prof. Eugene Katz

Advanced Concepts in Photovoltaic Devices

3
001-2-4047Prof. Iris Visoly-Fisher

Surface Science for the Environment

3
001-2-4048Prof. Muhammad Bashouti

Physical Optics

3
001-2-4049​Dr. Arik Yochelis

Nonlinear Dynamical Aspects of Electrochemical Systems

3
001-2-4052Prof. Muhammad Bashouti

​Fundamentals of Semiconductors

3
001-2-4056Dr. Hezi Yizhaq

Aeolian Geomorphology

2
001-2-4058?

Topics in Solar Energy

3
001-2-4063Dr. Victor Vishonsky

Hands-on Image and Video Analysis without Coding: From Acquisition to Quantification

3
001-2-4064Prof. Muhammad Bashouti

Optoelectronics of Surfaces

3
001-2-4065Dr. Victor YashunskyData-Based Research with Python3
001-2-5074Dr. Elad Levintal

Envirotech - do it yourself sensors for environmental research

3

001-2-5075 Fall

001-2-5076 Spring

Dr. Elad Levintal

Do-it-yourself sensors for environmental research - advanced course

3

001-2-7011

Dr. Arik Yochelis

Numerical Analysis Using MATLAB

3

The recommended semester breakdown is described in the following table:

SemesterCourses (credits)Credit range
1Departmental seminar A (0.25), core courses (3-9), elective courses (3-9)6.25-18.25
2Departmental seminar B (0.25), core courses (0-6), elective courses (6-12)6.25-18.25
3Departmental seminar C (0.25), Writing a Scientific Paper (2), elective courses (0-9), Thesis (6)8.25-17.25
4Departmental seminar D (0.25), Thesis (6)6.25

Academic Program for students who began up until April 2024

Subject

Credits

A. Mandatory Course: Academic Writing

2

B. Seminars & Thesis Writing

13

C. Core courses

9

D. Elective courses

18

Total

42

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-0153Dr. Scott Hansen and Dr. Christopher J. Arnush

Writing a Scientific Paper

2

Students are required to attend Departmental Seminars (one seminar per semester).

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-4444Prof. Muhammad Bashouti and Dr. Leah Orlovsky (coordinator)

Departmental Seminar A (first year)

0.25

001-2-4454

Departmental Seminar A (first year)

0.25
001-2-4464

Departmental Seminar A (second year)

0.25
001-2-4474

Departmental Seminar B (second year)

0.25

In the third and fourth semesters, students must register for Thesis Writing.

Course #SubjectCredits
001-2-9991

Thesis Writing A

6
001-2-9992

Thesis Writing B

6

Students who have completed the above Thesis Writing courses and continue their studies for a fifth semester must register for the following course:

Course #SubjectCredits
001-2-1000Thesis Writing – Continuation0
Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-4027Prof. Yossi Ashkenazy / Dr. Roiy Sayag*

Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamic​

3
001-2-4038Prof. Golan Bel / Prof. Ido Regev*

Stochastic Processes in Physics

3
001-2-4045Prof. Eugene Katz / Dr. Avi Niv*

Physics of Solar Cells

3
001-2-4050Prof. Iris Visoli-Fisher / Dr. Muhammad Bashouti*

Nano-Materials and Nano-Technology for Sustainable Energy

3
001-2-4053Dr. Avi Niv / Prof. Eugene Katz*

Thermodynamics of Radiating Systems and the Optics of Solar Cells

3
001-2-4060​Prof. Ido Regev

Partial Differential Equations in Continuum Transport Processes

3

*Substitute Lecturer

Course # Lecturer Subject Credits 001-2-4027 Prof. Yossi Ashkenazy / Dr. Roiy Sayag* Introduction to Geophysical Fluid Dynamic​ 3 001-2-4038 Prof. Golan Bel / Prof. Ido Regev* Stochastic Processes in Physics 3 001-2-4045 Prof. Eugene Katz / Dr. Avi Niv* Physics of Solar Cells 3 001-2-4050 Prof. Iris Visoli-Fisher / Dr. Muhammad Bashouti* Nano-Materials and Nano-Technology for Sustainable Energy 3 001-2-4053 Dr. Avi Niv / Prof. Eugene Katz* Thermodynamics of Radiating Systems and the Optics of Solar Cells 3 001-2-4060 ​Prof. Ido RegevPartial Differential Equations in Continuum Transport Processes 3

Course #LecturerSubjectCredits
001-2-0009Prof. Avraham Be'er

Physics of Bacterial Communities

3
001-2-1103Prof. Hadas Hawlana

​Introduction to Ecology in Arid Environments

4
001-2-1200Prof. Simon Barak & Dr. Buzi Raviv

BGU Radio Academy – Podcast production

2
001-2-2038​Prof. Naftali Lazarovich

Soil Physics

3
001-2-2205​Prof. Ido Regev

Modeling in the Earth and Plant Sciences

3
001-2-4010​Prof. Georgy Burde

​Topics in Environmental Fluid Mechanics

3
001-2-4011Dr. Roiy Sayag

Non-Newtonian Fluid Mechanics

3
001-2-4012Prof. Isaak Rubinstein

​Electro-Diffusion of Ions and Membrane Desalination Processes

3
001-2-4016Dr. Leah Orlovsky

Geography of Desertification

2
001-2-4019Prof. Georgy Burde

Application of Symmetry Methods to Problems in Mathematical Physics

3
001-2-4022Prof. Ehud Meron

Pattern Formation and Spatial Ecology

3
001-2-4026Prof. Yosef Ashkenazy

Introduction to Physics of Atmospheres

3
001-2-4028Prof. Arnon Karnieli

Remote Sensing for Agriculture, Rangeland and Forestry

3
001-2-4029Prof. Yosef Ashkenazy

​ Introduction to Statistics and Probability

3
001-2-4031 Fall 001-2-4033 Spring​Prof. Isaak Rubinstein

​Topics in Physico-Chemical Hydrodynamics and Electrodiffusion

4
001-2-4037Prof. Amos Zemel

Optimization Methods

3
001-2-4042Prof. Golan Bel

Statistical Analysis in Climate Research I

2
001-2-4044Prof. Golan Bel

Statistical Analysis in Climate Research II

2
001-2-4046Prof. Eugene Katz

Advanced Concepts in Photovoltaic Devices

3
001-2-4047Prof. Iris Visoly-Fisher

Surface Science for the Environment

3
001-2-4048Dr. Avi Niv

Physical Optics

3
001-2-4049​Dr. Arik Yochelis

Nonlinear Dynamical Aspects of Electrochemical Systems

3
001-2-4052Prof. Muhammad Bashouti

​Fundamentals of Semiconductors

3
001-2-4056Dr. Hezi Yizhaq

Aeolian Geomorphology

2
001-2-4058Dr. Avi Niv

Topics in Solar Energy

3
001-2-4061Prof. Boris Zaltzman

Partial Differential Equations in Continuum Transport Processes II

3
001-2-4064Prof. Muhammad Bashouti

Optoelectronics of Surfaces

3
001-2-5074Dr. Elad Levintal

Envirotech - do it yourself sensors for environmental research

3

001-2-5075 Fall

001-2-5076 Spring

Dr. Elad Levintal

Do-it-yourself sensors for environmental research - advanced course

3

001-2-7004

Dr. Nafatali Smith

Solution Methods in Mathematics

3

001-2-7011

Dr. Arik Yochelis

Numerical Analysis Using MATLAB

3

New course

Prof. Yair Zarmi

Nonlinear Waves

3

The recommended semester breakdown is described in the following table:

SemesterCourses (credits)Credit range
1Departmental seminar A (0.25), core courses (3-9), elective courses (3-9)6.25-18.25
2Departmental seminar B (0.25), core courses (0-6), elective courses (6-12)6.25-18.25
3Departmental seminar C (0.25), Writing a Scientific Paper (2), elective courses (0-9), Thesis (6)8.25-17.25
4Departmental seminar D (0.25), Thesis (6)6.25