The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies

The Arava Institute for Environmental Studies is an environmental and academic institution based at Kibbutz Ketura, in the Arava desert valley of Israel. Founded in 1996, it prepares future leaders from Israel, Palestine, Jordan and around the world to cooperatively solve regional and global environmental challenges, built on the idea that nature knows no political borders.

Its academic programme runs in fall and spring semesters, and students live in student residences on the kibbutz. Students and interns can apply, and prospective students can attend Open Days in Israel/Palestine. Research is carried out in six centres:

• Jordan-Israel Center for Community, Environment & Research
• Center for Transboundary Water Management
• Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation
• Center for Sustainable Agriculture
• Center for Climate Change Policy and Research
• Center for Arid Socio-Ecology

The institute also designs short-term study tours for faculty- and student-led groups on topics such as water management, renewable energy and food sustainability, with visits in Israel, Palestine and Jordan and accommodation at the Kibbutz Ketura guest house; it does not currently run short-term programmes for individual travellers. Scholarships are available, and questions about admission go to the admissions department.