The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) remains actively engaged in environmental research and education. Last week, the institute’s team embarked on two field trips, led by staff and a combination of local and international volunteers. On Thursday morning, 11 July 2024, the team visited the small village of Artas, located within the Bethlehem […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) has achieved significant milestones across its three core areas: research, education, and conservation, over the past week. Research: Researchers from PIBS undertook two overnight field trips to document regional biodiversity. The first trip focused on Wadi Qana-Salfit and Marj Sanour-Jenin, while the second explored the Northern Jordan […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) established an Animal Rehabilitation Unit in 2019, dedicated to rescuing and rehabilitating numerous threatened animals. The unit has provided care for a diverse array of species, including mammals (foxes, hyenas, European badgers, mongooses, and bats), birds (golden eagles, eagle owls, black kites, crows), and reptiles (snakes). The […]
The Palestine Museum of Natural History is undergoing a significant expansion project. The existing building is being renovated to add 1,300 square meters of museum space, significantly enhancing its capacity to showcase Palestine’s rich natural heritage. On Thursday, 27 June 2024, the museum held coordination meetings to move the project forward. The museum team collaborated […]
The Palestine Museum of Natural History hosted over 250 children from four different summer camp groups last week. During their visit, the children participated in a variety of activities, including guided tours of PMNH’s natural history and ethnography exhibits, as well as explorations of the botanical garden. The children thoroughly enjoyed the experience, discovering new […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability organizes field trips that are instrumental in documenting and studying Palestine’s floral and faunal biodiversity, conducting research, publishing scientific papers, and implementing conservation measures. These excursions not only deepen participants’ and local communities’ appreciation for Palestine’s natural heritage but also contribute valuable data to global and local biodiversity […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability organized its weekly educational activity for children. During the event, the children played environmental games developed in-house at PIBS, including a Snakes and Ladders game designed to teach about sustainable living and reducing climate change. They also participated in fun competitions, learning interesting facts about fruits, vegetables, and […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability organized a flower planting activity with flowers donated by their partners at Cremisan Salesian Convent, in celebration of the Institute’s tenth anniversary. During the planting, PIBS conducted their weekly educational activity for children, teaching them about the importance of farming and its positive impact on the environment.
Professor Mazin Qumsiyeh, Director of Cytogenetic Services and Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS), and his wife Jessie recently returned from a 53-day advocacy tour across 17 cities in Australia and New Zealand (Aotearoa). Among their goals, the trip aimed to secure long-term support for Palestine, Bethlehem University, and the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity […]
The Palestine Museum of Natural History, in collaboration with Caritas Jerusalem, successfully concluded a series of educational programs for children. Over eight visits, they welcomed 500 students and members of scout groups. This initiative focused on introducing participants to the rich biodiversity of Palestine, with a particular emphasis on the Al-Makhrour region. The program also […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University is ready for another exciting summer of environmental education! With the arrival of summer, PIBS is welcoming numerous camp and scout groups to raise awareness about environmental issues. The first group to visit PIBS was the Kids Club Summer Camp, a group of 32 […]
This year’s theme of the World Environment Day “land restoration, desertification, and drought resilience,” aligns with our mission and vision in Palestine. Through all our activities at the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS), we emphasize that sustainable human and natural communities begin with each of us individually. Palestine faces significant environmental challenges caused […]
In observance of World Environment Day, the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University organized a engaging activity – planting flowers in their botanical garden. This initiative aimed to cultivate a deeper connection with nature among participants. PIBS team members, including staff, local volunteers, and international volunteers, all joined hands for the […]
This week, the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) hosted a fun and educational program for children focused on insects, particularly their crucial role as pollinators. The young participants began by exploring the importance of biodiversity in the success of agriculture. Through a guided tour of the botanical garden, they observed different insects and […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University recently welcomed students from the Bachelor of Arts program in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage. Accompanied by their professor, Dr. Omar Dar Issa, the students were visiting as part of their Fauna and Flora course. This visit exemplifies PIBS’s commitment to fostering interdepartmental collaboration within […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University is continuing its successful partnership with the Salesians of Don Bosco at the Cremisan Monastery. This ongoing series of activities aims to cultivate a spirit of environmental respect and care in young people. Through immersive experiences in nature and engaging craft projects, the program […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University celebrated International Day for Biological Diversity with an educational activity for children on Friday, 24 May 2024. The children first explored the institute’s botanical garden with exploration kits which consist of compasses, measuring tapes, magnifying glasses, tubes and forceps, notebooks, and pens. They gathered […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University, in collaboration with Caritas Jerusalem, is conducting a series of educational activities titled “Empowering Future Generations.” Through a series of educational activities, school students visit the institute and explore its various sections, including the natural history and ethnography museums, and the botanical garden. The goal […]
This year’s Biodiversity’s Day theme is “Be part of the Plan.” But which plan are we talking about? It’s the Biodiversity Plan, part of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). The GBF outlines an ambitious global conservation strategy, aiming for humanity to live in harmony with nature by 2050, and includes four main goals for […]
In commemoration of International Day for Endangered Species, the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University organized a special learning activity for children on Friday, 17 May 2024. The children learned about endangered species in Palestine, the threats leading to their endangerment, and ways to protect them. They played an interactive game to […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University, in collaboration with Caritas Jerusalem, is conducting a series of educational activities titled “Empowering Future Generations.” Through a series of educational activities, school students visit the institute and explore its various sections, including the natural history and ethnography museums, and the botanical garden. The goal […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University, in collaboration with A.M. Qattan Foundation, hosted students from Thabra Mixed Basic School (grades 6-9) for a day focused on environmental solutions. This event was part of the “STEAM PalHouse” project, which empowers students to develop solutions for environmental issues in their local communities. The […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University, in partnership with the Palestine Heritage Trail, organized a training session for 4th-grade teachers. The session addressed various topics, including Palestinian geography, ecotourism, agriculture, as well as the rich and diverse floral and faunal biodiversity of Palestine. The teachers also learned about environmental threats […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability recently organized an activity as part of a global initiative to educate people about their rights in Palestine, with a specific focus on maintaining a clean and healthy environment. Children enthusiastically joined us to celebrate the right to live in a clean environment. They embarked on a delightful […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability organized a special educational event on 15 November 2023, commemorating Independence Day. The event aimed to instill a sense of national pride in children by providing them with a unique experience in the institute’s botanical garden. Children enjoyed a guided tour, observing animals, cultivated plants, and learning about […]
A team from Bethlehem University’s Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability recently wrapped up an enriching training program in Greece, made possible through the Erasmus program. The program saw active participation from 20 individuals representing Palestine, Bulgaria, Italy, Greece, and France. During this comprehensive training, participants learned about the fundamental principles of ecological agriculture and […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Women of the Sun Charity Association to enhance mutual cooperation in common fields that serve The Palestinian Society and serve nature and humans in the broader framework. This MoU aims to develop society by rehabilitating women […]
This week, the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability – Bethlehem University (PIBS-BU) concluded the integration of the Library of Congress classification system into the PIBS library. The PIBS library is one of the facilities available at the institute for people to come, enjoy, and benefit from. This opportunity is especially good for university students […]
Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh teaches and does research at Bethlehem University and Birzeit University. A Palestinian born in Beit Sahour, he is the founder and director of the Palestine Museum of Natural History (PMNH) and the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University. He previously served on the faculties of the University of […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University organized an event at Bethlehem Secondary School for Girls to launch the first mobile educational exhibition of its kind in Palestine on Tuesday, 10 May 2022. As part of the “Unity and Diversity in Nature and Society” project funded by the European Union, the mobile […]
Within the national efforts carried out by the Environmental Quality Authority (EQA) in partnership with the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability / Bethlehem University (PIBS / BU) to prepare and update The National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plan (NBSAP), ten workshops were held with governmental and private institutions and relevant national experts on various […]
The Dean of Research and the Research Council held a webinar titled, “Environmental research leading to conservation and sustainability in Palestine,” Thursday, December 16, 2021. Prof. Mazin Qumsiyeh and Mr. Elias Handal, from the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability, provided an overview of the research activities, educational programs, and other outreach plans they have […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University (PIBS-BU) held the “First Palestinian Conference on Biodiversity and Human Diversity in Palestine” on Tuesday, November 30, 2021. This conference is one of the activities of the “Unity Diversity in Nature and Society” project, funded by the European Union Peacebuilding Initiative (EUPI), and implemented in […]
The Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) – Bethlehem University, in partnership with the Environmental Quality Authority (EQA), held a workshop to conclude the activities of the Sixth National Report on Biodiversity on Monday, 9 November 2021. The workshop also aimed to launch activities to update and prepare the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action […]
Someone once said that nature is a powerful teacher. If only people realized how rich these words are. Here, at Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability-Bethlehem University, we believe that we need to nurture more love of nature in our children- which leads to a more sustainable future. In January 2021, we started a new […]
The Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability at Bethlehem University organized an opening ceremony for the recently established Biodiversity Center on Monday, 21 June 2021, within the Unity and Diversity in Nature and Society project funded by the European Union. Project Manager, Linda Majaj, welcomed the guests and gave introductory remarks. Vice Chancellor Brother Peter Bray […]
Since 2020 has been a difficult year for everybody, the Palestine Institute of Biodiversity and Sustainability (PBIS) started an educational series for children titled “New Year, New Fun” which aims to relieve some of the pandemic stress and connect children with nature. The year began with a “Find it, Stick it” scavenger hunt on 15 […]
Volunteers at Bethlehem University built a Biogas Unit at the Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS). The PIBS and its EU-funded Biodiversity Center continue to develop usable modules for education and for saving our environment. In this case, organic waste (such as kitchen waste) is digested by anaerobic bacteria (without oxygen) which then produce Methane […]
Bethlehem University signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Environment Quality Authority on Monday, 07 December 2020, at the Palestine Museum of Natural History. The Vice Chancellor Brother Peter Bray and the Head of the Environment Quality Authority Mr. Jameel Mattor signed the MoU in the presence of the Director General of Natural Resources […]
Prof. Mazin B. Qumsiyeh, Director of the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) and the Palestine Museum of Natural History at Bethlehem University received the prestigious “2020 Paul K. Feyerabend Award – A World of Solidarity is Possible.” Prof. Qumsiyeh said he accepted the award on behalf of the team at the Palestine Institute […]
Palestine contains diverse habitats for such a small country and is biologically more diverse than some countries ten times its size. For the first time, the Palestine Institute for Biodiversity and Sustainability (PIBS) at Bethlehem University is carrying out projects that protect both people and nature. Several plant species are declining rapidly due to political […]
The Palestine Museum of Natural History at Bethlehem University in partnership with Masar Ibrahim Al-Khalil held an opening ceremony of the Ethnography Exhibit under the patronage of Bethlehem Governor, Mr. Kamel Hamid, on Tuesday, 30 April 2019. Dr. Michael Sansur, Executive Vice President, emphasized the role of Bethlehem University in promoting cultural work through academic […]
The Palestine Museum of Natural History – Bethlehem University held a launching event for the “Building the Capacity to Protect the Palestinian Land and Heritage through Museology and Ecotourism” Project on Tuesday, 27 November 2018. The project is funded by the British Council through the Cultural Protection Fund and is implemented by the Museum in […]
The Korean Representative to Palestine, H.E. Young-sam Choi, and a delegation from the Representative’s Office visited Bethlehem University on Monday, 21 May 2018. Brother Peter Bray, Vice Chancellor, Brother Denis Loft, Vice President for Advancement, Dr. Irene Hazou, Academic Vice President, and Dr. Mazin Qumsieh, Director of Palestine Museum of Natural History, welcomed the delegation […]