Meet Gal Rozenberg

He served in the IDF Combat Engineering Corps, volunteered for eight months in Nepal with youth and farmers, and is now completing his MSc in the Department of Geography and Environment at Bar-Ilan University. Meet Gal Rozenberg, 32, who resides on a moshav near Haifa, has a passion for nature, and has just completed his MSc research thesis on weed management in agricultural systems – assessing agricultural intensity to optimize the use of tools, such as herbicides, without causing undue harm to the environment.

Why I chose to study this field:
After completing my bachelor's degree in geography and traveling to Nepal, where I guided youth and helped farmers band together in remote villages, I decided that I wanted to delve deeper into the field of geography and environmental science. The research that interests me focuses on advanced technology, which can be harnessed for the benefit of our environment. My research study on weed management in agricultural systems was done in collaboration with the Spatial Epidemiology Laboratory, led by Dr. Lior Blank of the Volcani Center, and Prof. Yishai Weinstein, Head of the Earth and Environmental Sciences Program at Bar-Ilan University’s Department of Geography and Environment.

What I enjoy most about my studies:
The field trips, including the study tour to the Golan Heights, where we studied volcanic rock, and the three days aboard a boat in the Mediterranean, examining the geochemistry of seawater. There is nothing more educating than going out into the field with an experienced lecturer. Theoretical learning is important, but not more than seeing things firsthand. I believe that a few days in the field is worth more than a whole semester in class. This is also a personal experience, as our field trips have given added meaning to all the places I used to visit on my own.

Future Plans?
I’m a research assistant and really enjoy the field I’m exploring. Next year, I hope to commence my PhD studies, focusing on the interface between ecology and agriculture, and how we can minimize the detrimental effects of agriculture on the environment.

What I will take with me from my Bar-Ilan studies:
The importance of openness and creativity, and the ability to look at things from various perspectives. Often in research, the path is known and the results can be predicted. But when the expected result is not obtained – that’s when you can dig deeper and discover much more exciting phenomena…

For more on the Department of Geography and Environment:
https://geoenv.biu.ac.il/en