Decisions Taken:
JTSC Decision # 5.1: E-mail correspondence: The subproject leaders are reminded to send all project-related e-mail correspondence as cc to the chair and co-chair of the Steering Committee.
JTSC Decision # 5.2: Workshop in Jeddah: Before the upcoming PELAGIA cruise in March/ April 2012, there will be a 2-day pre-cruise workshop in Jeddah with KAU scientists.
JTSC Decision #5.3: Short courses: The proposed short course program as part of the capacity building in Jeddah will begin in 2012. It will be started with the topic proposed by Colin Devey: “Aspects of volcanics and tectonics of the Red Sea” during his visit in January 2012. Warner Brückmann will address all coordinators and ask for suggestions of topics and times of their respective short courses before the end of 2011.
JTSC Decision #5.4: Technician training in Jeddah: The proposed laboratory management training for technicians in Jeddah is to begin in 2012. The Kiel groups will meet to define the subjects and structure of such a training, a suggestion will be sent to the Steering Committee before the end of 2011. The first course is to take place either before or after the summer break 2012.
JTSC Decision #5.5: Leadership of subproject 2: Prof. Colin Devey is confirmed as coordinator of subproject 2. Prof. Ali Basaham, who formerly worked in subproject 1, will join the project as subproject coordinator on the Saudi side. Dr. Rabea Haredy will join subproject 1. Dr. Mark Schmidt will define a list of tasks which are to be assigned to Dr. Haredy by 28 November.
JTSC Decision #5.6: Red Sea Conference III: The JTSC in principle favors a concluding scientific conference on the results of the Jeddah Transect Project to be held in spring 2013 in Jeddah. A scientific steering committee will be appointed at the next JTSC meeting which will be assigned the task of including the broader international science community.
JTSC Decision #5.7: Planning for the next phase: The next phase of the Jeddah Transect project will focus on applied scientific research! A small working group led by the chair and co-chair of the JTSC will be formed to develop the framework for the phase II proposal by 31 December 2011. Once established, this framework will be augmented with individual mini proposals from joint Saudi-German proponents well before the next JTSC meeting. The working group will complete a draft proposal by August 2012.
JTSC Decision #5.8: Project membership: Dr. Mohammed Orif, currently in subproject 3, will change to subproject 1 as a member where his expertise in trace metal and aerosol analysis is needed.
JTSC Decision #5.9: Next Meeting: The next meeting of the JTSC will be held in Jeddah in May 2012.