UNDERWATER RESEARCH AND IMAGING CENTER

Eastern Mediterranean University is one of the oldest and the most established universities in the region. The infrastructure and the personnel employed by the University make the establishment a leader not only in education but also in scientific research and also possesses a huge potential to excel in these fields as well. In order to realize this potential, Underwater Research and Imaging Center has been established, with aims listed below:

1. The research centers established within universities are a resource for pride, recognition and distinction in the international arena. Furthermore, the research activities play an important role in the university’s publicity, and international respect and naturally, the further recognition the university gets through research; the more support the university would provide for R&D.
   
2. In order for universities to capitalize on national and international funds, the previous research should be presented as references. It is for this reason, the most suitable address for this are the centers established within the universities.
   
3. In today’s environment, the researches conducted are generally multi-national and multi-institutional. Therefore, centers are the key establishments for corporate, institutional and multi-national cooperation, supporting the individual efforts towards research
   
4. Experts from various fields gathered under the corporate umbrella of a center, would plan an important role in solving the multi-disciplinary issues faced to come up with a comprehensive solution to the problems
   
5. One of the main aims of a university would be to conduct researches in support of the national development as well as for the humanity. These researches can only be conducted through established institutions, which are the centers.

It is therefore imperative that Underwater Imaging and Research Center should be established within the Eastern Mediterranean University for reasons being:

• The island of Cyprus is almost like a ship cruising in the eastern part of the Mediterranean. Additional to her strategic importance, the island provides a huge potential for further research
• There are problems and issues, which need immediate attention in the North Cyprus coastal zone such as archaeological sites, pollution, protected areas, environmental management problems and more.
• Funds available through United Nations and European Union should be utilized through these centers in an effective manner; international collaborations should be established and eventually the produced results or conclusions should be consumed for the benefit of the communities both on the island as well as globally.

• There are problems that are waiting for emergency solution in the Cyprus shores. ( archaeological fields, environmental problems, managerial problems, pollution problems…)
• Effective usage of the funds from the universal associations such as United Nations and European Union and establishing partnership with the other research associations; is necessary for creating the knowledge, using the knowledge for people’s benefit and sharing with the other societies.

As a conclusion, in order to be able to confront the problems mentioned above; to come up with scientific conclusions, and to make use of the gathered knowledge for the benefit of the communities. Furthermore, in order to realize a multi-disciplinary environment, this would be formed of instructors, teaching in various faculties of the Eastern Mediterranean University. This would be done through establishing the center and form a corporate umbrella for scientific research to increase in quality and quantity of research projects.