By Zayed Alzyoud
The University of Jordan (UJ) has launched The Geography of Land Cover and Land Use research group, further strengthening the University’s focus on strategic, interdisciplinary environmental research. The group will examine how population growth, economic transformation, and climate pressures are transforming land systems, using remote sensing, GIS, spatial modeling, and AI-driven analytical tools.
The initiative brings together experts from UJ and several regional and international institutions, creating a collaborative platform that connects senior scholars with emerging researchers. From UJ, the group includes Dr. Dalal Ali Zregat, Dr. Hebah Al-Khasawneh, Dr. Safaa Al-Wedyan, and Prof. Bader Obeidat. They are joined by Prof. Mohammad Abu Zaytoun of Yarmouk University, Prof. Mohammad G. Al-Matar of Kuwait University, Prof. Michael Hayes of the University of Nebraska–Lincoln, and Dr. Maysson Zghoul of Al al-Bayt University. The group also includes Dr. Luna Al-Hadidi from the National Agricultural Research Center (NARC) and UJ graduate researcher Mohammad Al-Dwairi.
By fostering collaborative inquiry and engaging young researchers in advanced environmental studies, the group aims to generate research-informed insights that support practical, sustainable development solutions in Jordan and the wider region. This initiative also reinforces UJ’s growing role as a regional hub for land and environmental research.