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Casablanca – The Faculty of Sciences Semlalia at Cadi Ayyad University in Marrakech inaugurated on February 27 the first permanent aquatic mesocosm research facility in Africa, marking a significant step for environmental research on the continent.
The platform was established as part of the CYCLOLIVE PRIMA project and is designed to support experimental studies in aquatic ecology and environmental science.
Prof. El Hassan El Mouden, dean of the Faculty of Sciences Semlalia, and Prof. Naaila Ouazzani, vice-dean for research and cooperation and head of the Aquabiotech Laboratory of Excellence, chaired the inauguration ceremony.
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The new facility aims to strengthen scientific research capacity at both national and continental levels by providing a dedicated infrastructure for studying aquatic ecosystems under controlled yet realistic conditions.
During the ceremony, project coordinator and host of the facility Prof. Faissal Aziz presented the scientific objectives of the platform and its role in advancing research related to ecosystem protection, pollution mitigation, and the development of nature-based solutions. He said the mesocosm facility will support interdisciplinary projects and help expand international research collaboration.
Experts from the Leibniz Institute of Freshwater Ecology and Inland Fisheries in Germany also took part in the event. Dr. Jens C. Nejstgaard, Dr. Stella A. Berger, and Dr. J. Rafael Bermudez-Monsalve outlined the scientific principles behind mesocosm experimentation and its importance in assessing how ecosystems respond to environmental stress and in testing ecological solutions under controlled conditions.
The faculty acknowledged several academic contributors and members of the research team who supported the project, including Prof. Abbad Abdelaziz, Prof. Sbihi Karim, and Prof. Lahrouni Majida, along with doctoral researchers and technical staff. Dr. Aroua Ammar from Sfax University in Tunisia.
The newly inaugurated facility is projected to strengthen regional scientific capacity and encourage Euro-Mediterranean collaboration while supporting research on water management, agriculture, and environmental challenges across the Mediterranean region.
