A research team from the Faculty of Science won second place in the Hussein Fund for Creativity and Excellence Award in the field of Agriculture and Food Security. The award was organized by the Hussein Fund in collaboration with the National Center for Agricultural Research.

The research team included Dr. Moheeb Awwad, Dr. Abdullah Al-Rawabdeh, and master's student Noor Nabil Al-Qutb from the Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Dr. Mohammad Abu Qamar from the Department of Life Sciences, and Dr. Florian Sabir from the University of Twente, Netherlands.

Their research project, titled "Detection of Red Palm Weevil Infestation Using Remote Sensing Techniques," aims to develop a practical technology for the early and accurate detection of the red palm weevil pest in Jordan. This is achieved by using spectral characteristics extracted from remote sensing data obtained by unmanned aerial vehicles (drones), to address the issue of palm tree infestations in Jordan.

The red palm weevil causes rapid death of palm trees and has significant economic and environmental impacts. Despite extensive efforts to control its spread, the pest remains widespread, prompting the Ministry to launch a plan to combat the Indian Red Palm Weevil in Jordan for the years (2023-2025).

The remote sensing methods presented in the research project offer advanced technologies for early detection of the red palm weevil, enabling sustainable agriculture. They also provide high spatial accuracy for identifying areas of infestation, reducing the costly and widespread use of pesticides to protect crops and preserve the environment.

It is worth noting that 212 projects applied for this award, of which the award’s administrative committee excluded 167 projects for not meeting the award's initial requirements.