EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The Ministry of Higher Education's objectives in establishing a Centre of Excellence are to consolidate existing efforts made by researchers in various colleges and departments presently within Universities. The College of Science, King Saud University advocates the establishment of a Centre of Excellence for Research in Biodiversity. The envisioned program for the centre of Excellence will be to sustain both, short and long term research development in the field of Biodiversity. This proposal aims to constitute a plan for the structure of a centre of excellence within this field that will provide interactive programs in research, and launch new initiatives to address the changing needs of our society. This proposal incorporates all aspects and requirements of the original terms of reference. This includes the organization of the center's administration, comprising of a director, a board of directors and a steering committee and the various sectors within the centre. The impacts of the Centre of Excellence for Research in Biodiversity on national needs are highlighted.
:Among the specific objectives of the center are

To support, promote, and develop the research capabilities and qualifying activities in Biodiversity
 

To initiate advanced research projects that will fortify its role in advancing the frontiers of familiarity in Biodiversity
 

To bring scholars and students together from various biological disciplines to conduct research on their topics
 

To collaborate between national, regional and international researchers in areas of the center

To offer assistance to the establishments and sectors which are in need to the Center's expertise, facilities and laboratories to solve problems of common interest in Biodiversity
 

To support collaboration between the Center's scientists and researchers to work closely with their colleagues in academic institutions
 

To secure and strengthen the stature of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia in the field of Biodiversity as the renewable natural resource in the Kingdom

To encourage young researchers to fulfill university, governmental, and private sector needs