Affiliation
University of Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis & University of Carthage, Faculty of Sciences of Bizerte
Shipboard training
Research subject
Ecological restoration of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in Tunisia
Supervisor
Dr. Rym Zakhama-Sraieb & Prof. Mohamed Sghaier Achouri.
Short CV
Nada Abdelkader is a Tunisian PhD student in marine ecology at the Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis El Manar. She is a scientific diver and a storyteller.
Her research focuses on the ecological restoration of the seagrass Posidonia oceanica in Tunisia. She is leading one of the first initiatives of its kind in Tunisia and North Africa, applying nature-based solutions (NBS). She works closely with local environmental NGOs, government bodies, and coastal communities, including fishermen and artisan women, to implement seagrass restoration initiatives rooted in both scientific knowledge and cultural heritage.
Nada has over seven years of experience with the Association Tunisienne de Taxonomie (ATUTAX), where she has led projects on marine biodiversity, stakeholder engagement, and scientific outreach. This experience has strengthened her expertise in project management and her ability to collaborate with diverse national and international partners and funders.
She was selected as part of a cluster of twelve PhD students from Jordan and Tunisia within the Local2030 Knowledge and Scientific Network, an initiative of the Government of Italy in partnership with UN-Habitat and CeSPI ETS, and anchored in the Local2030 initiative. The network aims to connect experts and scholars from around the world working on SDG localization, bridging the gap between knowledge, research, and policymaking at the local level. Through her research on Posidonia oceanica, she contributes to the preservation of coastal ecosystems, particularly in the Kerkennah region.
She also develops educational programs for children, leading scientific camps focused on marine biology and conservation with her team. In addition, she is a science communicator who designs and implements educational activities for children and local communities in Tunisia and South Africa, working with different NGOs across Africa.
Beyond her scientific and educational work, Nada is an emerging documentary filmmaker. She is currently working on her first short film in collaboration with NEWF, an organization dedicated to nature, environment, and wildlife storytelling in Africa.
Her passion for ocean exploration led her to join the OceanXplorer aboard the Around Africa Mission. In 2025, she participated as an Early Career Explorer with OceanX, where she expanded her skills in science communication and extended reality (XR) storytelling. Today, Nada is OceanX Education’s inaugural Science Resident, combining science, education, and storytelling to inspire ocean conservation.
Nada Abdelkader’s work bridges science, storytelling, and public engagement, advocating for ocean conservation through innovative communication and research-driven initiatives.
