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BRDC History
The BRDC is a unique centre of research, integrated management, community development and environmental conservation of
the Jordanian semi-arid area know as the Badia.
The BRDC is a product of a partnership between the Higher Council of Science and Technology in Jordan, and the Royal
Geographical Society in the UK and Durham University.
The seeds of the BRDC were sown in May 1992 when His Royal Highness Prince El-Hassan
bin Talal and His Royal Highness the Duke of Kent patronized the Jordan Badia
Research and Development Centre (BRDC), under the umbrella of the Higher Council
for Science and Technology (HCST) with the co-operation of the Royal
Geographical Society (RGS) in the UK and the Centre for Overseas Research and
Development (CORD), Durham University
The University Durham manages the UK side of the Centre on behalf of the RGS.
The BRDC has an office in Amman and a Field Centre in Safawi, a remote Bedouin
village approximately 150 km northeast of Amman.
BRDC Development Stages:
Phase-I (1993-1996):
This period was mainly the founding phase of the Centre. In addition to
establishing the field centre, a number of studies and pieces of research were
conducted including a base line socio-economic survey, associated with
research on livestock, water, soil, flora, and other resources. Phase-II (1996-2000
During this period, according to the needs of the target area, a
scientific research action plan was formulated to accommodate seven themes:
human resources, water resources, environment, energy and geology, livestock,
land resources, and information technology and management (GIS). In this
phase, the aim is to give less emphasis on basic research and more to applied
research. Phase-III (2000-Current):
In this period BRDC started to build pilot development projects based
on the scientific findings of its research.
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