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Faculty GazetteAugust - December 2004 Volume 7.2

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It was proven again in the second half of 2004 that LAU Faculty are serious about profil-ing the University as a research institution and an international and regional venue of intel-

lectual, scientific and professional exchange. On the international level, LAU hosted a “Summer School on Conflict Prevention and

Transformation” in collaboration with the UN; the 7th International University Theatre Festival;IWSAW’s 5th International Film Festival; a “Power System Simulator for Engineering”

presentation seminar that is still unique in the Middle East; IWSAW’s seminar on “GenderMainstreaming and Millenium Development Goals”

in collaboration with the World Bank; and the annual Finance and AccountingInternational Conference.

In addition, distinguished speakers andprofessionals in the fields of literature,

education, political science, architec-ture and computer science came from

Europe and the USA to share theirexpertise with faculty and students. LAU faculty members participated in

twenty-eight international conferencesand five regional ones, in seven localand international seminars and sixworkshops, and in five international

and local exhibits, thus representingthe University in more than thirty citiesin four continents. Among them, theypublished four chapters in international-

ly edited books besides over twenty arti-cles in international journals and again

over twenty papers in conference proceedings.Faculty also participated in regional workshops and gave lectures

locally and in the region.In the next issue, the Faculty Gazette would like to chronicle also the non-

strictly research activity of the LAU Faculty. For outstanding examples of such activity, pleaseturn to the School of Pharmacy section (p.17).

(The information presented in the Faculty Gazette is compiled solely on the basis ofinformation submitted by the Faculty; it may not reflect all the activities of all

members of the Faculty.)

Faculty GazetteTheThe Faculty Newsletter of the Lebanese American University

3 Conferences, Seminars, Lectures & Exhibits

6 School of Arts & Sciences6 - Arts & Communication8 - Education & Social Science9 - Humanities11 - Computer Science & Mathematics13 - Natural Science

14 School of Business15 School of Engineering & Architecture17 School of Pharmacy

18 Flashes from Centres and Institutes

The Faculty Gazette is the newsletter of the Faculty of the Lebanese American University. It is produced twice yearly by the Publications Office, Nicol Hall, Room 527, Beirut Campus.

Editor | Kristiaan Aercke, Humanities DivisionDesigner | Ghada Majed, Publications Office

Mailing addressP.O.Box 13-5053 F-26, Chouran Beirut: 1102-2801, Lebanon.Tel : +9611 786456/64 ext. 1277Fax: +9611 867098E-mail : [email protected]

LAU's website: http://www.lau.edu.lb

The Lebanese American University is an American institution chartered by the Board of Regents of theUniversity of the State of New York and operating in Lebanon.

Vol. 7.2 3

Conferences, Seminars, Lectures & Exhibits

In August, the Institute for Peace and JusticeEducation organized a two-week “Summer Schoolon Conflict Prevention and Transformation” in collab-oration with the UN. This residential programbrought together thirty university students from sev-eral Lebanese universities as well as three universi-ties in the USA. Academics from Lebanon, the USA,the UK, Canada, Italy and Germany provided studentswith knowledge about the nature of conflict, rootcauses of violent conflict and challenges of post-warreconstruction. Participants explored causes of theLebanese civil war, ethnicity and communal polariza-tion. They also heard personal testimonials of recon-ciliation. During hands-on training-sessions, studentsdeveloped skills of interpersonal conflict resolution,negotiation and mediation. The program was spon-sored by the UN, LAU, the Swiss Embassy, the RoyalNorwegian Embassy, Banca di Roma and Sohat. TheCentre for Strategic Development provided logis-tical support to the Institute for Peace andJustice Education.

On October 13, the two-week Photography ExhibitCelebrating Black & White was opened at SheikhZayed Gallery in the recently rededicated Safadi FineArts Building (Beirut) in the presence of PresidentJoseph Jabbra, Deans Samira Aghacy and TarekNa’was, Arts and Communication Chair (Beirut)Mona Knio, photography instructor Albert Saikaly,and students and guests. The exhibit included worksof students from last year’s Photography I/II classes.

On November 24, the Division of Electrical and

Computer Engineering (School of Engineering andArchitecture, Byblos) held a presentation seminar toannounce the implementation of a new softwaresystem called “Power System Simulator forEngineering” (PSS/E). This system is the most widelyused tool for electric transmission system planningand operation: it is used by more than 90% of elec-tric utilities worldwide. Through the efforts of Dr.Raymond Ghajar, five licenses of the software val-ued at approximately $150,000 were donated byPower Technology Inc. (PTI) of Schenectady, NewYork to LAU to train students and help them find bet-ter jobs. LAU is currently the only university in theMiddle East to have this software which will beused in power engineering courses. The presenta-tion was attended by President Joseph Jabbra,VPAA Abdallah Sfeir and the faculty of the Schoolof Engineering and Architecture. Two PTI execu-tives were in attendance: the donor Mr. Elie Nasr,Head of Business Development (USA office), and Mr.George Rizopoulos, Head of Consulting Services (UKoffice). Mr. Elie Nasr, whose wife and sister are bothLAU alumni, indicated that he made this gift toLebanese students to help them get a better educa-tion and to encourage them to stay in Lebanon forprofessional fulfillment.

On December 3-4, the School of Business (Beirut)held its annual Finance and Accounting InternationalConference (FAIC 2004) on the timely issue of“Managing Securitization for Lebanon and theMENA Region” in Irwin Hall Auditorium, Beirut(www.lau.edu.lb/securitization). This theme-focused

1A session in progressat the Summer Schoolon Conflict Preventionand Transformation

2From L to R: SamiraAghacy, PresidentJabbra, Mona Knioand Albert Saikalyat “CelebratingBlack & White”exhibit.

3Students at the“Celebrating Black& White” exhibit.

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THE FACULTY GAZETTE4

event acted as a symbiosis between the BusinessSchool’s academic teaching and industry practice infinance, bridging the gap between the two for thebenefit of all. On December 3, after opening state-ments by Dr. Michel Majdalani (Co-chair of theFAIC 2004 Organizing Committee), Dr. AbdallahSfeir (VPAA) and Dr. Tarek Mikdashi (Dean of theBusiness School in Beirut), the floor was given to twodistinguished keynote speakers: Dr. Ahmad Jachi(First Vice-Governor of the Central Bank of Lebanon)and Dr. Nasser Saidi (former Minister of Economy).The December 4 session was opened by Mrs. JanineZacca (Co-chair of the FAIC 2004 OrganizingCommittee). Speakers represented the IMF, theWorld Bank, the University of Georgia, The RoyalBank of Scotland, Orrick International, CambridgeUniversity, HEC Lausanne, Moody’s, Citibank, BanqueAudi, BSEC, and the Lebanese Ministry of Finance.Ninety-eight attendees from the institutional sector(among whom the representatives of more than twen-ty local and regional banking institutions and financehouses) actively participated in the conference alongwith LAU faculty, students and alumni. A gala-dinnerin the Bristol Hotel, Beirut, was held in honor of theguest speakers, event sponsors, faculty members and

participating professionals on December 3. FAIC 2004was covered by the news media in more than a dozenlocal and regional newspapers and magazines, posi-tioning LAU’s School of Business as one of theleading academic institutions with such synergisticcapabilities. In addition, six industry magazines spon-sored the conference, thus enhancing LAU’s publicrelations’ image in the field. Organizers MichelMajdalani and Janine Zacca were able not only toself-fund this conference but also to contribute to theUniversity’s main funds by raising more than $14,500in institutional money.

The Humanities Division (Beirut) initiated the newacademic year with two well attended lectures in thecontext of the Role of Literature in ContemporarySociety Lectures Series. On November 9, in collabora-tion with the British Council, seasoned British novel-ist Lawrence Norfolk (winner of the prestigiousSomerset Maugham Award) gave a talk titled“Holding up the Mirror, While Standing on One’sHead”. Mr. Norfolk’s witty presentation drew manyprobing questions on the writer’s role, inspiration andresponsibility from an interested audience composedof faculty and creative writing students.

1The launching of thePSS/E system at LAU.From L to R: RaymondGhajar, Mr. GeorgeRizopoulos, Elie Badr,VPAA Abdallah Sfeir,and Mr. Elie Nasr.

2The registration desk atFAIC 2004.

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3Dean Tarek Mikdashi’sopening address atFAIC 2004.

Vol. 7.2 5

On December 16, Lebanese novelist Rashid al-Daifwas the second guest of the Humanities Division(Beirut) in the conference rooms of Irwin Hall. Thetitle of his talk (in Arabic) was “For Whom I Write.” A professor at the Literature Faculty of the LebaneseUniversity (1st Branch) with numerous scholarly arti-cles to his credit, Rashid al-Daif has authored elevennovels, three volumes of poetry, and a book of tales.His work has been translated into nine languages. Hismost recent novel, Mabud yanjah fi Baghdad (MabudMakes the Grade in Bagdad) is now on sale. (Mr. al-Daif was featured with a photograph in the previousissue of the Faculty Gazette.)

Dr. Hugh Busher of Leicester University, UK is theprincipal supervisor abroad of LAU’s DoctorateProgram in Education. He was the guest of theEducation and Social Science Division (Beirut)on November 24 in Irwin Auditorium. Dr. Busher’slecture entitled “Leaders, Values, and Social Justice:Improving Teaching” was attended by an audience ofmore than 250, including LAU faculty as well asLebanese School Principals.

On December 9, the Education and Social

Science Division (Beirut) hosted Professor WalterRussell Mead, Kissinger Senior Fellow in US ForeignPolicy at the Council on Foreign Relations. ProfessorMead is a leading expert on US foreign policy andon the role of the USA in world politics, with manypublications in the field to his credit. The topic of histalk was “Power, Terror, Peace and War: America’sGrand Strategy in a World at Risk.”

In the context of the Contemporary ScandinavianArchitects Lecture Series, the Department ofArchitecture & Design (School of Engineering &Architecture, Byblos) offered two talks by leadingDanish architects. Jorgen Sondermark from the firm3xNielsen (www.3xn.dk) lectured on November 30 inIrwin Auditorium, Beirut, and Louis Becker from thefirm Henning-Larsens-Tegnestue (www.hlt.dk) spokeon December 2. Both firms are at the cutting edge ofinnovative Scandinavian design, having created con-cert halls, schools and educational facilities, officebuildings and residential projects in Europe, Asiaand elsewhere in the world. The lectures wereattended by faculty, students, graduates of LAU andother schools, as well as by professionals from thevarious design fields.

6British novelistLawrence Norfolk.

4Standing for the nation-al anthem, from L to R:Michel Majdalani, H.E.Nasser Saidi, VPAAAbdallah Sfeir, H.E.Ahmad Jachi, DeanTarek Mikdashi.

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5Michel Majdalaniaddressing the partici-pants.

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Joseph F. Khalife, professor andmusic coordinator in Byblos, com-posed and organized three con-certs in the 2nd half of 2004: a wel-coming concert in October, a Fallconcert in November and theChristmas concert in December. InBeirut, Ms. Leila Dabaghi orga-nized the musical setting of theCommencement exercise as wellas the annual Christmas concert. Itmerits special mention that forseveral years now, the LAU Choir(Beirut), directed by Ms. Dabaghi,has participated in the “TalentedFriends of the Al Bustan Festival inConcert” program. For example, inthe September 2004 version, theLAU Choir presented, to greatapplause, “The Prologue” and“The Capulet’s Ball” from Gounod’s

Romeo and Juliet as well as fourother works by European com-posers.

Dima Dabbous-Sensenig gave apaper entitled “Arab CulturalPolicies and the Protection ofCultural Diversity in WTONegotiations” at the conferenceon Global Broadcasting, CulturalDiversity and Regulation whichwas held in Barcelona, Spain aspart of the UNESCO sponsoredUniversal Forum of Cultures (May-September).

During the summer vacation, RuthMaalouf and Tarek Khoury(Graphic Design, Byblos) orga-nized a study trip to London fortwenty graphic design students.

Besides museum visits and theatreproductions, the program includedvisits to major exhibitions and fivemajor graduation shows of Britishgraphic design students, namely atthe Royal College of Art,Camberwell College of Art, SurreyCollege of Art, Central School St.Martin’s, and London University.Students described the experienceas “really great” and “a discoveryof incredible design.” OnDecember 20-24, the ByblosGraphic Design Divisionlaunched an exhibition to sharethe London experience with fellowstudents, friends, faculty and fami-ly. The exhibition, which includedphotography, video footage andposter design, showed how stu-dents moved from one environ-

1London doors open towelcome LAU'sGraphic Design stu-dents

2Graphic Design inLondon

3The Yale WhiffenpoofsA Capella Group at the7th InternationalUniversity TheatreFestival, IrwinAuditorium (Beirut)

4"Al Hasheem" repre-senting Oman at the 7th

International UniversityTheatre Festval

Arts & Communication School of Arts & Sciences

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Vol. 7.2 7

ment to another, and in this transi-tion the viewer can see the rela-tionship and the diversity betweentheir home country and the foreigncity. The Division intends to sched-ule another trip in Summer 2005.

The 7th International UniversityTheatre Festival took place in Irwinand Gulbenkian theatres and out-doors at the Beirut campus, July22-29. It hosted 48 participantsfrom Yale University (USA), SultanQaboos University (Oman), theHigh Institute for Theatre Arts(Kuwait), King Fahd University forPetroleum and Minerals (SaudiArabia) and the High Institute forTheatre Art (Tunisia), along withother universities in Lebanon. LAU-Beirut students gave four produc-

tions, while LAU-Byblos studentsperformed musical skits. The ACapella singing group“Whiffenpoofs” from YaleUniversity presented two perfor-mances in collaboration with LAUand the US Embassy, and the LAUMusic Club gave three concerts(“After 12,” Arabic music, andJazz). Ziad Sahhab played the oud,and Zei Khauli gave a solo danceperformance. Students from theLebanese University (1st Branch)gave a solo dance and a shortmime performance. A seminar on“Prospects for a Future Theatre”brought together Drs. AhmadSakhsoukh (Cairo), Rida BouQaddida (Tunisia), and, fromLebanon, Jean Daoud, MashourMoustapha and Najat Tawil. This

varied and successful festival wasdirected by Drama professorMaurice Maalouf (Byblos) anddrew a total audience of approxi-mately 2000.

On October 25, cineast ZiadDouairy met withCommunication Arts students(Beirut) to discuss issues related tocinema in Lebanon and to theirfield of study. Mr. Douairy sharedwith the students his professionalexperience in a discussion aboutthe difficulties of film-making.

In December, Mr. Nabil Ammash,Head of the Make-up Departmentat Future TV, conducted four stagemake-up workshops for a total of22 Drama students in Beirut.

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“4x4” representingTunisia

7

Ziad Douairy withCommunication Artsstudents inGulbenkian Theatre.

8

Ziad Douairy atwork

9

Nabil Ammash’sstage make-upworkshop

5

“Issa’s Daughter”from Kuwait

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1Huda Ayyash-Abdospeaking at OxfordUniversity

2…and enjoying an out-ing with her colleagues.

3Mona Nabhani (secondrow, fourth from L) atthe Workshop of theArab WomenOrganization, Cairo.

Education & Social Science On August 10, Huda Ayyash-Abdo gave a presentation atBrasenose College, OxfordUniversity, UK in the context of theOxford Symposium for School-based Family Counseling. The topicof her paper (to be published in theProceedings) was “Reality andOpportunity: School-based FamilyCounseling in Lebanon.”

On September 22, KettySarouphim presented her paper“Diversity in Education: Crisis orOpportunity?” at the 1st Conferenceof International Consultants orga-nized by the Trinity Institute forChristianity and Culture, London.

Sami Baroudi gave a paper enti-tled “Lebanon’s Maronites’ ManyVoices: The Divergent Perspectivesof President Camille Chamoun andPatriarch Paul Meouchi during the1958 Lebanese Crisis” at theAnnual Meeting of the Middle EastStudies Association (MESA) whichwas held in San Francisco,California (November 20-22). Dr.Baroudi presented his paper in apanel on “Lebanon in the SectarianImagination.”

Mona Nabhani was selected bythe National Commission forLebanese Women to participate ina workshop offered by the ArabWomen Organization in Cairo in

preparation of a national surveyrelated to women in the fields ofeducation, media, economics andhealth. No fewer than twelve Arabcountries participate in this project,and four Lebanese professionalsrepresenting as many fields wereinvited. In the field of education,Dr. Nabhani will conduct a surveyof all projects and studies done inLebanon between 1995 and 2005by all types of organizations (acad-emic, governmental, NGOs, civilsocieties, religious groups, interna-tional organizations) concerningwomen on such subjects as lifeskills, literacy, technology and con-tinuing education. Following thesurvey, Dr. Nabhani will select themost successful projects, analyzethem, and present recommenda-tions for implementing similar pro-jects in the other eleven Arabcountries at a meeting scheduledto be held in Cairo in April 2005.

Erratum. The previous issue of theFaculty Gazette covered in detailthe successful Teacher TrainingWorkshops held under the aus-pices of the Teacher TrainingInstitute (Beirut) during the Springsemester of 2004. We listed eachand every LAU teacher-trainer…but we forgot to givecredit to the vital soul of theWorkshops, Dr. Mona Nabhani,Director of the Teacher Training

Institute. Our apologies! Pleasewait for the next issue of theFaculty Gazette for news on thenext line-up of Teacher TrainingWorkshops, Spring 2005.

Irma Ghosn’s paper “Story as cul-turally appropriate content andsocial context for young Englishlanguage learners: A look atLebanese primary school classes”was published in Language,Culture and Curriculum 17 (2) 2004,109-26. Also, Dr. Ghosn’s article“Four good reasons to use litera-ture in the primary school ELT”(published previously in ELTJournal 56 (2) 2002) was includedin the Year of the Young LearnerSpecial Collection issue of ELTJournal, edited by Gail Ellis andKeith Morrow (Oxford UniversityPress, 2004). The collection is aselection of articles and featuresfrom the last 25 years of ELTJournal and was commissioned bythe British Council in the context ofthe Year of the Young Learner.

Elie A. Samia participated in anintensive seminar on Training ofTrainers in CommercialNegotiations that was held in Tunis(December 12-19). The seminarwas co-organized by the WorldTrade Organization and l’Agenceintergouvernementale de laFrancophonie.

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Vol. 7.2 9

4The Training ofTrainers in CommercialNegations seminar,Tunis.

5Ibrahim Hussariaddressing the UMEProject in Toledo.

6Dr. Hussari (R) withProf. Diego Hidalgo,sponsor of the Project.

HumanitiesAs announced in the previous issueof the Gazette, Ibrahim Hussariparticipated in the University of theMiddle East Project on Institute inSustainable Development that washosted by the Universidad deCastilla-La Mancha in Toledo, Spain(June 27-August 1). His researchpaper on “Sustainable Developmentand Education” is accessible on thewebsite of the University of theMiddle East. Dr. Hussari was nom-inated by a majority of participantsto the Project to deliver the closingceremony speech on August 30.

Loulou Akl Khoury’s paper on“Culture and Translation in ESLDiscourse,” which she read at the2003 2nd Regional EnglishConference at LAU-Beirut, is pub-lished in the LAU magazineLanguage and Change (2005), edit-ed by Drs. Nahla Bacha and RimaBahous.

Rima Bahous and Nahla Bachaco-authored the chapter “MaterialsDevelopment for ESL-EFL Classes”in the volume ELT Materials: Theoryand Practice, edited by ShameemRafik-Galea (Kuala Lumpur, 2004),67-83.

Nuwar Diab published a chaptertitled “Ameen Rihani’s Vision ofGlobalization: A Matrimony, NotHegemony” in the book Ameen

Rihani: Bridging East and West. APioneer Call for Arab-AmericanUnderstanding, eds. N. Funk and B.Sitka (Baltimore: University Press ofAmerica, 2004) 93-101.

Ken Seigneurie gave a paper enti-tled “The British in Egypt: D.J.Enright and the Solution ofIrresolution” at the convention ofthe Modernist Studies Associationwhich was held in Vancouver inOctober.

Paul Tabar participated in a round-table conference on Migration andPolitics in the Middle East:Migration Policies, Nation Buildingand International Relations onDecember 12 in Amman. The con-ference was organized by theFrench Institute for the Near East(IFPO). Dr. Tabar presented an in-progress paper on “TheTransformation of the MaroniteChurch Identity: Immigration andDiasporic Identity of the MaroniteCommunity.” Other participantshailed from France, Kuwait,Palestine, Ramallah and Jordan.

The Public Affairs Office at the USEmbassy in Beirut, the EnglishLanguage Programs at the StateDepartment (Washington DC) andthe American English Institute (AEI)selected Mona Shahine to partici-pate in an on-line E-Teacher course

on “Critical Thinking Skills” at theUniversity of Oregon. The coursewas ten weeks long running fromSeptember 20 till November 26. Ithad twenty-two participants fromthe Middle East and Asia connectingon-line, building a chain of discus-sions and commenting on requiredweekly reading assignments. Thegoals of the course were to identifyand compare elements of criticalthinking and applying this knowl-edge to classroom teaching andmaterials development; to design,develop and implement critical think-ing instructional units and activitiesto reach course goals; to analyzeteaching techniques and materialsfor evidence of critical thinkingteaching and student learning; andto identify relevant resources fordeveloping and incorporating criticalthinking activities in their respectiveteaching environment.

Bassam Lahoud’s photographyexhibit “Man and Heritage inLebanon” was on show at 3 loca-tions in Bulgaria: the NationalMuseum of Fine Arts in Sofia (July1-8), the Museum Zlatu Boyadjiev inKyustendil (July 9-23) and theInternational Festival of Photographyin Plovdiv (October 15-31). In earlyAugust, Mr. Lahoud participated asa speaker and a distinguished jurymember in the 14th Seminario e pre-mio di architettura e cultura urbana

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(International Seminar onArchitecture and Urban Design),which was held at the University ofCamerino, Italy. The event is anarchitecture contest for profession-als and students of architecture inthree categories: realized projects,projects and research, and restora-tion. His lecture (in Italian) was enti-tled “From the Old Souk to theModern Mall.” “Verso un nuovodesign urbano. La città-villaggio,”the lecture he gave in Summer 2003was published with photographs inthe book Verso un nuovo urbanismo(Cameroni, 2004) 42-43. InSeptember, Bassam Lahoud wasthe only non-Western participant inthe prestigious forum Regards etvision in Lille, France. In Lille, Mr.Lahoud gave a lecture entitled “LePouvoir de sélection du regard” (TheGaze’s Power of Selection), partici-pated in a round-table discussion on“Regard, Vision et Art,” and had aphotography exhibit on the sametopic.

From 21 to 24 October, BassamLahoud’s photography exhibit “OurSea” (“on the beauty of pollution or

the pollution of beauty”) was onshow at the United NationsHeadquarters, New York as part ofthe “ESCWA At Work With Graphics& Arts” exhibit. While at the UnitedNations, he was reappointed Chairof the ESCWA Arts Council in Beirutfor the year 2005. On December 14,Mr. Lahoud was interviewed liveon NBN Televison on his in-home(Amchit) photography exhibitionentitled “Of the Father and theSon.” (Note: Mr. Lahoud is with theHumanities Division in Beirut andwith the Arts & CommunicationDivision in Byblos.)

In Fall 2004, Habib Malik becamea founding member in Lebanon ofthe Local Societies Initiative (LSI) ofthe Metanexus Institute based inPhiladelphia, which is funded by theTempleton Foundation. LSI aims topromote dialogue between scienceand religion. In addition to takingpart in regular discussion sessionswithin the local LSI branch with sci-entists, theologians, philosophersand historians of ideas Dr. Malik isinvolved in producing a televisionseries of discussions in English

about the science-religion debate,starting February 2005 onTéléLumière satellite television. Afirst introductory roundtable discus-sion included Eric Weislogel of theMetanexus Institute, Edward Alam(NDU) and Richard Khuri (LAU). Dr.Malik also already hosted twohour-long episodes on the generaltopic of astronomy and religion, andspecifically on the implications ofastronomical discoveries for theolo-gy and the Christian faith; in thefirst of these episodes he hostsRichard Khuri, a philosopher ofscience, and in the second YousefEl Hage, a physicist and member ofthe Pontifical Council for Inter-reli-gious dialogue.

Dr. Latif Zeitouni presented apaper « Experimentation and cre-ativity in the Arab novel » at theConference “Le roman arabe: lespossibles narratifs which tookplace, December 11-13, at theSheraton Hotel in Kuwait. Dr.Zeitouni‘s topic was “la part del’emprunt dans le roman arabe ettrace des voies possibles pour unnouveau roman arabe.”

3From L to R: Jean-Claude Hache,Director of the LilleForum, BassamLahoud, and PierreMauroy, former FrenchPrime Minister andPresident of theRegion Nord, France.

1-2From the old souk tothe modern mall, illus-trating BassamLahoud's lecture inCamerino

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Vol. 7.2 11

Ramzi Haraty and Abbass Al-Sharif are proud to announce thatan LAU Chapter of the Associationof Computing Machinery (ACM) hasbeen officially chartered. Foundedin 1947, ACM is both the oldest andthe largest international scientificand educational computer societyin the industry, dedicated toadvancing the arts, sciences andapplications of information technol-ogy. The LAU Chapter aims at pro-moting knowledge and interest inall aspects of modern computingfrom design to application, throughdistinguished faculty presentations,workshops, formal and informalsessions with leading industry rep-resentatives, and social gatherings.All ACM activities are open to theentire LAU community, and anyonewith an interest in computing iswelcome!

In November, the ComputerScience and MathematicsDivision (Byblos) welcomed Dr.Danielle Azar. Dr. Azar received herBS and MS in Computer Sciencefrom LAU in 1992 and 1996 respec-tively and her PhD in Computer

Science from McGill University,Montréal in October 2004. Dr.Azar’s research area is “geneticalgorithms in building and optimiz-ing software quality estimationmodels.”

In December, Ramzi Haraty partic-ipated in the InternationalConference on Computer Science,Software Engineering, InformationTechnology, e-Business andApplications (CSITeA’04) which washeld in Cairo, with four papers (allpublished in the Proceedings): “Al-Monakkeb – A Superior Indexer forArabic Texts,” “Rabin Public KeyCryptosystem in Rings ofPolynomials over Finite Fields,”“Ternary and Quaternary DecisionDiagrams,” and “Modified RSA inthe Domain of Gaussian Integers.”

May Hamdan’s paper “PromotingBuilding a Definition: The Case of aVector Space” appeared in theInternational Journal of AppliedMathematics 14 (4) 2003, 317-24.

Faisal N. Abu-Khzam’s paper“Kernelization Algorithms for the

Vertex Cover Problem: Theory andExperiments,” with R.L. Collins,M.R. Fellows, M.A. Langston, W.H.Suters and C.T. Symons, which waspresented at the 6th Workshop onAlgorithm Engineering andExperiments and the 1st Workshopon Analytic Algorithmics andCombinatorics in New Orleans, inJanuary. The paper was publishedin the Proceedings (July 2004), 62-69. Dr. Abu-Khzam wrote anotherpaper, with M.A. Langston, entitled“A Direct Algorithm for theParameterized Face CoverProblem,” which he presented atthe1st International Workshop onParameterized and ExactComputation (IWPEC 2004) inNorway and which was publishedin the Proceedings (Lecture Notesin Computer Science Series. Berlin;Heidelberg: Springer, 2004), 213-22.

Haidar Harmanani, withPierrette Zouein and AouniHajjar, published the article “AParallel Genetic Algorithm for theGeometrically Constrained SiteLayout Problem with Unequal-SizeFacilities” in the International

4

Bassam Lahoud at theUN Headquarters.

5

Bassam Lahoud infront of the photographof Charles Malek atthe UN

Computer Science &Mathematics

4 5 6

6Ramzi Haraty andAbbass Al-Sharif.


Journal of ComputationalIntelligence and Applications 4 (4)2004. With Aouni Hajjar as co-author, Dr. Harmanani gave apaper entitled “Concurrent BISTSynthesis and Test SchedulingUsing Genetic Algorithms” at the8th IASTED InternationalConference on ArtificialIntelligence and Soft Computing(ASC 2004) in September inMarbella, Spain (published in theProceedings, 410-15). Dr.Harmanani was first co-author ofa paper (with W. Keirouz and S.Raheel) entitled “A Rule-BasedExtensible Stemmer forInformation Retrieval WithApplication to Arabic,” also givenat the Marbella conference(published in the Proceedings,35-40).

Nashat Mansour published withM. Timany the article “StochasticSearch Algorithms for Exam

Scheduling” in the InternationalJournal of Computer Research 13(4) 2004. In September, Dr.Mansour gave a seminar presen-tation, “Research issues in miningmultimedia data,” at theUniversité de Lyon-2, France and inDecember, he presented a paperwith H. Salem entitled “RippleEffect in Object OrientedPrograms” at the InternationalConference on Computer Science,Software Engineering, InformationTechnology, e-Business, andApplications (CSITeA’04), whichwas held in Cairo (published in theProceedings). Dr. Mansour contin-ued his functions as editorialboard member of the Journal ofthe Association for SoftwareTesting. In addition, he wasappointed a member of theNational Advisory Committee forpreparing Lebanon’s contributionto the World Summit onInformation Society 2005, as well

as of the Information andCommunications TechnologyCommittee established by theExecutive Board of the Order ofEngineers. Nashat Mansour fur-thermore served on the scientificcommittees of the 3rd Interna-tional Internet EducationConference (ICT) (Cairo/October),the International ResearchConference on Innovations inInformation Technology(Dubai/October), and CSITeA’04(Cairo/ December).

The Computer Science andMathematics Divison (Byblos)recently signed a cooperationagreement with the EcolePolytechnique de Montréal (EPM).Based on the agreement, facultycan cooperate in terms of teach-ing, training and research. LAUstudents can enrol for the Summersemester at EPM for a minimaltuition fee.

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2-3Dr. Houri with interna-tional participants atthe Renewable EnergySeminar, Brighton

4and receiving the par-ticipation certificate

1Ahmad Houri at theEnergy Efficiency Expo2004, London

Vol. 7.2 13

R. Al-Khudary, Fouad Hashwaand Mohamad Mroueh pub-lished the article “ExtremelyThermostable Lipase Activity Formof an Olive Oil Degrading” inThermoctinomyces sp. Eng. LifeScience 4 (1) 2004, 1-5. With S.Tokajian, Dr. Hashwa publishedfour articles: “MicrobiologicalQuality and Genotypic Speciationof Heterotrophic Bacteria Isolatedfrom Potable Water Stored inHousehold Tanks” in Water QualityResearch Journal 39 (1) 2004, 64-73; “Incidence of AntibioticResistance in Coliforms fromDrinking Water and theirIdentification Using the Biolog andthe API Identification Systems” inJournal of Chemotherapy 16 (1)2004, 104-109; “Phenotypic andGenotypic identification ofAeromonas spp. Isolated from aChlorinated Intermittent WaterDistribution System in Lebanon” inJournal of Water and Health 2(2004) 115-122; and “PhylogeneticAssessment of HeteroptrophicBacteria from a Water DistributionSystem using 16S DNASequencing” (accepted for publica-tion in the Canadian Journal ofMicrobiology, 2005). FouadHashwa, with S. Tokajian, wasthe author of the chapter“Intermittent Water Supply andDomestic Water Quality in theMiddle East” in the book Water inthe Middle East and in NorthAfrica, edited by F. Zereini and W.Jaeschke (Springer, 2004).

Samira Korfali, with B.E. Davies,published an article entitled “Therelationship of metals in river sedi-ments (Nahr-Ibrahim, Lebanon)and adjacent flood plain soils” inAgricultural EngineeringInternational of Scientific

Research and Development, MsLW04010 (6) 2004. (http://cigr-ejournal.tamu.edu) Dr. Korfalialso continued to serve as interna-tional reviewer for several manu-scripts submitted for considerationfor publication in prestigiousEuropean scientific journals.

Ahmad Houri presented his paper“Biomass Potential in OffsettingEnergy Needs in Lebanon” at the8th World Renewable EnergyCongress (WREC VIII) which tookplace in Denver, Colorado onAugust 28-September 3 (publishedin the Proceedings). September 7-10, he participated in the SteeringCommittee meeting for “RegionalCollaboration for Energy Efficiencyand Renewable EnergyTechnology” which was organizedby the Energy Research Group atAUB. October was a busy monthfor Dr. Houri. Locally, he partici-pated in the international confer-ence Teaching of Science atUniversities: Present Status andFuture Challenges organized by theLebanese National Commission forUNESCO at the Bristol Hotel,Beirut and in the Symposium onChallenges Facing WaterResources Management in Aridand Semi-arid Regions held atAUB. And internationally, Dr.Houri was active in Brighton,England where he presented thepaper “Lebanese RenewableEnergy Profile” in the context ofthe International Seminars inBritain (0064): Renewable EnergyPolicy, Security, Innovation,Industry and Sustainability. Heprofited from his October trip toEngland to participate in theSustainable Energy and EnergyEfficiency Expo 2004 and theInternational Business

Development Workshop hosted bythe Department of Trade andIndustry at the OlympiaInternational Exhibition Centre,London.

Georges Baroody was invited toserve as a member of a PH.D.Thesis defence committee at theUniversity of Surrey (UOS) inGuildford, UK. The candidate wasNajib Haddad (M.Sc.), an LAUgraduate, who did all his Ph.D.research at the biology laborato-ries of Byblos campus under Dr.Baroody’s supervision under acollaborative agreement betweenLAU and UOS. Mr. Haddad passedhis defence and is currentlypreparing three papers for publica-tion. The topic of his research is“The effect of Leptin upon insulinsecretion by the ex-vivo perfusedpancreas of the rat.”

Ahmad Kabbani published apaper entitled “Supramolecularstructure of tetrakis(4-chloro-3-nitrobenzoate)-bis(methanol)dicop-per(II)” in the Journal of ChemicalCrystallography 34 (11) 2004, 751-58. Dr. Kabbani had anotherpaper, “Moment of inertia of thenucleus 6 Li in frame of the trans-lation invariant shell model, thesingle particle Shrodinger fluidmodel and the nuclear super-fluidi-ty model,” published in theInternational Journal of AppliedMathematics 15 (15) 2004, 315-28.

Costantine Daher, with CarmenKhoury and Camille Nassar, pub-lished a paper entitled “Effect oftheophylline on L-alanine absorp-tion in the rat jejunum” in theinternational journal Food andChemical Toxicology 42 (2004),1971-76.

Natural Science


Wassim Shahin authored an arti-cle entitled “De-Listing fromNCCTs and Money LaunderingControl Measures: A BankingRegulation Perspective” acceptedfor publication in the Journal ofMoney Laundering Control (forth-coming soon).

Elias Raad was second co-authorof the article titled “ThePerformance of Banks in Post-WarLebanon” published in theInternational Journal of Business(Summer 2004). Co-authors wereformer LAU professor David Petersand Joseph F. Sinkey, Jr.

In July, Renee Ghattas presenteda paper, “Leadership andInstitutional Adaptation inTurbulent Times,” at the 7th

International BELMAS ResearchConference at St. Catherine’sCollege, Oxford University. Herpaper was selected among the sixbest papers given at theConference and was accepted forpublication in the BELMAS profes-sional journal.

Throughout the year 2004, MichelSoto Chalhoub presented aseries of papers in developmentalmanagement workshops address-ing “E-Government and E-

Municipalities: ChangeManagement and CapacityBuilding.” Mayors, municipal man-agers, business leaders fromacross Lebanon, and participantsfrom other countries attendedthese workshops to discuss bestpractices and modern techniquesin managing public service inLebanon. Dr. Chalhoub also pre-sented a paper entitled “CorporateStrategy and Risk Management inTransitioning Economies” to agroup of Iraqi business leaders inthe financial services industry. Thisevent was sponsored by the USCentre for International PrivateEnterprise (US Chamber ofCommerce) and hosted by theUnion of Arab Banks on October10-11 in the Radisson SAS Hotel,Beirut. Participants learned aboutand debated means of settingstrategies and revitalizing the Iraqibanking sector as part of rebuild-ing the country’s vital industries.

Ghassan Dibeh presented thepaper “Speculative dynamics in atime-delay model of asset prices”at the 1st Bonzenfreies Colloquiumon Market Dynamics, which washeld in Alessandria, Italy(September 9-10).

With George E. Nasr as co-

author, Ghassan Dibeh publishedthe paper “Testing forNonlinearities in Exchange Rates:An Application to Currency Crisis”in Intelligent Engineering SystemsThrough Artificial Neural Networks14, 735-40 (New York: ASMEPress, 2004). The paper was pre-sented at the ANNIE 2004Conference in St. Louis, Missouriin November.

Gishan Dissanaike and Armen V.Papazian are the authors of thepaper “Management Turnover inStock Market Winners and Losers:A Clinical Investigation”, one of sixpapers selected for the secondround in the ECGI 2004 ClinicalPaper Competition in Sweden andpublished in ECGI’s FinanceWorking Paper series. The compe-tition was established by ECGI toencourage the writing and publica-tion of empirical research paperson corporate governance cases inEurope, in collaboration with theJournal of Financial Economics andthe Swedish Center for Businessand Policy Studies. The authorspresented their paper in front of ajury of distinguished European andUS academics and were subse-quently invited to attend the NobelPrize award ceremony inStockholm, December 10.

1 2

1Michel Soto Chalhoubat the conference forIraqi business leaders.

2Participants at theIraqi business lead-ers' conference

School of Business

Vol. 7.2 15

Joseph M. Kiprianos recentlyreceived his Ph.D. in Architecturein South Africa, from theUniversity of Kwazulu-Natal,Durban under the supervision of D.Radford and W. Peters. His doctor-al dissertation was on “TheSacredness of Space and itsValues in the Maronite Church inLebanon – A Fusion betweenLiturgy and Place.”

George E. Nasr, with Carla Jounand Wadih Zaatar, presented apaper (published in theProceedings) at the 7th Seminar onNeural Network Applications inElectrical Engineering (NEUREL2004) held in September inBelgrade, Serbia & Montenegro.

Antoine Lahoud travelled toArgentina to participate in the 9th

Seminar of Forum UNESCO, whichwas held at the UniversidadPolitecnica de Valencia, BuenosAires (October 11-15). In his paper“In Search of a New Soul – Roleof Universities,” he discussed therole of universities in protectingheritage, and he specifically high-lighted how the LAU curriculuminvolves students in heritageknowledge through the “servicelearning” component related toheritage restoration. Mr. Lahoud

made use of the occasion to showLAU students’ work in Argentina.

Samer S. Saab published anarticle entitled “A HeuristicKalman Filter for a Class ofNonlinear Systems” in the IEEETransactions on Automatic Control49 (12) 2261-65. Furthermore, Dr.Saab was appointed by the Boardof Governors of the IEEE ControlSystems Society as AssociateEditor of their highly prestigiousjournal IEEE Transactions onControl Systems Technology. Hisappointment will take effect in2005. Dr. Saab will also be anEditorial Board Member of theControl Systems SocietyConference.

Elie A. Badr’s article “StrainRelaxation Slotting Method at aCross-bore: Simulation andExperimentation” was published inthe journal ExperimentalTechniques 28 (6) 2004.

S.A. Haidar, Samer S. Saab, D.M.Issa and A.A. Zein co-authored thepaper “Real-Time GPSDifferentiation Through the2.5G/3G Mobile CommunicationMedia: A Case Study Using GPRS”presented at the 60th AnnualMeeting of the Institute of

Navigation in Dayton, Ohio (June7-9). The paper by Dr. Saab andhis students was published in theProceedings.

Camille Issa and Gebran Karampresented a paper entitled“Compressive Strength ofConcrete Cylinders with VariableWidths CFRP Wraps” at the 4th

International Conference onAdvanced Composite Materials inBridges and Structures, which washeld July 20-23 in Calgary, Canada(published in the Proceedings). Afew days later (July 26-29), Dr.Issa was in Albuquerque, NewMexico where he presented withPierre Kassaa the paper “TacomaNarrows Bridge: A Case Study” atthe 9th ASCE Specialty Conferenceon Probabilistic Mechanics andStructural Reliability (PMC 2004)(published in the Proceedings).Camille Issa, with Abdo AbouJouadeh, also published the arti-cle “CFRP Strengthening ofReinforced Concrete Beams:Experimental Study” in the Journalof Architectural Engineering 10 (4)2004, 120-25. It must be men-tioned that Dr. Issa was recentlyappointed a member on theTechnical Committee “StructuralCondition Assessment andRehabilitation of Buildings” of the

3 4 5

4Antoine Lahoud inBuenos Aires.

3The hooding of Dr.Kiprianos.

5H.E. Dr. HichamHamdan, LebaneseAmbassador toArgentine (R) held areception in honor ofLAU, represented byAntoine Lahoud (L)

School of Engineering & Architecture


American Society of Civil Engineers(ASCE).

Raymond Ghajar read a paperentitled “Risk Analysis of anAutomatic Meter Reading Systemfor Electricité du Liban” at theInternational Conference on Powerand Energy Systems which wasorganized by the InternationalAssociation of Science and

Technology for Development (IAST-ED) at Clearwater Beach, Florida(November 28-December 1). Thepaper was published in theProceedings, 228-233.

Jean Chatila, with M. Tabbara,published the article“Computational Modeling of Flowover an Ogee Spillway” inComputers and Structures Journal

82 (22) 2004, 1805-12. Dr. Chatilahad two other articles published:“Reclaimed Wastewater in SomeMiddle Eastern Countries: Pricingand Perspective” in CanadianJournal of Development Studies 25(3) 2004, and with B. Jurdi,“Stepped Spillway as an EnergyDissipator” in Canadian WaterResources Journal 29 (3) 2004.

2An educational sessionguided by LAUPharmacy faculty andstudents at MakassedGeneral Hospital.

1Shereen Nabhani andthe two LAU Pharmacystudent-winners inOrlando.

21

Vol. 7.2 17

14

7

Soula Kyriacos Boustani addressed the 12th

Congress of the Lebanese Order of Pharmacists(November 20-21) with a presentation entitled“Novel Drug Delivery Systems.” In December, shespoke on “Generics: Similar but not Identical” at RizkHospital (Ashrafieh).

The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists(ASHP) is one of the largest clinical pharmacist orga-nizations in the world. Its annual conference attractsover 30,000 pharmacists from all over the world. Itencompasses lectures, seminars, workshops, compe-titions, research presentations and showcases forresidencies, universities and job vacancies. The clini-cal skills competition it organizes is team-based anddesigned to increase pharmacy students’ awarenessof the importance of the pharmacist’s role in directpatient care. Its most recent conference was held inOrlando, Florida in December. LAU’s School ofPharmacy was excellently represented. It was thefirst time that a participating school from outside theUS was involved, thus the 2004 ASHP meeting wasits first international one. Dr. Shereen Nabhaniwas the LAU-coordinator of the clinical skills-compe-tition that sent our student-winners Wael Chaar andRony Zeeny to Orlando, where they competedagainst winners representing 82 US Schools ofPharmacy. Three other LAU School of Pharmacyfaculty members (Oussayma Moukhachen,Marwan Taha, Josette Berberi) as well as closeto twenty students and alumni travelled to Orlandoto present the various research projects that theyconducted over the past year in the poster presenta-tion session.

It is worth pointing out that the School ofPharmacy is equally active on the home front. Forexample, Dr. Shereen Nabhani supervised andguided four LAU PharmD. students in a series of edu-cational sessions at Makassed General Hospital(MGH) intended for its nursing staff, medical internsand residents. The objective was to increase aware-ness and education about cancer and chemotherapy.

Every Saturday, volunteers from the VolunteerOutreach Clinic (VOC) diagnose, treat and counselunderprivileged patients in the Health CommunityCentre of the Palestinian Shatila camp. Volunteersinclude LAU School of Pharmacy students and fac-ulty as well as AUB staff, medical students, resi-dents, dieticians and physicians. VOC membersShereen Nabhani and several of her studentsadvise the camp’s medical team on appropriate med-ications, doses and corresponding side effects, andthey dispense medications and counsel patients.

On a less formal note, the School of Pharmacyfaculty organized a successful reunion for its gradu-ates in Byblos in December. Dinner and games got alleighty attendees in a competitive and fun atmos-phere. The evening was planned mainly to get gradu-ates together after more than two years of separa-tion, but also to answer their concerns and to planfuture activities together. In collaboration with theOffice of Development and Alumni Affairs, theSchool of Pharmacy in fact plans on starting anAlumni Association that would increase LAU’s visibil-ity in the community and sustain open communica-tion between the Alumni and their alma mater.

3At the VolunteerOutreach Clinic inShatila Camp.

4The School ofPharmacy reuniondinner.

School of Pharmacy

3 4


Representing the Institute forPeace and Justice, Irma Ghosnwas invited to speak at a confer-ence organized by Women’sInitiative for Peace (WINPEACE)and the Greek Centre for Researchand Action on Peace (KEDE) inAthens, on October 16. The confer-ence topic was Integrating peaceeducation in the Greek school sys-tem: Changing attitudes, behaviorand structures conducive to vio-lence. Dr. Ghosn, one of five inter-national experts invited, spokespecifically on “Children’s literaturein peace education and languageteaching” (www.winpeace.net).From Athens, Dr. Ghosn travelledto Tirana where she participated inthe conference organized by TheHague Appeal for Peace GlobalCampaign for Peace Education

(October 20-24) on DevelopingDemocracy through PeaceEducation: Educating towards aWorld without Violence. She mod-erated a panel discussion betweenrepresentatives of Ministries ofEducation from countries in Africa,the Middle East and South EastAsia as well as UN representativesand peace educators on the fullimplementation of the UNESCOIntegrated Framework of Action forPeace, Human Rights andDemocracy. A member of theInternational Advisory Committeeof the GCPE, Dr. Ghosn helped todraw up the “Tirana Call for Peace Education” (www.haguepeace.org).

The Institute for Women’sStudies in the Arab World

(IWSAW), in consultancy withBeirut-DC, held its 5th Annual FilmFestival (June 28-30). The programincluded short films by studentsfrom various universities inLebanon that tackled issues suchas premarital sex, body image andrelationships. The festival alsoscreened two documentaries thatopenly address topics such as thekilling of female prostitutes in Iranand the AIDS virus in South Africa.Last but not least, four featurefilms from Egypt, Tunisia and Spainwere screened. The films and docu-mentaries selected were byrenowned directors such as PedroAlmodovar, Moufida Tlatli and RejaAmari, to mention a few.

On December 6, 9 and 15, TheWorld Bank Institute organized a

Flashes from Centres and Institutes

1Mona Khalaf and H.E.Zahira Kamal,Palestinian Ministerfor Women’s Affairs,at the @NGED meet-ing in Tunis.

3H.E. GertrudeMongella,Ambassador, Presidentof the Pan-AfricanParliament, AfricanUnion (L) and MonaKhalaf (R) at the inter-national conference on"Women DefendingPeace" in Geneva.

2Mona Khalaf, IWSAWDirector, surrounded bythe research team ofthe New SecurityChallenges Program atthe University of Ulster,Belfast.

1 2 3

Vol. 7.2 19

seminar/distance-learning courseentitled Gender Mainstreamingand MDGs – the role of universi-ties. The Institute for Women’sStudies in the Arab World(IWSAW) coordinated the event.The December 6 session was heldat the Irwin Hall conference rooms(Beirut), and the other two at theWorld Bank offices in the UNBuilding (Beirut). The sessionsincluded students fromAfghanistan, Bangladesh,Lebanon, Pakistan, Palestine andSaudi Arabia. The Lebanese dele-gation included students fromLAU, AUB and HaigazianUniversity. The objective of thesessions was to provide universitystudents with an opportunity toexchange opinions and ideas onMDGs (Millenium Development

Goals) and to discuss the role theycould play in achieving thesegoals.

Mona Khalaf, Director ofIWSAW, attended an assessmentmeeting of the European Projectfor Inter-religious Learning (EPIL),which was held September 16-20in Switzerland. A week later, sheattended the 3rd Annual Meeting ofthe Arab Network for Gender andDevelopment (@NGED on the topic“From Studies to Policies: BestPractices and Strategies.” Theconference was organized byCAWTAR, the World Bank and theEU in Tunis. November 10-13, Mrs.Khalaf attended a workshop on“Reimagining Women’s Security inSocieties in Transition” as part ofthe New Security Challenges

Program at the University of Ulsterin Belfast, Northern Ireland.

In Geneva, November 22-24,Mona Khalaf participated in aninternational conference on“Women Defending Peace” orga-nized by The Suzanne MubarakWomen’s International PeaceMovement, in cooperation withthe Swiss Federal Department ofForeign Affairs. She presented apaper in the panel on “SuccessStories.” Finally, Mrs. Khalaf par-ticipated in the meeting of theExpert Group of DAW (the UNDivision for the Advancement ofWomen) on “The role of nationalmechanisms in promoting genderequality and the empowerment ofwomen: Achievements and chal-lenges to the future.” The meeting

5Egypt's Nile TV presidentHala Hashish with IPJdirector at Berlin'sBrandenburg gate.

6Abu-Fadil in Al JazeeraTV's newsroom, Doha.

4Prof. Nabil Dajani of AUB(standing) with IPJ direc-tor Magda Abu-Fadil visit-ing Tim Cenius,director/executive pro-ducer at DanishBroadcasting Corporationin Copenhagen.

4 5 6


was held in Rome, November29-December 2, and Mrs.Khalaf presented a paper on“The Lebanese NationalWomen Machinery: Wheredoes it stand?”

The Institute forProfessional Journalists’Media Ethics Conference inJune 2004, sponsored by theGerman Heinrich BollFoundation came out as Proceedings in summer andis available online athttp://ipj.lau.edu.lb/events/20040609/index.php.

In August, Magda Abu-Fadil, Director of theInstitute for ProfessionalJournalists, was invited toCopenhagen, by Danish-based International MediaSupport as one amongexperts planning investiga-tive journalism projects andlooking into media and chil-dren’s issues. Mrs. Abu-Fadil also visited key-offi-cials at Danish radio, TV andnewspapers. These meetingswere followed-up by a sec-ond- and third-round in Beirutand Damascus to plan athree-day investigative jour-nalism workshop at LAU ini-

tially grouping twelvereporters from Lebanon,Syria and Jordan. Details willfollow in the next issue ofthe Faculty Gazette; mean-while, check outhttp://ipj.lau.edu.lb/out-reach/20040800/denmark.php. In November, Mrs. Abu-Fadil was invited by theInstitute for Foreign CulturalRelations, under the auspicesof the German ForeignMinistry, to speak at a con-ference on German-ArabMedia Dialogue in Berlin. Her paper addressed theissue of “Lebanese Youthand the Media: Social andPolitical Influences.” Shealso visited the offices andstudios of Telephone FM(Radio Baghdad) andDeutsche Welle TV in theGerman capital. The Arabicpaper is available as a PDFfile athttp://ipj.lau.edu.lb/out-reach/20041129/berlin.php.Magda Abu-Fadil also con-tributed a chapter entitled“Straddling Cultures: ArabWomen Journalists at Homeand Abroad” to the bookWomen and Media in theMiddle East, ed. I.B. Tauris(New York; London: Palgrave

Macmillan, 2004). Her chap-ter features such noted inter-national media figures fromArab backgrounds as BUCalumna Octavia Nasr (senioreditor for Arab affairs atCNN; BUC alumna SamiaNakhoul (Gulf bureau chieffor Reuters; Diana Moukalled(Future Television editor andsenior correspondent);Raghida Dergham (Al-Hayatpan-Arab daily newspapersenior correspondent, andothers.

In December, UNESCO’sInternational Program for theDevelopment ofCommunication (IPDC) orga-nized a media experts meet-ing for the Arab region inDoha, Qatar. Magda Abu-Fadil, IPJ Director, was invit-ed to discuss developmentpriorities in the region andassess project proposals sub-mitted to the IPDC by benefi-ciary organizations. She par-ticipated in the meetings,visited the MediaDepartment at QatarUniversity as well as Al-Jazeera’s studios and state-of-the-art-training centre,and spoke at a seminar onthe future of Arab media.

Flashes from Centres and Institutes (Continued)

Above L-R: Anders Jerichow,columnist forPolitiken daily ofDenmark; Jesper Hojberg, ExecutiveDirector of IMS; LarsKabel, professor atDanish School of Journalism;LAU alumna andworkshop translatorHanan Nasser; Pia Thordsen, boardmember of DanishAssociation ofInvestigative Journalism; andPernille Brix, IMSconsultant at IPJ'sJanuary 2005 investigative journal-ism workshop.

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