For the second year in a row, Ibsar held its Ta3a Ne7ke Debate Series during the Fall Semester of the Academic year 2011-2012. This year, the debates were able to attract media coverage, as well as an audience from within and outside the AUB community. The series included four debates, each tackling issues of the environment through a different, yet, interdisciplinary approach. The aim behind these yearly debates is to address issues pertaining to nature conservation, biodiversity, and sustainability.

This year’s topics were chosen to present such issues through the eyes of distinct scholars and professionals in a variety of disciplines. They varied from Arts & Humanities’ say in nature conservation and sustainable futures,to whether being surrounded by green space instigates a care for nature, to whether herbal supplements and therapies are prevention or a cure, reaching the investigation of ways through which buildings can contribute to nature in the city.

The first debate was titled: “What do the Arts and Humanities have to say about nature conservation and sustainable futures?” and was moderated by Dr. David Wrisley, Associate Professor at the Department of Civilization Sequence and Chair of the English Department at AUB. The speakers included: Dr. Joshua Gonsalves, Dr. David Waterman, and Ms. Crystal Hoffman, from the English Department, and Dr. Sonja Mechjer from the Department of Civilization Sequence at AUB. Each speaker, based on his/her experience addressed the role of the Arts and Humanities in nature conservation as well as the relationship between the two.

Titled “Do we have to be surrounded by green space to care for it?,” the second Ta3a Ne7ke Debate focused on the effect of green spaces on our lives and was moderated by Dr. Arne Dietrich from the Psychology Department. For this debate, the speakers were: Dr. Bilal Hamad, Beirut Mayor and Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering at AUB, Dr. Rita Khayat, Vice President of IT at AUB, Ms. Jessica Dheere, President of Social Media Exchange (SMEX), and Dr. Michel Moufarege, President of LibanTrek. Depending on each speaker’s experience, the topic was taken in different directions with those advocating for green space and acknowledging the direct relationship between green spaces and our productivity and wellbeing and those who believed that though it is very important to be surrounded by green space, the presence of such space does not necessitate a care for it.

The third Ta3a Ne7ke Debate investigated the reality behind herbal supplement. Titled, “Herbal Supplements and Therapies: A Prevention or a Cure?” the debate was moderated by Dr. Rabih Talhouk from the Biology Department at AUB. The speakers included Dr. Pierre Zalloua, Professor of Genetics and Iterim Dean of School of Pharmacy at LAU, Dr. Omar Obeid, from the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences and Dr. Fady Maalouf from the Department of Psychiatry at AUB and Ms. SuhaRbeiz, aromatherapist and owner of Body Care Club. The speakers explored the effect of herbs and supplements on human health, their possible sham effect, as well as their evidenced benefits.

The final Ta3a Ne7ke debate for this year addressed the role of buildings in the city and was entitled; “How can buildings contribute to nature in the city?” This session was moderated by Dr. Jala Makhzoumi, Professor at the Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management at AUB. The speakers of this session included: Architect Aram Yeretzian and Architect and Urban Planner Abdul HalimJabr from the Architecture Department at AUB, Economist Dr. Jad Chaaban from the Agriculture Department, and Dr. Salma Talhouk from the Department of Landscape Design and Ecosystem Management at AUB. While both architects defended the new concept of greening, the other two speakers were not in total disagreement, but each had his own reservations on the matter.