Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences Dean Nahla Hwalla was recently appointed a fellow of the International Union for Nutritional Sciences (IUNS). Dean Hwalla is the first IUNS member from the Middle East to receive this recognition.

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World Diabetes Day is celebrated on the 14^th of November of every year. It engages people, from all over the world, in diabetes advocacy and awareness. This campaign, led by the International Diabetes Federation and its member associations, draws the public attention to issues of great importance to diabetes and keeps diabetes in the public spotlight.

In memory of this day, the students of NFSC 292 (Medical Nutrition Therapy I) conducted an awareness campaign at the American University of Beirut, on the 13^th of November 2009, for diabetes education and prevention. The main objectives of the campaign were to increase public awareness about diabetes risk factors, its warning signs and its serious consequences, as well as about the important role of nutrition in diabetes prevention and treatment. Stands were set up next to the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences and the Engineering buildings to distribute educational material and screen people for diabetes by checking their blood sugar levels. Participants were advised to consult their medical doctor in case of elevated blood glucose concentrations.

Regional and international experts were gathered for the conference, which focused on eating disorders, obesity, and common hidden deficiencies, in addition to innovative management and intervention approaches for children and adolescents. Organized by the Lebanese Association for Nutrition and Food Sciences (LANFS) in collaboration with the Department of Nutrition and Food Sciences at the American University of Beirut (AUB), the conference on “Current Challenges in Adolescent and Child Nutrition” was held on October 24 at Issam Fares Hall.  The event was held under the patronage of the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health and with the support of Nestlé as part of their “10 Signs of Good Nutrition”.

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The seminar, which took place in the Agriculture building room 203 on October 21, featured three twenty-minute-long power-point presentations by different scholars from AUB and outside. Organized by the Faculty of Agricultural and Food Sciences, the discussions focused on some of the advances in research on food and food-related issues.

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On November 21^st, 2008, the BOT approved the undergraduate degree program in Agribusiness; a 3 years program that offers students a unique opportunity to acquire a comprehensive knowledge of the decision-making processes of business and the technical aspects of modern agriculture and food systems. The program; which will be active as of Spring 2008-2009, offers courses in basic sciences, business, agriculture, and agribusiness management.

A new undergraduate Coordinated Program in Nutrition and Dietetics (CP) is expected to be launched in the academic year 2009-2010. The 4 year program is tailored to the meet the accreditation requirements of the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Candidates for the CP will be selected during the last semester of the third year of the Nutrition and Dietetics program (upon completion of 96 credits) to pursue their fourth year in completing the dietetic internship at AUBMC or other qualified and approved hospitals.

FAFS Awarded ARU by the LNCSR

An agreement was signed between AUB and Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research (LNCSR) launching a three-year collaboration between the two institutions whereby LNCSR will establish at the Nutrition and Food Sciences Department an Associated Research Unit (ARU) for “Under Nutrition and Obesity in Lebanon”. The objective of this ARU is to enhance the nutritional well-being and health of children and adults in Lebanon. The Director of ARU is Dean Nahla Hwalla from AUB, in partnership with Dr. Dolla Sarkis from Université Saint Joseph and Dr. Ziad Harb from Université Saint-Esprit, Kaslik. The LNCSR will support this unit with $50,000 annually for a period of 3 years.