Seven out of 15 scientists recently recognized for their outstanding contributions by The National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS) are faculty members from the American University of Beirut.
The CNRS recently distributed research excellence awards during a special celebration marking its Golden Jubilee, held on June 6, 2012 at the Grand Serail, under the patronage of Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
AUB awardees were: Hassan Artail FEA, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering for Information & Communication Technology; Ali Bazarbachi FM, Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, for Targeted Therapy of Leukemia and Lymphoma and specifically for the Discovery of a Novel Treatment for Adult T Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma; Mutasem El-Fadel FEA, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, for Environmental & Water Resources Engineering; Nesreen Ghaddar FEA, Department of Mechanical Engineering, for Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency; Nahla C. Hwalla FAFS, Department of Nutrition and Food Science), for Nutrition & Noncommunicable Diseases; Bilal Kaafarani FAS, Department of Chemistry, for Organic & Materials Chemistry; Ala Sharara FM, Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, for clinical research in the field of Gastroenterology and Hepatology.
Moreover, in appreciation of the universities in Lebanon who consider scientific research as an essential component of their programs and the outputs of their academic staff, as well as the active collaboration between these universities and CNRS, Prime Minister Mikati presented the CNRS Golden Jubilee medal to seven university presidents among whom was AUB President Peter Dorman.
The event was held in the presence of Lebanese ministers Adnan Mansour (Foreign Affairs), Hussein Hajj Hassan (Agriculture), Vreij Sabounjian (Industry), Walid Daouk (Information), Nazem El Khoury (Environment), Hassan Diab (Education and Higher Education)), the EU Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst, as well as Ambassadors of Italy, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine, Sultanate of Oman, Cyprus, and Iran and in the presence of other MPs and officials. Souheil Bourji, the government's commissioner before the CNRS and Laure Sleiman Saab, the National News Agency director, also attended the event.
“The achievements of our university members are testimony to the important role of AUB faculty in the advancement of knowledge and in the development of Lebanon’s research capacity,” said Provost Ahmad Dallal. “We congratulate our colleagues for receiving the national recognition that they so richly deserve.”
As part of the Golden Jubilee activities, CNRS invited scientists in March 2012 to submit applications for the research excellence award in all scientific disciplines. To be eligible, applicants should have conducted their research in one of the research or academic institutions in Lebanon during the period 2001-2011, and they should have submitedt all their papers that were published in refereed journals, their books (authored or edited), and research projects funded by CNRS or other local or international donors, in addition to any honors or patents received.