The Humanitarian Engineering Initiative at the American University of Beirut is a partnership between the Faculty of Health Sciences (FHS) and the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture (MSFEA).
It was founded in 2017 in response to the humanitarian and public health challenges constantly emerging globally, regionally and locally, affecting vulnerable and underprivileged population groups.
HEI focuses on designing innovative and multidisciplinary solutions for the betterment of human health and well-being.
Humanitarian Engineering and Health Innovations
In a rapidly changing context fraught with conflict and a rise in the burden of disease, there is an ever-growing need for innovative, multidisciplinary solutions to emerging public health problems in the Arab region. The broad objective of the Humanitarian Engineering Initiative is to combine disciplinary methods to address global challenges, which is particularly important given rapid transitions in health in the region, and the urgency of meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Objectives
- Build
the capacity of engineering students in designing solutions for social
wellbeing, and of public health students in engineering design and
methodologies
- Initiate collaborative research and/or service projects and applying for funding opportunities
- Establish international partnerships and collaborations
- Offer joint diplomas and/or certificates
- Organize national, regional and international forums or conference on current topics
- Generate joint intellectual property for AUB through patents or licenses