Safa Jafari, Office of Communications, communications@aub.edu.lb
A three-day international conference titled “Research in Crisis Settings: Challenges and Opportunities" was held at AUB in collaboration with Birzeit University and with support from the International Development Research Centre (IDRC). Participants from 24 countries joined in various sessions that advocated for the necessity of research in crisis settings to document data, inform policies, drive innovation, and ultimately improve the human condition.
“The question is not whether research can be maintained during crisis, but how can research best contribute to documentation, relief, and recovery," said vice provost for research at AUB, Dr. Elie Akl, pointing out that the conference aims to foster a research ecosystem that is inter-disciplinary and cross-sectoral, and to highlight the importance of “research for impact" in crisis settings.
AUB President Fadlo Khuri highlighted the importance of tenure—which AUB decided to restore in 2015 after a 30-year hiatus—in moving from merely “counting the number of publications toward making publications count." He added, “The best solution is collaboration… while keeping the standards as high as possible, while treating everyone with the maximal respect, and while making sure that no matter the current political or other wins, you're doing great work for the greater good or for its own sake."
Keynotes, panel discussions, research presentations, and interactive workshops looked at how research can bridge between community needs and policy strategies. Emphasizing the need for interdisciplinary, cross-sectoral, and community-driven research, the conference included a rich series of sessions that ranged from health, to urban studies, social sciences, engineering, and ethical challenges, in addition to poetry, exhibitions, concerts, and daily tours of Beirut.
To advocate for collaboration between various stakeholders, the event brought together academics and researchers from multiple disciplines, government officials and policymakers, and practitioners in policy and other related fields to explore the role of research in crisis settings, as well as address the challenges and opportunities to advancing such knowledge generation toward innovation and policy change.
In his keynote speech, senior fellow at the Middle East Institute, Dr. Paul Salem, called for revisiting underlying understandings and assumptions when doing research in crisis settings. “Crisis can be a turning point," he said. “If we see it only as a catastrophe, we may miss its capacity to catalyze transformation. If we romanticize it, we risk overlooking its pain and its destruction."
“Communities in crisis need research that is not just about them, but for them," he added. “This means moving from passive observation to engaged scholarship. Researchers must become not chroniclers of tragedy but contributors to recovery and to transformation… co-creating knowledge… sharing findings in ways that are accessible, and allowing communities to shape their own research priorities."
Roula El-Rifai, senior program specialist of democratic and inclusive governance at the International Development Research Centre said, “We need conferences like this to help us identify a future research agenda on what we need to do in these contexts that are urgent, priority, emergency; where people's livelihoods are at stake, and at the same time connect this to a long-term vision about the stability of the region."
Birzeit University's president, Dr. Talal Shahwan, represented by Dr. Rula Ghandour, highlighted in his welcome speech that “With a vast number of countries represented, and with researchers, practitioners, policymakers, and civil society leaders gathered here, we have a unique chance to exchange ideas, compare strategies, and build partnerships that will last beyond these few days."
The sessions that followed continued with a focus on the ethics and conceptual frameworks for conducting research in the context of conflict. They explored scholarly activism, business continuity of research, and operational research in crisis conditions, in addition to leveraging research to mitigate crisis impacts and engaging international partnerships for ongoing support. They called for the arrival at actionable recommendations for easier and more productive utilization of crisis research that is locally impactful and globally relevant.
Aligned with AUB's values and long-term commitment to sustainability, the Research in Crisis Settings conference is AUB's first “greener conference" where all aspects were reimagined to promote sustainability through ethical practices that eliminate waste, prioritize recycled material, and use sustainable and locally-sourced products. Upon entry, participants were met with digitalized resources, an upcycled cloth bag, and even a reusable water bottle.
After a year of effort by the AUB Office of Research, collaborators, and several committees during a challenging time for both AUB and Lebanon, the conference succeeded in serving as an opportunity for networking and fostering fruitful partnerships. Following an open-air musical concert by artist Sobhi Abdo and his band on Thursday, the conference concluded on Friday with a performance by the AUB Zaki Nassif Program for Music.