The American Chemical Society (ACS), Division of Environmental Chemistry convened a three days symposium honoring the contributions of Dean and Prof. Rabi H. Mohtar to the Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus research and education during its annual Fall Meeting, in Atlanta GA (August 23-25, 2021).
Dean Mohtar highlighted lessons learned from cross-disciplinary collaborations in several national and global case studies, the opportunities for creating an inclusive, cross-disciplinary WEF nexus Community of Practice, and the role of existing, disciplinary societies in such a Community.
The 2021 ACS Rabi H. Mohtar Symposium included multi-stakeholders from academia, private, civil society and public sectors in the various thematic areas related to operationalizing WEF nexus research and development and will highlight lessons learned from cross-disciplinary collaborations, with national and global case studies in this space. It focused on the opportunities that lie in creating a cross-cutting inclusive WEF nexus Community of Practice and the role of existing disciplinary societies in it. Contributors to the session were invited to submit manuscripts for a Special Issue in the Water-Energy Nexus Journal. The call for papers opened in April 2021; manuscripts will be accepted on a rolling basis until November 2021.
To submit manuscript, please click here .
Topics include but are not limited to:
- Water-Energy-Food-Health nexus and the Sustainable Development Goals
- Sustainable food production systems
- Renewable energy and sustainable agri-food systems
- Building systems thinking and leadership capacity
- Behavioral changes towards sustainability in the Water – Energy – Food Nexus
- Governance of the Water – Energy – Food Nexus
Several faculty members from AUB WEFRAH community contributed to the symposium and presented several papers as per below:
During the 1st day of the Symposium in honor of Dr. Rabi Mohtar, On Monday, August 23, 2021, Dean Dr. Rabi Mohtar gave his keynote speech during the ENVR024A: Opening Plenary Session that was moderated by Virender Sharma that was followed by two presentations that were given one during the ENVR024B: State of the art models and approaches session where Drs. Roula Bashour and Sandra Yanni presented an oral presentation entitled “Food security under compound shocks: Can Lebanon produce its own Mediterranean food basket?" that was moderated by Dr. Chrysi Laspidou and the second within the ENVR024C: WEF Nexus Initiatives and Case Studies session where Dr. Mirella Aoun presented “Water-Energy-Food-Health Nexus Renewable Resources initiative (WEFRAH) at the American University of Beirut" that was moderated by Bassel Daher.
During the 2nd day of the symposium, Tuesday, August 24, 2021, two AUB faculty members presented oral presentations within the ENVR024D: WEF Governance and Stakeholder Engagement: In honor of Professor Kent Portney sessions where Dr. Martin Keulertz presented “Virtual Water and the Water-Energy-Food Nexus" after which Dr. Lara Nasreddine presented about “Dietary shifts amongst Lebanese adolescents are associated with changes in environmental footprints between the years 1997 and 2009" both of which were moderated by Bassel Daher.
During the 3rd and last day of the symposium, on Wednesday, August 25, 2021, both Drs. Iman Nuwayhid and Rabi Mohtar presented during the ENVR024F: WEF Education, Community and Practice session that was also moderated by Bassel Daher and during which Dr. Iman Nuwayhid presented “Water, Energy, Food, and Health: The H in WEFRAH is yet another resource" after which Dean dr. Rabi Mohtar Presented “Opportunities and Challenges for Establishing Water-Energy-Food Nexus Community of Practice"
