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DiscoveringAUB
@discoveringaub.bsky.social
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The American University of Beirut: Leading expertise, research & events across all academic disciplines.
Operated by the NY Office.
linktr.ee/discoveringaub
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discoveringaub.bsky.social
Congratulations to AUB alumnus Yusuf Hannun, Professor in Cancer Research at Stony Brook University, on receiving an $11M NIH grant supporting his team’s groundbreaking research on sphingolipids—fat molecules key to cancer development, treatment response, and therapy-related toxicity. #OncoSky
Portrait of Yusuf Hannun smiling, wearing a suit and tie against a neutral gray background. Below his photo, text reads: “ALUMNI IN THE NEWS — YUSUF HANNUN (BS ’77, MD ’81, HON. DHL ’14).” The American University of Beirut logo appears at the bottom.
November 12, 2025 at 3:53 PM
discoveringaub.bsky.social
How can fragile objects tell stories of resilience? Join us at The Met on November 19 to hear AUB's Dr. Nadine Panayot explore how heritage can endure through conflict, and how innovation, conservation, and digitalization safeguard memory for generations to come. Register: tr.ee/themet 🏺
A promotional graphic featuring ancient glass artifacts displayed in museum cases. The text reads: “HERITAGE DNA — Resilience at the American University of Beirut Archaeological Museum.” Event details below state: “Tuesday, November 18, 2025 | 11:00–12:00 PM ET — The Metropolitan Museum of Art.” Logos of the American University of Beirut and The Met are displayed at the bottom.
November 7, 2025 at 4:02 PM
discoveringaub.bsky.social
What happens when citizens stop believing their governments can deliver?

Part 2 of our op-ed series explores the Middle East’s deep crisis of trust—and what it will take to rebuild it.

Read: tr.ee/oped2 @abouassi.bsky.social #AcademicSky #PoliSciSky
A graphic featuring a close-up map of the Middle East, showing countries such as Lebanon, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Syria, and Turkey. Overlaid text reads: “OP-ED — Beyond Rhetoric: Earning Trust in the Middle East’s Governance Crisis.” Below it, the author is listed as Khaldoun AbouAssi. The bottom section includes the American University of Beirut logo and the Global Engagement Initiative branding.
November 6, 2025 at 5:25 PM
discoveringaub.bsky.social
This week’s Student Spotlight features Sima Mirza — a Business Administration student whose journey at AUB is defined by leadership, learning, and global engagement. #EduSky
A student named Sima Mirza stands outdoors on the American University of Beirut campus, smiling and dressed in black. The image has the text “STUDENT SPOTLIGHT” at the top in a maroon banner and “SIMA MIRZA – BBA BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION” at the bottom in bold maroon and black text. Graphic titled “MEET SIMA:” featuring text about Sima Mirza, a Junior Business Administration student at AUB concentrating in Finance. The text highlights her achievements, including being a portfolio manager in AUB’s Investment Management Program, gaining international experience, serving on the Student Representative Council, and engaging in community initiatives. A testimonial from Sima Mirza about her lifelong dream of attending AUB, describing how she grew up visiting campus with her parents and now wants to give back to the university. The design includes her quote, a large maroon quotation mark graphic, and a circular photo of her standing inside the New York Stock Exchange. Her name appears at the bottom in bold maroon text.
November 5, 2025 at 4:00 PM
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How are shifting alliances and power dynamics reshaping governance in the MENA region? Join our webinar with Chatham House this Thursday at 10am ET / 5pm Beirut to explore how states are adapting to change — and what it means for the region’s future.

Register: tr.ee/ifiweb #AcademicSky
Event poster for a discussion titled “Reshaping Governance in the MENA Region: Domestic Pressures and Global Dynamics,” hosted by the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University of Beirut in partnership with Chatham House. The event is scheduled for Thursday, November 6, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 6:00 PM Beirut time, held at the IFI Conference Room and online via Zoom. Speakers include Hayder Al-Shakeri, Bader Al-Saif, Yeghia Tashjian, and Sanam Vakil. The moderator is Joseph Bahout, IFI Director. The poster includes AUB and Chatham House logos and a summary about shifting governance models in the MENA region amid global and domestic pressures.
November 3, 2025 at 3:57 PM
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Have you caught up on this month’s AUB@Work? Visit tr.ee/oct25 to explore:

📌 AI “fact-checker” protecting self-driving cars
📌 AI uncovering daily life in ancient Egypt
📌 Lebanese soil revealing new antibiotics
📌 Diesel pollution tied to rising cancer risk
Digital illustration combining ancient cave-style art and modern symbols shows red ochre drawings of people and animals alongside a laptop sketch on a textured stone background. Text on the image reads: “AUB@Work Oct 2025 – AI unlocks ancient Egyptian life. Read more. American University of Beirut.” Close-up digital illustration of colorful bacteria in blue and orange hues under a microscope, representing scientific research on microbes. Text on the image reads: “AUB@Work Oct 2025 – New discovery in fight against antimicrobial resistance. Read more. American University of Beirut.” Illustration showing a weathered industrial building with rusted pipes and windows, evoking pollution and environmental decay. The image accompanies the headline “Toxic Power, Rising Risk” from the American University of Beirut’s AUB@Work series, October 2025. Graphic for the American University of Beirut’s “AUB@Work” series, October 2025 edition, titled “When Roads Get Hacked.” The image shows a car on a digital road with glowing blue lines, grids, and radar-like waves symbolizing smart vehicle sensors and autonomous driving technology. The AUB logo and “Read More” prompt appear on a maroon banner at the bottom.
October 31, 2025 at 2:41 PM
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What happens when trust in government is lost—and how can it be rebuilt? Our new four-part op-ed series explores why restoring public trust is key to the Middle East’s future.

Read part one: tr.ee/oped1 #AcademicSky #PoliSciSky
Graphic from the American University of Beirut titled “Beyond Stability: Rebuilding Trust in the Middle East.” The image shows a map of the Middle East with colored push pins marking locations in Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Text indicates that the op-ed is authored by Khaldoun AbouAssi, Tania Haddad, and Simon Neaime, and is part of AUB’s Global Engagement Initiative.
October 30, 2025 at 4:04 PM
discoveringaub.bsky.social
At AUB, learning doesn’t stop at the classroom door. The Transformative Education (TrEd) Program gives students the tools to think creatively, lead confidently, and explore new ways to learn. Hear from the students themselves: youtube.com/watch?v=D4fTF4YESZY #EduSky
What is TrEd?
YouTube video by Bilal R. Kaafarani
www.youtube.com
October 29, 2025 at 3:26 PM
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For this week’s #MedMondays, we’re proud to spotlight AUB’s Dr. Salah Zein-El-Dine, recipient of the ACGME-I Physician Leader International Award! A leader in medical education, he’s strengthened training, promoted wellness, & advanced standards at AUB and beyond. Congratulations, Dr. Zein-El-Dine!
Graphic from the American University of Beirut Faculty of Medicine featuring Dr. Salah Zein-El-Dine, smiling in a suit and tie with trees in the background. The text announces that Dr. Zein-El-Dine received the Physician Leader International Award from the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education International (ACGME-I). The AUB and Faculty of Medicine logos appear on the image.
October 27, 2025 at 4:20 PM
discoveringaub.bsky.social
A tiny sticker could trick a self-driving car—and AUB’s Prof. Ali Chehab is working to stop that. His new AI safeguard protects autonomous vehicles from visual deception.
Read: tr.ee/hacked #AI #AcademicSky
Graphic for the American University of Beirut’s “AUB@Work” series, October 2025 edition, titled “When Roads Get Hacked.” The image shows a car on a digital road with glowing blue lines, grids, and radar-like waves symbolizing smart vehicle sensors and autonomous driving technology. The AUB logo and “Read More” prompt appear on a maroon banner at the bottom.
October 24, 2025 at 2:46 PM
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For today’s Student Spotlight, meet Melanie—a second-year AUB Mediterraneo Philosophy, Politics & Economics student. Rooted in faith and driven by curiosity, she’s embracing every opportunity—from the Pafos marathon to Pafos FC and EU youth dialogue—to build community and turn dreams into action.
October 22, 2025 at 4:44 PM
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Happening tomorrow! Join AUB's Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah and Princeton's Eliza Griswold for Conversations from Beirut: “The Biosphere of War,” hosted by the Princeton Bobst Center–AUB Collaborative Initiative. Wednesday, October 22, 4:30 pm Beirut / 9:30 am EST. Join: tr.ee/biosphere
Event poster for the American University of Beirut Faculty of Arts & Sciences series “Conversations from Beirut.” The event, titled “The Biosphere of War,” features Dr. Ghassan Abu Sittah from AUB and Eliza Griswold from Princeton University. The background shows a war-torn cityscape filled with rubble and destroyed buildings. The webinar is scheduled for Wednesday, October 22, 2025, at 4:30 PM Beirut / 9:30 AM New York, and is open to the public via Zoom.
October 21, 2025 at 6:57 PM
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Lebanon runs on generators—but that dependence may be quietly fueling a public health crisis. New research from AUB's Dr. Hassan Dhaini links toxic diesel emissions to one of the world’s highest bladder cancer rates, revealing a warning that could reach far beyond Lebanon. Read: tr.ee/generator 🛟
Illustration showing a weathered industrial building with rusted pipes and windows, evoking pollution and environmental decay. The image accompanies the headline “Toxic Power, Rising Risk” from the American University of Beirut’s AUB@Work series, October 2025.
October 20, 2025 at 6:04 PM
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Missed yesterday’s webinar on Lebanon–Mexico relations? Watch Migration, Integration, and Diplomacy to learn why Lebanese migrants chose Mexico more than a century ago, how they helped shape its history, and how AUB’s ties with the country continue to grow.

Watch: tr.ee/oct16 #AcademicSky
Screenshot of a virtual webinar featuring four participants. Clockwise from top left: Amanda Fox, who moderated the discussion; Martha Trabulse El Khouri; Enrique Alfonso Gómez Montiel; and Caroline Chalouhi Brennan. All are smiling and appear in separate video call windows during the online panel.
October 17, 2025 at 7:59 PM
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What if the cure for tomorrow’s infections is hiding beneath our feet? AUB's Antoine Abou Fayad just discovered four new bacterial species in Lebanese soil—three never seen before. Read more: tr.ee/allies 🧪🛟
Close-up digital illustration of colorful bacteria in blue and orange hues under a microscope, representing scientific research on microbes. Text on the image reads: “AUB@Work Oct 2025 – New discovery in fight against antimicrobial resistance. Read more. American University of Beirut.”
October 15, 2025 at 4:15 PM
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How did ancient Egyptians live—and eat—thousands of years ago? AUB’s Dr. Claire Malleson is using AI to uncover remarkable details from preserved plant remains on Elephantine Island, revealing daily habits and lessons for sustainability today. Read more: tr.ee/archAI 🏺
Digital illustration combining ancient cave-style art and modern symbols shows red ochre drawings of people and animals alongside a laptop sketch on a textured stone background. Text on the image reads: “AUB@Work Oct 2025 – AI unlocks ancient Egyptian life. Read more. American University of Beirut.”
October 10, 2025 at 5:58 PM
discoveringaub.bsky.social
56 current faculty members of the American University of Beirut have been recognized among the world’s top 2% most-cited scientists in the updated science-wide author databases of standardized citation indicators, further marking AUB research excellence and global visibility. Read: tr.ee/topcited
Faculty members in academic regalia walk toward College Hall on the American University of Beirut campus. Text overlay reads: “56 AUB faculty members named among the world’s most-cited scientists. Read the full story.” The American University of Beirut logo appears in the lower right corner.
October 8, 2025 at 6:53 PM
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What drew Lebanese migrants to Mexico 150 years ago, & how did they build new lives there? In honor of 80 years of diplomatic relations between Mexico and Lebanon, join us October 16 for a webinar on how early Lebanese communities adapted to their new home—& helped shape it. RSVP: tr.ee/octwebinar
Promotional graphic for a webinar titled “Migration, Integration, and Diplomacy: The Rich History of Lebanon-Mexico Relations,” hosted by the American University of Beirut’s Debs Center. The event is scheduled for Thursday, October 16, 2025, at 12:00 pm ET. Featured speakers include Caroline Chalouhi Brennan, Enrique Alfonso Gómez Montiel, and Martha Trabulse El Khouri, with Amanda Fox as moderator.
October 6, 2025 at 4:13 PM
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Congratulations to architect and AUB alumna Lina Ghotmeh (BArch ’03 with distinction) on being named to the TIME100 Next 2025 list! This honor celebrates leaders shaping the future—redefining influence, breaking paths, and inspiring transformation across generations. #Architecture
Portrait of Lina Ghotmeh smiling, framed within a TIME100 Next 2025 graphic design with red and black geometric borders.
October 3, 2025 at 3:51 PM
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From student-led recitals in Assembly Hall to stages across Lebanon & Cyprus, the AUB Classical Music Club has become a cultural force redefining how classical music is experienced. Since 2019, the club has built on AUB’s long tradition of classical music to keep the art alive. Read: tr.ee/classical
Musicians perform on stage in front of a large audience inside a concert hall. A pianist, a clarinetist, and a woman reading from sheet music are visible, with a grand piano in the foreground. Text overlay reads: “The Journey of AUB’s Classical Music Club. Read all about it in The MainGate – American University of Beirut.”
October 1, 2025 at 3:31 PM
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We’re proud to share that Dr. Faysal El Kak has received the prestigious Honoris Causa Fellowship from the Royal College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists! This honor celebrates his global impact in advancing women’s healthcare & reflects AUBMC’s mission to lead w/ excellence & compassion. 🛟 #MedSky
September 29, 2025 at 4:45 PM
discoveringaub.bsky.social
Have you caught up on this month’s AUB@Work? Visit tr.ee/sept25 for:

📌 Rebuilding trust in Middle Eastern institutions through reform
📌 Silica nanoparticles capturing & recycling toxic pollutants
📌 AI models making fracking less harmful to aquifers
📌 Geothermal simulations advancing clean energy
Collage of Middle Eastern banknotes featuring prominent leaders and cultural symbols. Text overlay reads: “AUB at Work, Sep 2025. Rebuilding Trust in Institutions in the Middle East. Read More. American University of Beirut.” Flowing water in a treatment facility or channel, symbolizing clean water and pollution solutions. Text overlay reads: “AUB at Work, Sep 2025. Microscopic Sand, Massive Pollution Solution. Read More. American University of Beirut.” Aerial view of a fracking site in a desert landscape with drilling equipment and machinery. Text overlay reads: “AUB at Work, Sep 2025. Can AI Make Fracking Less Harmful? Read More. American University of Beirut.” A geothermal steam vent releases a large plume of white vapor in a mountainous area with patches of snow. Text overlay reads: “AUB@Work Sep 2025 — Smarter modeling brings geothermal within reach. American University of Beirut.”
September 26, 2025 at 3:09 PM
discoveringaub.bsky.social
This week’s Student Spotlight features Roy, a senior Mechanical Engineering student minoring in Economics, whose leadership, research, and global engagement have left a lasting impact on campus and beyond. #AcademicSky #EduSky
Student Spotlight graphic featuring Roy El Badawi, BE Mechanical Engineering student at AUB, standing outdoors in front of a university building with arms crossed, wearing a beige suit jacket and white shirt. Infographic titled ‘Meet Roy’ highlighting achievements of Roy El Badawi, senior Mechanical Engineering student minoring in Economics. Lists leadership roles in student societies, awards including Excellence in Student Life Award, international Model UN representation, and winner of the AUB Founders Day Essay Contest. Quote card with Roy El Badawi’s reflection about community and resilience at AUB. Includes his photo with AUB President Fadlo Khuri, both holding an award certificate, with the caption ‘Roy El Badawi’ at the bottom.
September 24, 2025 at 3:29 PM
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What if clean energy was right beneath our feet? AUB Professor Elsa Maalouf and her team have developed a faster, more affordable way to design geothermal systems—bringing this hidden power source within reach for more communities. Read: tr.ee/geothermal #AcademicSky 🧪🌎
A geothermal steam vent releases a large plume of white vapor in a mountainous area with patches of snow. Text overlay reads: “AUB@Work Sep 2025 — Smarter modeling brings geothermal within reach. American University of Beirut.”
September 22, 2025 at 8:23 PM
discoveringaub.bsky.social
Thank you to everyone who joined us at yesterday’s panel! Our panelists explored the roots of public distrust, the risks of failing to restore it, and the vital role of civic engagement, empowerment, and the rule of law in rebuilding legitimacy and social cohesion.

Watch: tr.ee/sept18 #AcademicSky
Roundtable panel discussion with participants seated around a long wooden table, and a large screen displaying the title 'When Trust Is Lost: How to Rebuild Stable Statehood in the Middle East' alongside university logos. Close-up of panelists at a roundtable discussion, with one man speaking into a microphone while others listen and take notes. Event title and university logos are visible on the screen in the background. Panel discussion at a roundtable, with a woman in a green blazer speaking while other participants listen. A large screen behind them shows the event title and university logos. Man holding a microphone asking a question during the Q&A session, while another man seated beside him listens with his hand on his chin.
September 19, 2025 at 8:42 PM