Advancing Research for a Sustainable Future Conference

ARSFC 2026
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Day 1
08:30 - 09:00
Registration
09:00 - 09:30
Ms. Dina Abou El Ez Prof. Hania Nakkash Dr. Chadi Abdallah H.E. Mrs. Bahia Hariri Prof. Wael Nabil Abdel Salam H.E. Dr. Fadi Makki
Opening Session

Theme: Research for a Sustainable

Session Moderator: Ms. Dina Abou El Ez - Executive Research Administrator, Beirut Arab University

Welcome Note:

  • Welcome Address:

Prof. Hania Nakkash - Dean of Graduate Studies & Research, Beirut Arab University

  • Presidential Address:

- Dr. Chadi Abdallah - Secretary General at the National Council for Scientific Research (CNRS - Lebanon)

- Prof. Wael Nabil Abdel Salam - President, Beirut Arab University

- H.E. Mrs. Bahia Hariri- President of the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development

- H.E. Dr. Fadi Makki - Minister of State for Administrative Reform


Ms. Dina Abou El Ez
Ms. Dina Abou El Ez
<p><strong>Moderator</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Executive Research Administrator, Beirut Arab University</p>
Prof. Hania Nakkash
Prof. Hania Nakkash
<p><strong>Conference Chair</strong></p><p>Dean of Graduate Studies &amp; Research, Beirut Arab University</p>
Dr. Chadi Abdallah
Dr. Chadi Abdallah
<p><strong>Welcome Note</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Director of research at the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research and the Remote Sensing Center</p>
H.E. Mrs. Bahia Hariri
H.E. Mrs. Bahia Hariri
<p><strong>Welcome Note</strong></p><p>President of the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development</p>
Prof. Wael Nabil Abdel Salam
Prof. Wael Nabil Abdel Salam
<p><strong>Welcome Note</strong></p><p>President, Beirut Arab University</p>
H.E. Dr. Fadi Makki
H.E. Dr. Fadi Makki
<p><strong>Welcome Note</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Minister of State for Administrative Reform</p>
09:30 - 10:00
Dr. Carla Khater Dr. Rubina Abu Zeinab Dr. Alissar Rady
Keynote Address

Title: From Global Goals to Local Impact: Research as a Driver of Sustainable Futures

Keynote Speaker:

  • Dr. Carla Khater- Director of Research, CNRS-Lebanon
  • Dr. Rubina Abou Zeinab - Executive Director of the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development
  • Dr. Alissar Rady - Health Systems and Policy Advisor UHC/HP Team Lead - WHO Country Office
Dr. Carla Khater
Dr. Carla Khater
<p><strong>Keynote Speaker</strong></p><p>Director of Research, CNRS-Lebanon</p>
Dr. Rubina Abu Zeinab
Dr. Rubina Abu Zeinab
<p><strong>Keynote Speaker</strong></p><p>Executive Director of the Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development</p>
Dr. Alissar Rady
Dr. Alissar Rady
<p><strong>Keynote Speaker</strong></p><p>Health Systems and Policy Advisor UHC/HP Team Lead - WHO Country Office</p>
10:00 - 10:30
Coffee Break & Networking
10:30 - 11:30
Mr. Kassem Chaalan Dr. Hilda Harb Prof. Rajaa Fakhoury Prof. Said El Shamieh
Session I: Sustainable Health

Focus: Digital health, resilient healthcare systems, innovation for wellbeing

4 research presentations (10 minutes each)

  • Session Moderator: Prof. Said Shamieh- Professor of Human Statistical Genetics, Beirut Arab University
  • Mr. Kassem Chaalan - Disaster Risk Reduction Program Manager at the Lebanese Red Cross
  • Dr. Hilda Harb - Head of the Department of Statistics, Ministry of Public Health
  • Ministry of Public Health Representative
  • Prof. Rajaa Fakhoury - Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University
Mr. Kassem Chaalan
Mr. Kassem Chaalan
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p>Disaster Risk Reduction Program Manager at the Lebanese Red Cross</p>
Dr. Hilda Harb
Dr. Hilda Harb
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p>Head of the Department of Statistics – Ministry of Public Health</p>
Prof. Rajaa Fakhoury
Prof. Rajaa Fakhoury
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p>Dean of Faculty of Health Sciences, Beirut Arab University</p>
Prof. Said El Shamieh
Prof. Said El Shamieh
<p><strong>Moderator</strong></p><p>Professor of Human Statistical Genetics, Beirut Arab University</p>
11:30 - 12:30
Dr. Ali Awde Prof. Ali Fakih Prof. Hani El Chaarani Dr. Tala El Zein Dr. Maggie Houshaimi
Session II: Financial & Social Sustainability

Focus: Economic resilience, inclusive finance, social equity, governance

4 presentations (10 minutes each)

  • Session Moderator: Dr. Maggie Houshaimi- Assistant Professor of Economics & Development Studies, Beirut Arab University
  • Dr. Ali Awdeh - Director of Research Department, Union of Arab Banks
  • Prof. Ali Fakih- Associate Dean and Professor of Economics, Adnan Kassar School of Business, Lebanese American University
  • Prof. Hani El Chaarani - Chairman Rachid Karami International Fair, Professor of Finance and Business Sustainability, Beirut Arab University
  • Dr. Tala El Zein - Associate Professor in Business Law, Beirut Arab University


Dr. Ali Awde
Dr. Ali Awde
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p><strong><span class="ql-cursor"></span></strong>Director of Research Department - Union of Arab Banks</p>
Prof. Ali Fakih
Prof. Ali Fakih
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p><strong><span class="ql-cursor"></span></strong>Associate Dean at the Adnan Kassar School of Business, LAU</p>
Prof. Hani El Chaarani
Prof. Hani El Chaarani
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p>Professor of Finance &amp; Business Sustainability</p>
Dr. Tala El Zein
Dr. Tala El Zein
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Researcher in Social Policy &amp; Governance- Associate Professor in Business Law, BAU</p>
Dr. Maggie Houshaimi
Dr. Maggie Houshaimi
<p><strong>Moderator</strong></p><p>Assistant Professor of Economics &amp; Development Studies, Beirut Arab University</p>
12:30 - 12:45
Special Launch (Green Area)

Launch of the Youth Sustainability Club

  • Club vision, mission, and objectives
  • Youth leadership in sustainability research and action
  • Call for student participation and collaboration
  • Student and faculty ten-minute presentation

Featured Partners:

  • Arcenciel - Lebanese NGO for Sustainable Development & Social Inclusion

Session Moderators:

  • Prof. Nada El Darra – Head of Nutrition & Dietetics Department, Beirut Arab University
  • Dr. Bilal Azakir – Associate Professor of Medical Biochemistry, Beirut Arab University
12:45 - 13:30
Lunch Break (Green Area)
13:30 - 14:30
Prof. Jamal El Khatib Prof. Abdallah El Chakik Dr. Hassan Sabeh Dr. Mohammad Ayache
Session III: Innovation for a Sustainable & Digital Future

Focus: AI, digital transformation, smart systems, future technologies

4 research presentations (10 minutes each)

  • Session Moderator: Dr. Mohamad Ayache – Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Beirut Arab University
  • Prof. Jamal El Khatib - Professor of Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Beirut Arab University
  • Mr. Jeff Li- Vice President of Huawei Lebanon Office
  • Prof. Abdallah El Chakik - Associate Professor and Director of Faculty of Science Tripoli Campus, Beirut Arab University
  • Dr. Hassan El Sabeh - Researcher at the National Center for Natural Hazards & Early Warning
Prof. Jamal El Khatib
Prof. Jamal El Khatib
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p>Professor of Civil Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, BAU</p>
Prof. Abdallah El Chakik
Prof. Abdallah El Chakik
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p>Associate Professor of Computer Science &amp; Applied AI, BAU</p>
Dr. Hassan Sabeh
Dr. Hassan Sabeh
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p>Researcher at National Center for Natural Hazards &amp; Early Warning</p>
Dr. Mohammad Ayache
Dr. Mohammad Ayache
<p><strong>Moderator</strong></p><p>Associate Professor of Biomedical Engineering, Beirut Arab University</p>
14:30 - 15:30
Ms. Lea Kai Ms. Ornella Nohra Arch. Mohammad Al Hariri Dr. Rouba Ziade Dr. Hiba Mohsen
Session IV: Climate-Resilient Communities & Urban Futures

Focus: Climate adaptation, urban resilience, sustainable cities

4 research presentations (10 minutes each)

  • Session Moderator: Dr. Hiba Mohsen -Associate Professor in Architecture, Beirut Arab University
  • Ms. Lea Kai- Climate Change Advisor, UNDP/ MoE Projects
  • Ms. Ornella Nohra - Urban Planning Coordinator, UN-Habitat Lebanon Country Program
  • Mr. Mohammad AI Hariri - Research and Development Manager, Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development
  • Dr. Rouba Ziade - Associate Researcher at the National Center for Natural Hazards and Early Warning, CNRS-L


Ms. Lea Kai
Ms. Lea Kai
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Project Manager Climate Change Projects - Ministry of Environment and UNDP</p>
Ms. Ornella Nohra
Ms. Ornella Nohra
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p>Urban Planning Coordinator at UN-Habitat Lebanon Country Programme</p>
Arch. Mohammad Al Hariri
Arch. Mohammad Al Hariri
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p>Research and Development Manager at Hariri Foundation for Sustainable Human Development</p>
Dr. Rouba Ziade
Dr. Rouba Ziade
<p><strong>Speaker</strong></p><p><strong></strong>Associate Researcher at the National Center for Natural Hazards and Early Warning</p>
Dr. Hiba Mohsen
Dr. Hiba Mohsen
<p><strong>Moderator</strong></p><p>Associate Professor in Architecture, Beirut Arab University</p>
15:30 - 16:30
Prof. Hania Nakkash
High-Level Panel Discussion

Shaping a Sustainable Future: Challenges and Opportunities

Moderator: Prof. Hania Nakkash - Dean of Graduate Studies & Research, Beirut Arab University

Panelists:

  • Dr. Mohamad Abou Haidar- Director General of the Lebanese Ministry of Economy and Trade
  • Dr. Wiam Abou Hamdan- Director General of the Lebanese Ministry of Public Health
  • Eng. Louis Lahoud - Director General of the Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture
  • Dr. Adel Chabab - Director General of the Lebanese Ministry of Industry
  • Prof. Ghaleb Faour-Director of the National Center for Remote Sensing, National Center for Remote Sensing, CNRS-Lebanon

Guiding Themes:

  • Research-driven sustainability
  • Policy, finance, and social impact
  • Youth as agents of change
  • From national challenges to global opportunities

Panel Focus:

  • Translating research into policy and practice
  • Youth engagement and institutional responsibility
  • Opportunities for Lebanon within global sustainability frameworks
Prof. Hania Nakkash
Prof. Hania Nakkash
<p><strong>Conference Chair</strong></p><p>Dean of Graduate Studies &amp; Research, Beirut Arab University</p>
16:30 - 17:00
Closing Remarks & Future Research Directions
  • Key outcomes and recommendations
  • Future research directions at BAU
  • Appreciation and acknowledgments