The ASL released its First Report to the Nation on the Sciences in Lebanon in which it presents the result of its 5-year study on science and science education in Lebanon. The report gives an overview of the existing strengths (e.g. human resources, intellectual traditions, strong universities) and challenges Lebanon has in the areas of scientific research and education, and proposes a set of recommendations for leveraging these strengths and meeting these challenges.
The challenges identified are as follows: brain drain, PhD Programs, research funding, affordable high-speed Internet service, research infrastructure, collaborative research, academic standards and accreditation, pre-university science education, and scientific literacy among the general public.
Specific recommendations for meeting these challenges, including the urgent and overdue implementation of tenure in academic research, the adoption of the overhead cost system (which gives institutions a financial incentive to foster research), the application of the principle of selective excellence, and the expansion of affordable broadband Internet access, are proposed and discussed.
The report culminates with a suggested top-ten list of research areas that stand to yield the highest benefit to the nation given its particular needs and limited resources.
The report was delivered by an ASL delegation to the Lebanese Prime Minister and Presidents of the LAU, the AUB and Université St. Joseph.
The ASL Executive Committee with the Lebanese Prime Minister (Jan 21, 2017) after presenting him with the ASL's First Report to the Nation. From left to right: Prof. George Helou (ASL President), Prof. Georges Bahr, H.E. Saad Hariri, Prime Minister of Lebanon, Prof. Edward Sion, and Prof. Edgar Choueiri
Members of the ASL presenting "The ASL' First Report to the Nation” to the President of the American Univerity of Beirut (Jan 19, 2017). From left to right: Prof. Edward Sion, Prof. Yves Quéré, President Fadlo Khuri, Prof. George Helou, Prof. Edgar Choueiri, Prof. Georges Bahr, and Prof. Kamal Badr.
Members of the ASL presenting "The ASL' First Report to the Nation” to the President of the LAU (Jan 19, 2017). From left to right: Prof. Yves Quéré, Prof. George Helou, President Joseph Jabra, Prof. Edgar Choueiri, Prof. Georges Bahr, Prof. Zamir Zard, and Prof. Edward Sion.