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Nadim Makdisi Memorial Fund

The Nadim Makdisi Memorial Fund at AUB will honor the life and legacy of the late Nadim Makdisi by sponsoring an annual lecture and funding research in the field of media and communications.

Richard Makdisi, the son of Nadim, generously endowed the fund with a donation of $200,000. The memorial fund and its activities are housed at the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs (IFI) at AUB.

Every year IFI will organize an annual Nadim Makdisi Memorial Lecture by a distinguished Arab or international personality in the field of mass media and communications and their intersection with public policy. The first lecture will be held in the fall semester of the 2009-10 academic year.

The fund will also offer several fellowships to AUB graduate students to undertake research related to journalism and communications, the fields that defined Nadim Makdisi's professional life.

Read press release (PDF)
Visit Nadim Makdisi Memorial Fund section for graduate student grant applications

IISD report on Climate Change and Security in the Middle East now available online

IFI hosted the Danish Embassy Lebanon and IndyACT at AUB to launch a new report published by Canadian reaserch insititute IISD titled, "Rising Temperatures, Rising Tensions: climate change and the risk of violent conflict in the Middle East"

Download / Read full report (PDF) English | Arabic

Proceedings on the Regional Workshop on 'Arab World Policy for Post-2012 Negotiations'

IFI, IndyAct and the Heinrich Boll Foundation published the proceedings of this 2-day regional Climate Change workshop held at AUB 14/15 October 2008.

Download full publication [PDF, 26.7 MB]

IFI inaugurates Student Academic Journal: "Middle East Policy and Society"

IFI-AUB will hold, on Friday, May 29, from 3-7pm, a symposium to inaugurate its first biannual student journal, "Middle East Policy and Society". This groundbreaking move gives students (graduate and undergraduate) at AUB and in the Middle East the chance to publish their work in a student-run and Middle East-based academic journal.

Contributors:

Sami Alami
"Water and Strategy in the Jordan River Basin"

Nathalie Chamaa
"The Impact of Post-colonialism on Identity Construction in Ghana"

Ahmed Diaa Dardir
"The Lebanese Army and the Institutional and Symbolic Reinstitution of Lebanese Statehood"

Joline El Chakhtoura
"Photobioreactor Systems for Concentrating Solar Energy in the Lipids of Photosynthetic Algae: A Renewable Source of Biodiesel"

Vahakn Keshishian
"Fiscal Policies of Aid and Investment: An Application of Advocacy Coalition Framework"

Eugene Yukin
"UNIFIL’s Mandate and Rules of Engagement"

IFI jointly launches Youth project with UNDP

Validation of the Concept and Measurement of Youth Developmental Assets in Lebanon

Research is underway for a new project co-funded by UNDP and IFI. The methodology adopted is new to the region, and if successful in Lebanon will be implemented across MENA countries.

Dr Rima Afifi, AUB Faculty of Health Sciences, is the first to propose and appropriate this methodology for conducting this regional youth-related investigation, which has, until recently, exclusively taken place in the United States.

Dr Afifi is co-researching with Dr Rima Nakkash, also from AUB Faculty of Health Sciences, and Research Assistant Ms Dima Bteddini.

The Issam Fares Institute will use the results from this research to inform policy makers on youth development by providing this type of assets-based evidence to protect youth against a variety of negative outcomes. Once proven to be relevant in Lebanon, youth developmental assets can be incorporated into programs and policies for agencies and ministries serving youth.

Read full project summary

IFI Research Affiliates

IFI hosts researchers working on doctoral or post-doctoral research within the institute’s areas of interest. IFI provides affiliates with a base at AUB as well as an ID card to enter the campus and the library. To borrow books from the library, affiliates will need to pay an extra fee. IFI does not offer office space or stipends to affiliates at the moment, but this form of support will become available in the future.

IFI currently has four programs; Research and Policy Forum on Climate Change and Environment in the Arab World, Youth Issues in the Arab World, Policy and Governance of Palestinian Refugee Camps and the Arab Public Policy and Think Tanks program. Please visit the respective sections on the IFI website to familiarize yourself with each program’s objectives and activities.

If you feel that your research can contribute to these areas of expertise, please send the following information to the respective program’s coordinator (contact details available on program pages):

1- A letter or email requesting an affiliation and specifying the start and end dates of the affiliation
2- A research proposal
3- A curriculum vitae
4- For graduate students, a reference letter from the advisor. For professors, a reference letter from the department chair.

We require that our affiliates give a public lecture about their research, as part of each program’s lecture series, and also contribute an 800 word summary of their research, to be published as a policy memo.

Issam Fares Institute Logo

Right: Original design by Rafic Saab; Left: Present logo design developed by the University Publications Office.

After its inauguration in 2006, the IFI for Public Policy and International Affairs held a student competition at the American University of Beirut, in collaboration with the Department of Architecture and Design, to design its logo.

Then 2nd year Graphic Design student Rafic Saab won the competition and the accompanying $200 award. He explains how the small i’s are “representations of human beings, joined by an organic-looking F.” Saab adds that “the i’s were designed using a serif font to join the serious world of policy with the human aspect that it seeks to represent.”

The IFI would like to thank Najib Attieh, Graphic Designs Manager at the University Publications Office, for his development of the initial logo design into
its final form, and Leila Musfy, Chairperson of the Department of Architecture and Design, for her support.

Research and Policy Memos are short, policy-oriented memos on IFI research and lectures.
Read memos on:

Youth in the Arab World

Climate Change and Environment in the Arab World

Policy and Governance in Palestinian Refugee Camps

Launch of two programs:

The Research and Policy Forum on Climate Change and Environment in the Arab World
IFI's first program was launched with The Impact of Climate Change on the Arab World Spring 2008 Lecture Series by eight different scholars, activists, and officials. Read more
Policy and Governance in Palestinian Refugee Camps
Jointly managed by the Center for Behavioral Research at AUB, the program was launched with a lecture by UNRWA Commissioner-General Karen AbuZayd. Read more

International Affairs:

Read the OSLO forum 2008 - Annual Mediator's Retreat -Meeting Report. Some of the participants of OSLO 2008 will speak in IFI's Bill and Sally Hambrecht Distinguished Peacemakers Lectures.
Read more

Read Rami Khouri's contribution to the Brookings Doha Discussion Papers on Reform in the Muslim World.

Announcements
June 30, 2009	Housing, Land and Property Rights and Laws: Palestinian Refugees in Lebanon and the Case of Nahr el Bared An open panel discussion organized with the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the Masters in Urban Planning and Policy and Urban Design (MUPP & MUD) with presentations by Nizar Saghieh, Ismael Sheikh Hassan, moderated by Mona Fawaz, Assistant Professor, AUB Time: 4-6 p.m. Location: Auditorium B1, College Hall, AUB Read More As Safir Coverage Al Akhbar Coverage
June 16, 2009	IFI Writer-In-Residence Fellow Appointment Award-winning columnist Nora Boustany has been appointed IFI's second Writer-In-Residence Fellow Read press release
June 2, 2009	Rising Temperatures, Rising Tensions: climate change and the risk of violent conflict in the Middle East An invitation from the Danish Embassy in Lebanon to launch a new IISD report on climate change and security in the Mddle East. Time: 9 - 11 a.m. Location: Auditorium A, West Hall, AUB Read full invitation
May 28, 2009	Arab Sovereign Wealth Funds: Growth, Relevance, and Prospects A panel discussion with Sven Behrendt, Rami Khouri, Danyel Reiche and Ibrahim A. Warde Time: 4 - 6 p.m. Location: Auditorium B, West Hall, AUB Read More Publication on SWFs here
May 22, 2009	IBSAR IBDAA 2008-09 International Biodiversity Day At AUB - The International Day for Biological Diversity (IBD) Time: 3 - 6.30 p.m. Location: Open area in front of FAFS IBSAR Website
May 20, 2009	The Ambassador in the Academy series From Resistance to Reconciliation: Reflections on the South African Experience A talk and round-table discussion with H.E. Mohammed Dangor Time: 2 - 4 p.m. Location: Auditorium B, West Hall, AUB Read More
NEW Policy Memo	Climate Change and the Environment in the Arab World: Research and Policy Memo # 4 Read in English
May 13, 2009	The Special Tribunal for Lebanon: Lessons from the Sierra Leone Crimes Court A lecture and open discussion with Jeremy Waiser Time: 5-6.30 p.m. Location: Auditorium B, West Hall, AUB Read More
May 6, 2009	Nurturing Instability? Lebanon's Palestinian Refugee Camps An open panel discussion on the International Crisis Group report with Sahar Atrache, Analyst, International Crisis Group Nadim Shehadi, Associate Fellow, Middle East Program, Chatham House Time: 5-7 p.m. Location: Auditorium A, West Hall, AUB Read More Read the ICG report
April 28, 2009	Europe, the Mediterranean and the Arab World: The Uncomfortable Triangle A lecture and open discussion with Bishara Khader Time: 6-7:30 p.m. Location: Nicely Hall, Room 203, AUB Read More
April 27, 2009	Renewable Energy Policies: What can the Middle East learn from the European Experience? A lecture and open discussion with Stefan Schurig Time: 6-8 p.m. Location: College Hall, Auditorium B1, AUB Read More
Publication	Carnegie Papers: Managing Arab Sovereign Wealth in Turbulent Times—and Beyond IFI Director Rami Khouri contributes a chapter Whose Sovereignty? Whose Wealth? Read full publication
April 3, 2009	How American Citizens Engage in the Political Process: Examples from Middle East Policy Formulation and the Global Economic Crisis A lecture and open discussion with Senator John E. Sununu Time: 2-4 p.m. Location: West Hall, Bathish Auditorium, AUB Read More
March 31, 2009	Combining Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energies: The Key to Sustainability A lecture and open discussion with Peter Hennicke, PhD, Former President of Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and Energy in Germany. Time: 6-8 p.m. Location: West Hall, Auditorium B, AUB Read More
March 30, 2009	In the Red Glow: Lebanese Elite Youth between Entertainment and Identity A lecture and open discussion with Kirsten Scheid, Assistant Professor of Anthropology at AUB. Time: 4-6 p.m. Location: West Hall, Auditorium A, AUB Read More
Podcast	Understanding the Conflict: Global Agenda 2009 Speaking at the University of Delaware's Global Agenda series on the Middle East, IFI Director Rami Khouri explores the Arab-Israeli conflict from the core Israeli-Palestinian dispute to much wider implications for the Gulf and South Asia. Listen / Watch podcast
Now online	Studying Youth in Arab World Seminar The Research and Policy Forum on Youth in the Arab World (IFI) and the Goethe Institute (Lebanon) joined forces to bring regional and international youth sector researchers together on 13-14 January 2009, inaugurating this annual seminar on Studying Youth in the Arab World. Read More
March 18, 2009	The Politics of Reconstruction: The Cases of Gaza and Lebanon A lecture and open discussion with Husam Zomlot, Research Fellow at the Center for Middle East Studies, Harvard University. Time: 4-6 p.m. Location: College Hall, Auditorium B1, AUB Read More
March 19, 2009	Carbon Trading: A Climate Change Mitigation Tool A seminar and panel discussion with experts on the mechanisms of carbon trading in controlling and reducing global Greenhouse Gases. Time: 3.30-4.30 p.m. Location: West Hall, Auditorium C, AUB Read More
March 19, 2009	Fostering Power-sharing and Good Governance in Pluralistic Societies: Lessons from Canada's Experience A lecture and open discussion with Rob Rae, Ontario's 21st Prime Minister. Time: 5-7 p.m. Location: West Hall, Auditorium B, AUB Read More
March 20, 2009	"Islamists: Re-conceptualizing 'Moderates' and 'Extremists'" A lecture and open discussion, followed by a book signing at the AUB Bookstore, with Alastair Crooke, Director of Conflicts Forum and author of newly published "Resistance: The Essence of the Islamist Revolution" (February, 2009) Time: 2-4 p.m. Location: College Hall Auditorium B1, AUB Read More
March 6, 2009	Reflections on refugees in the peace process: options and obstacles. A lecture and open discussion with Rex Brynen, Professor of Political Science at McGill University and Coordinator of the Palestinian Refugee Research Net. Time: 5-7 p.m. Location: Architecture Lecture Hall, AUB Read More Lecture Full Text Read The Daily Star article
Policy Memo	Climate Change and the Environment in the Arab World: Research and Policy Memo # 3 Read in English
February 19, 2009	Climate Change and Environment Forum- Public Lecture Mark Saadeh Seawater Intrusion In Greater Beirut Current Situation and Correlation to Climate Change 2004/8 Click here to access Dr. Saadeh's publication: Influence of Overexploitation and Seawater Intrusion on the Quality of the Groundwater in Greater Beirut
Policy Memo	Climate Change and the Environment in the Arab World: Research and Policy Memo # 2 Read in English or Arabic
Policy Memo	Youth in the Arab World: Research and Policy Memo # 2 Read in English or Arabic
January 26, 2009	Change Happens Everywhere: The "New Middle East" that awaits Barak Obama A lecture by IFI Director Rami Khouri Time: 5:30 - 7:30 pm Location: Convention Tower, Dubai School of Government, UAE Details available here
January 13-14, 2009	Studying Youth in the Arab World A two-day Seminar co-hosted by IFI and the Goethe Institute. Time: 9 am - 5 pm Location: College Hall, Auditorium B1, AUB Download Agenda Read Annahar Article Read Al Akhbar Article Read Assafir Article
January 5, 2009	Samir Makdisi Appointed Distinguished Senior Fellow at IFI. Click to read more
Publication	UNIFIL II: Emerging and Evolving European Engagement in Lebanon and the Middle East. EuroMesco, January 2009. By Timor Goksel (AUB), Hans Bastian Hauck (DGAP), Karim Makdisi (AUB) and Stuart Reigeluth (CITpax). Read More Previous Related Publication
Audio Video On Campus Off Campus	Jimmy Carter 39th President of the United States of America in a public lecture on "30 years after Camp David: A memo to the Arab World, Israel and the Quartet"
Policy Memo	Palestinian Camps Research and Policy Memo # 3 Read in English
September, 2008	"Who are the Stakeholders in Ras Beirut's Seafront Pollution Management? The AUB Neighborhood Initiative, Dr. Jad Chaaban. Download Report Read Article
Call for student researchers	Anthropology of Peace Expertise Deadline January 31 A research project led by Nikola Kosmatopoulos, PhD candidate in Social Anthropology at the University of Zurich, and supported by the Commission for Research Partnerships in Developing Countries (KFPE) and the IFI. Read more KFPE Link
	Full audio and video of IFI lectures at the Academic Computing Center website

Recent Lectures and Events
December 19	The Financial War on Terror: Whom did it target and why did it miss? An open lecture and discussion by Ibrahim Warde Adjunct professor of international business at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy
	More information soon
December 12	Jimmy Carter 39th President of the United States of America in a public lecture on "30 years after Camp David: A memo to the Arab World, Israel and the Quartet"
	The Daily Star Coverage Al Mustaqbal Coverage Al Anwar Coverage Al Safir Coverage AUB Coverage
November 12	State Building and State Stability in the Arab World Lebanese and international guests from politics, civil society, academia, NGOs, International Organizations and media will discuss political development from an interdisciplinary perspective.
	Read More Download Program The Daily Star Coverage
November 10	"Preventing and Resolving Deadly Conflict: What Have We Learned?" By Gareth Evans President of the Brussels-based International Crisis Group since January 2000.
	Read More Full text
November 4	"The 2008 Presidential Campaign in the US: What have we learned? What should we look for?" By William C. Vocke Jr., PhD. Senior Fellow and Senior Program Director at the Carnegie Council for Ethics in International Affairs.
	Carnegie Council website
October 27-28	City Debates 2008: Spaces of Faith and Fun City Debates is an annual event organized by the Masters in Urban Planning and Policy and Urban Design at the department of Architecture and Design in collaboration with the International Institute for the study of Islam in the Modern World at Leiden, and the support of the Issam Fares Institute, the Institut Français du Proche-Orient and the Brazilian Embassy.
	Read More Download Agenda
October 14-15	Arab World Climate Change Workshop Regional Two-Day Workshop: Arab World Policy for Post-2012 Climate Negotiations. In Partnership with IndyAct and the Heinrich Boll Foundation.
	Read more AUB Coverage The Daily Star Coverage As-Safir Coverage
Thursday, October 9	From 5-7 pm "Can Washington Mediate Arab-Israeli Peace? Lessons Learnt from Camp David ii, the Clinton Years and Beyond." By Robert Malley Special Assistant to President Clinton for Arab-Israeli Affairs and Director of the International Crisis Group's Middle East and North Africa Program since January 2002.
	Read more