Turmoil in Syria and Egypt driving western students to the American University of Beirut

Not so long ago, Western students wanting to study in the Arab world flocked to Cairo and Damascus.

But as last year’s Egyptian uprising and enduring unrest in Syria made those once-secure locales more dangerous, Americans wanting a safer semester abroad started going in larger numbers to a place long synonymous with war and danger but of late experiencing peace: Beirut. (more…)

Mediterranean organizations kick off algae research project

The American University of Beirut recently announced it has partnered with researchers from the Lebanese Association for Energy Savings and for Environment (ALMEE) and researchers from Cyprus, Greece, Italy, Malta and Egypt to study the possibility of producing algae-based biodiesel. (more…)

Salibi, a prominent Lebanese historian died at 82

Kamal Suleiman Salibi, a prominent Lebanese historian who taught at the American University of Beirut (AUB) for more than half a century, and an Honorary President (formerly, founding Director) of the Royal Institute for Inter-Faith Studies in Amman, Jordan, died in Beirut on Thursday aged 82, AUB announced. (more…)

Ex-World Bank chief cancels AUB, Lebanon speech

Former World Bank chief James Wolfensohn on Friday cancelled a scheduled keynote address at the American University of Beirut, amid accusations by the AUB faculty that he supported Israel.

“AUB regrets to announce that Sir James Wolfensohn, out of concern that his presence (more…)

President Obama Appoints Dr. Azizah al-Hibri to USCIRF

On June 7, 2011, President Barack Obama appointed Dr. Azizah al-Hibri, Founder and Chair of KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, to the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). (more…)

Steve Jobs is a biological Arab-American with roots in Syria

Steve Jobs, arguably the most influential CEO in the world, is the biological son of a man born in Syria who studied at the American University of Beirut.

AUB makes tuition and financial aid more accessible

The American University of Beirut is applying a new tuition policy for the entering undergraduate class of fall 2011.

“The announcement that AUB was changing its tuition and financial aid policies prompted a strong—and mostly peaceful—reaction from many AUB students, who demonstrated on campus … and expressed their dissatisfaction in other ways as well,” the university’s president, Peter Dorman, said in a statement. (more…)

Lebanon Professor condemned for scholarly work with Israeli counterparts

A politically charged uproar has erupted on the campus of a leafy university over the academic collaboration between a local Arab professor and two Israeli counterparts. (more…)

Carlos Slim Helu to lecture at AUB

Mexican tycoon Carlos Slim Helu , who was recently listed by Forbes magazine as the world’s wealthiest man, will present a lecture at AUB entitled “The New Civilization of Knowledge and Technology” on March 17 at 3 pm. (more…)

Khoja to be honored by AUB Alumni

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Culture and Information Dr. Abdul Aziz Khoja arrived in Lebanon today to to attend Thursday’s forum on the Taif Accord that will be chaired by MP Bahia Hariri.
Khoja will be honored during a ceremony by The American University of Beirut Alumni on February 12 at the Phoenicia Hotel as their chosen man of the year for 2009.
Khoja , who was the former Saudi ambassador to Lebanon said on arrival: I am always honored to be in Lebanon … Lebanon treated me well when I was the ambassador here ..I love this beautiful country and its friendly people.
The Saudi minister is considered one of the most prominent poets in modern Saudi literature. He has several collections of poetry and published poems, in addition to some scientific writings in the fields of chemistry and reaction mechanism.