FAS faculty members are invited to submit proposals for seed funding to support research projects and creative endeavors aimed at assessing damage that has been sustained across the country in the past few years because of the economic and financial crisis, COVID-19 pandemic, Beirut Port explosion, frequent droughts, forest fires, and repeated bombardments since October 13, 2023 as tracked here. The definition of damage can be broadly construed and could include damaged environments, neighborhoods, villages, education systems, mental health, the economy, cultural heritage, etc. Proposals should include collaborations with external entities such as governmental and non-governmental agencies, international organizations, and other universities.
Eligibility: FAS faculty members. Faculty members who are on Leave without Pay for more than one semester during the grant award period will not be eligible for funding. Each faculty member may submit only one proposal as a Principal Investigator for only one of the calls listed under 1. General and Interdisciplinary Opportunities and 2. Mamdouha El-Sayed Bobst FAS Deanship Fund.
Budget: Up to $7,500
Application materials: Apply online. Please upload in a single PDF file: 1. Proposal including abstract (no more than 200 words), description of the proposed activity and expected outcomes (no more than 1000 words), detailed budget and budget narrative (indicating the anticipated use of the requested funds and all funds sought or secured from internal and external sources), and timeline; and 2. Official commitment from external entity.
Application deadline: October 1; March 15
Contact: [email protected]
2025-26
- Assessment of War-Related Risks to Groundwater Resources in Southern Lebanon: Data Collection and Thematic Mapping
Joanna Doummar, Department of Earth Sciences
Since October 2023 Lebanon has faced significant environmental and infrastructural damage due to repeated bombardments. The area South of the Litani river was the site of intense and devastative military interventions that left water resources at high risks of contamination. This proposal focuses on a multi-criteria approach in assessing the vulnerability of groundwater resources to contamination from damaged infrastructure, debris and potential chemicals spills and/or chemical warfare. In this project, we aim to (1) develop a database of geological and hydrogeological data of Southern Lebanon, (2) delineate and map groundwater catchment areas and identify contamination point sources using GIS and satellite imagery. We will also (3) develop a multi-criteria assessment to investigate contamination risks based on proximity and vulnerability to pollution sources, bombardment sites and hydrogeological factors. (4) Field validation, if the situation allows, will strengthen the accuracy of our findings. The research will generate a vulnerability map highlighting high-risk water resources, identify key contaminants and their sources, and provide mitigation recommendations. These findings will support policy-making and emergency response efforts, benefiting governmental and non-governmental agencies working on water security and environmental restoration.
- The Lebanon Household Pulse Survey — Edition 1: Damage Assessment
Ali Abboud, Department of Economics
Nisreen Salti, Department of Economics
This project proposes the launch of the Lebanon Household Pulse Survey (HPS), a biannual survey designed to assess how households perceive, experience, and respond to the enduring economic damage of Lebanon’s multifaceted crises.
By collecting nationally representative data through telephone interviews, the survey will document how the country’s economic collapse, inflation, and institutional breakdown have reshaped livelihoods and expectations. The first wave will establish a baseline of economic sentiment and perceived damage, laying the foundation for a sustained effort to track household confidence and economic pulse moving forward.
The initiative will generate data that informs academic research, policy discussions, and public understanding, thereby strengthening the university’s role as a key contributor to Lebanon’s knowledge infrastructure.