American University of Beirut

Speaker: Tom Kirchmaier

Date: Wednesday, October 22, 2025

Time: 12:30 pm – 1:45 pm

Location: IFI 4th floor Conference Room, AUB Campus

Bio: Professor Tom Kirchmaier is Director of the Policing and Crime research group focusing on understanding the full spectrum of questions relating to policing and crime, with a special focus on Police Organizational Efficiency, Demand Prediction, Financial and Organised Crime, Domestic Abuse, as well as Serious Violence. He works with very large datasets from the police and beyond and is currently working actively to include the possibilities of the new AI methods in his research. Prior to the CEP, Tom was with the Financial Markets Group of the LSE, and the Manchester and Copenhagen Business Schools. Tom holds a PhD from the LSE (CEP).

Talk title: Not Incentivized Yet Efficient: Working from Home in the Public Sector

Abstract: This paper studies whether working from home (WFH) affects workers' performance in public sector jobs. Studying public sector initiatives allows us to establish baseline estimates on the impact of WFH net of incentives. Exploiting novel administrative data and plausibly exogenous variation in work location, we find that WFH increases productivity by 12%. These productivity gains are primarily driven by reduced distractions. They are not explained by differences in quality, shift length, absenteeism, characteristics of reported cases, training, administrative duties, or task allocation. Importantly, productivity gains nearly double when tasks are assigned by the supervisor.

A study by Michel Bariche and colleagues

A recent study co-authored by Dr. Michel Bariche from the Faculty of Arts and Sciences at the American University of Beirut is shedding new light on how invasive Indo-Pacific fish species are entering and spreading throughout the Mediterranean Sea. Published in the journal NeoBiota, the research combines ocean-current modelling, shipping data, and environmental factors to better understand what drives these biological invasions—and how they might be contained in the future.

The study reveals that more than a hundred fish species native to the Indo-West Pacific have already made their way into the Mediterranean, largely through the Suez Canal, which has connected two once-separate marine ecosystems since its construction in 1869. These invasive species can profoundly alter local habitats, outcompete native fish, disrupt food chains, and affect regional fisheries.

To explore how these species travel and establish themselves, the researchers examined several key mechanisms. They found that in the eastern Mediterranean—especially regions close to the Suez Canal—ocean currents play a major role in transporting larvae and early-stage fish from the Red Sea into new waters. Yet, as the species move farther west, natural currents alone cannot explain their spread. Here, human-mediated transport becomes increasingly important. Cargo ships, ballast water discharge, and hull fouling appear to accelerate the process, enabling species to “hop” between ports. Some islands and hubs, such as Malta, act as stepping stones for these invaders.

Local habitat characteristics also influence which species thrive. The Mediterranean’s relatively high salinity favors Indo-Pacific species that are already adapted to similar environmental conditions. Using statistical models, the study found that in areas with heavy shipping activity, the likelihood of invasion increases dramatically—by as much as six times compared to regions with less maritime traffic.

These findings carry important implications for conservation and policy. Managing invasive species in the Mediterranean cannot rely solely on monitoring natural pathways. Instead, attention must turn to the human side of the equation. Shipping routes, ballast-water management, and port activities need stricter regulation and targeted surveillance. By identifying high-risk areas—such as the eastern Mediterranean near the Suez Canal and central shipping hubs—marine authorities can focus on prevention rather than costly post-invasion control efforts.

Dr. Bariche and his co-authors emphasize that improving data collection on ballast-water release and ship movements is essential for future research and management strategies. Understanding which environmental conditions make certain areas more vulnerable can also help develop more effective protection measures for Mediterranean ecosystems.

This research adds to Dr. Bariche’s extensive work on marine invasions, including earlier studies documenting the arrival of species such as the lionfish Pterois miles off the coast of Lebanon. By integrating biological data with environmental and human-activity models, the new study paints a clearer picture of how interconnected today’s seas have become—and how human mobility is accelerating ecological change.

Ultimately, the message is clear: both nature and human activity are driving the movement of species across the Mediterranean, but it is our ships and ports that are increasingly shaping the course of these invasions. Better management, monitoring, and awareness are vital to protect the biodiversity of one of the world’s most historically and ecologically rich seas.

To read more:

• Blog article
• Press release
• AlphaGalileo summary

The Kamal A. Shair Central Research Science Laboratory (CRSL) at the American University of Beirut (AUB) hosted an interactive training session on Thursday, July 3, at 12:00 pm, introducing its latest instrument — the Bruker S1 TITAN 800 Graphene Handheld XRF Analyzer for elemental analysis.

The session offered participants a hands-on introduction to the analyzer’s advanced capabilities, highlighting its diverse research applications and best practices for use. Designed for rapid, non-destructive elemental analysis, the Bruker XRF system supports a wide range of studies in materials science, environmental testing, chemistry, and engineering.

Available for use by AUB faculty and students across disciplines, this new instrument provides researchers with valuable analytical power for their experimental and field-based projects.

With this acquisition, CRSL reaffirms its commitment to enhancing research excellence and collaboration at AUB—offering cutting-edge tools that enable innovative exploration and data-driven discovery across the university.

Friday, September 26, 2025

​​​Hiba Sinno, ​​​Office of Communications, [email protected]​​​​​​​​​​​

What can a group of teenagers uncover about Lebanon's economy in just four days? A lot, as it turns out. At AUB's first Economics Summer Camp, high school students interviewed businesses, analyzed data, and discussed policy with faculty—culminating in a letter with recommendations to the Lebanon's minister of economy.

The Department of Economics created the camp to give high school students a clearer understanding of what economics as a discipline involves. Unlike fields such as engineering or medicine, economics is less visible at the pre-university level, leaving many students without a concrete idea of what studying it entails. By providing early exposure, the camp introduced possible career paths in policy, research, finance, and the private sector, while also showing how economic thinking applies to daily life, from money and inflation to Lebanon's economic crisis and the role of artificial intelligence. “We wanted participants to see how economic thinking informs everyday decisions and public policy, not just classroom theory," says Dr. Ishac Diwan, professor of practice of economics at AUB.

Hands-on activities were central to the camp. Students interviewed managers from companies in sectors such as construction, beverages, spices, and media, asking about demand, competitiveness, and the impact of high costs. They summarized their findings—highlighting electricity expenses, access to credit, and the decline in demand since 2019—in a letter to the minister of economy that included recommendations on how to address these challenges. As Dr. Diwan says, “The goal was to give students a feel for policymaking and show how firm-level insights can inform national strategies."

“I wanted to build on what I had learned on my own, so this was a good opportunity to deepen my understanding of economics," says Naya Khoury, one of the students. “We worked on a project where we got to interview a manager of a business of our choice, see how the financial crisis of 2019 impacted them, and send a letter to the minister about it."

Andrea Abou Jaoude adds: “The camp exceeded my expectations. It was really enjoyable. The project that we did helped me get the point of view of the companies facing the crisis and how they can pick themselves up."

The camp concluded with a meeting where students presented their findings to Minister of Economy Amer Bsat, along with faculty, graduate students, and Dean Farès Dahdah. “I am equally curious to see what you were able to pull off in a summer program that I didn't think would happen," says the minister. “These are very perceptive comments. At the end of the day, there's no way you're going to understand the economy unless you understand the micro."

Dr. Diwan also praised the students' quick results: “In just 48 hours, they carried out interviews, produced a policy matrix, and drafted a letter with recommendations." Dean Dahdah suggested making the firm interviews an annual survey to track how Lebanese businesses respond to crisis conditions and build a valuable dataset over time.

With this first edition completed, the Department of Economics hopes to extend the camp's duration, add new topics such as Bitcoin and artificial intelligence, and make firm interviews a recurring activity with the Ministry of Economy. What began as a pilot has already shown that high school students can meaningfully engage with economics, linking classroom concepts to the realities of business and policy.

From AUB to Lindau: Karen Hannouche at the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (Chemistry)

The Faculty of Arts and Sciences is proud to celebrate the participation of Karen Hannouche, an AUB Chemistry graduate, at the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting (Chemistry). This prestigious gathering brings together Nobel Laureates and carefully selected young scientists from around the world for a week of exchange, dialogue, and inspiration.

For Karen, this experience was nothing short of a dream come true as she was fascinated by science since an early age. She had long awaited the announcement of Nobel Prize winners each year, a tradition made even more meaningful by AUB professors who would break down the discoveries in class and highlight their global impact.

“Certainly, I couldn’t have made it to such a prestigious scientific platform without AUB. It is the basic chemistry I learnt in the classrooms, the research I did at the Chemistry Department, and the mindset I developed over the years that actually brought me to Lindau.”

The week in Lindau was a whirlwind of learning and connection. Attending lectures, joining small-group discussions with Laureates, and networking with peers from across the globe left a lasting impression. Beyond discussing their work, the Laureates shared personal stories of challenges, failures, aspirations, and moments of perseverance — a reminder that even the greatest scientific minds are human.

“Everything at the 74th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience. I left with lasting connections, invaluable lessons, and a clear conviction that I have a role to play in this bigger picture.”

The inspiration from Lindau has already translated into action. Motivated by the environment and energy of the meeting, Karen is now pursuing a PhD at a leading German institute, determined to carry the “Lindau spirit” into this next stage of her research journey.

Her message to AUB students is simple but powerful:

“Fully take advantage of everything AUB offers, dive into research, and challenge yourself academically. Then, don’t hesitate to apply! Even if it feels ambitious, you could be just one step away from a truly unique experience. And if you’re selected, enjoy every moment — ask questions, take initiatives, and embrace the opportunities that can shape your future in ways you never imagined.”

Through Karen’s achievement, she exemplifies how AUB nurtures bright minds who go on to engage with the global scientific community, reaffirming FAS’s mission of empowering the next generation of changemakers.