Country: 
Lebanon
Professions: 
Dean
Educator
Researcher
Field(s) of expertise: 
Environment
Areas of Impact: 
Quality Education

Personal information

Myrna Semaan Haber
Dean

Contact information (Private)

+961 9 220665
+961 3 471386

Contact information (Work)

American University of Technology
+961 9 478143 ext:115
+961 3 666215

Education

Education: 
  • Research Fellow /Post Doc., 2003, University of California, Berkeley, United States of America.
  • Doctorate degree, Molecular Systematics and Conservation, 2000, University of Reading, England.

Work history

Previous Professions: 
  • Dean, 2008 - present, Faculty of Applied Sciences, American University of Technology.
  • Freelance Consultant and Project Developer, 1995 - present, Different governmental, national and international organizations.
  • Assistant & Associate Professor, 2000 - 2008, (USEK, NDU, LU, AUST, HAIGAZIAN).

Major Achievements

Publications (Books, Articles, Reports, etc.): 
  • Haber, R. M. & Semaan-Haber, M. (2010). Floral enchantment to Lebanon: Natural heritage from the Mediterranean spaces and species (II). Beirut: Terre du Liban.
  • Haber, R. M. & Semaan-Haber, M. (2010). Orchids of Lebanon: Natural heritage from the Mediterranean spaces and species (I). Beirut: Terre du Liban.
  • Semaan, M.T. & Dodd, R. (2008). Genetic variability and structure of the remnant natural populations of Cedrus libani (Pinaceae) of Lebanon. Tree Genetics and Genomes, 4, 757-766, DOI 10.1007/s11295-008-0148-y.
  • Semaan, M.T. et al. (2006). War and biodiversity. In United Nations Development Program (UNDP), Lebanon, rapid environmental assessment for greening, recovery, reconstruction, and reform, 1 - 55. Beirut: UNDP.
Major achievements: 
  • Discovering and describing new plant species under the plant author name 'Semaan', since 2002.
  • Establishing first nature reserves by parliamentary law in Lebanon, 1992.

Accomplishments

Awards: 
  • Pioneer Woman in Environmental Protection and Conservation Award from the National Commission for Lebanese Women in reward for a history of environmental activism for conservation of biodiversity and for pioneering establishment of nature reserves with Dr. Ricardus Haber, 2010.
  • AUB Alumni Author from AUB Alumni Literary Festival Award, honoring authors in the occasion of Beirut World Book Capital, 2010.
  • Fulbright Scholar from the Fulbright Commission (USA) for commitment for researching conifers and particularly Cedars of Lebanon for conservation purposes, 2003.

Competences & Skills

Field(s) of Expertise: 
  • Molecular / DNA studies
  • Biodiversity
  • Conservation
  • Environmental Analysis
Languages: 
  • English
  • French
  • Arabic