Najat A. Saliba

PeerJ Author

Summary

Dr. Najat A. Saliba is a Full Professor at the Chemistry Department, FAS, and the Director of the AUB-Nature Conservation Center at AUB. Dr. Saliba established international protocols for the chemical studies of Water Pipe (WP), and provided policy makers worldwide with scientific evidence to support the ban on indoor WP smoking. She also developed innovative methods to determine the chemical characteristics of electronic cigarettes and initiated major projects to assess air pollutants in Lebanon. She has over 60 peer-reviewed articles that are highly cited. She is the recipient of the Lebanese National Council for Scientific Research Award in the Environmental Category in 2016.

Analytical Chemistry (other) Atmospheric Chemistry Environmental Contamination & Remediation Environmental Sciences

Past or current institution affiliations

American University of Beirut

Work details

Professor of Chemistry and Director of the AUB-Nature Conservation Centre

American University of Beirut

September 2001

Chemistry

I believe in making a change despite an adverse environment of war and despair and the constraints imposed by a limited budget available from local and international agencies for local research in a developing country like Lebanon. My work conducted at the American University of Beirut includes: (A) The chemical analysis of water pipe (WP) components and smoke which lead to establishing international protocols for chemical studies of WP systems, and providing policy makers worldwide with sufficient scientific evidence to support a ban on indoor WP smoking. (B) Developing innovative methods to determine the physical and chemical characteristics of electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) at the design and vaping levels. (C) Implementing cutting-edge procedures for chemical analysis of endemic medicinal plants, which led to the discovery of a potential anti-cancer drug. (D) Initiating major tasks related to understanding the causes and consequences of air pollutants in Lebanon. (E) Successfully introducing the concept of citizen science to assess local needs and propose adequate solutions to pollution problems. (F) Introducing the concepts of innovation and creative thinking into teaching by organising a yearly poster forum for undergraduate students at AUB (IBDAA). IBDAA invites students from all disciplines to come up with creative ways to benefit and protect nature. (I) Taking a pro-active role in disseminating research findings and influencing policy through local and international media outlets.