A delegation from the Faculty of Engineering (FOE) at the University of Balamand (UOB) has recently participated in the International Conference on Engineering Design (ICED) which was held in Greece spanning from October 19 to 22, 2023. The FOE delegation consisted of 5 members including Dr. Marianne Saba (Assistant Professor in the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department), Dr. Makram El Bachawati (Assistant Professor in the Chemical Engineering Department), along with PhD candidates Carina Frangieh and Joseph Abdayem, and Master’s Graduate Sarah Al Adgham.

Throughout the conference, Dr. Saba serving as one of the conference chairs, had the privilege of leading three informative sessions focused primarily on Materials, where she skillfully facilitated the exchange of knowledge and cultivated dynamic discussions centered around the latest developments in the fields of Engineering Design. In his turn, Dr. Bachawati took the opportunity to showcase his research on designing hospital wastewater treatment, by the wet air oxidation method using Aspen Plus and optimizing it to become a more sustainable process promoting SDG 6, Clean Water and Sanitation. Additionally, each student had the privilege of presenting their papers to the panel of experts.

Excitingly, the team's efforts were delightfully acknowledged when one of their papers, written by PhD candidate Joseph Abdayem under the supervision of Dr. Saba and Dr. Georges Aouad (Adjunct Professor), secured the prestigious title of Best Paper Award at ICED2023. The article is entitled: “Elaboration of a Sustainable Bottom Ash Geopolymer Material”. This accomplishment not only stands as a testament of the Faculty of Engineering exceptional research focus but equally highlights the quality and significance of the delegation’s research within the conference, and also underscores the team’s dedication to addressing environmental concerns and contributing to sustainable practices in the field of engineering promoting innovation, SDG 9.

ICED2023 brought together distinguished researchers hailing from diverse corners of the globe. Within this collaborative environment, these experts not only shared innovative concepts but also delved into presenting pioneering research findings. Moreover, this conference offered the UOB FOE delegation a great opportunity to meet and engage with established EU partners, which will surely foster new academic collaborations in the near future.

Vice President for Internationalization and Engagement and Dean of the Faculty of Engineering Professor Rami Abboud commended the delegation for their outstanding efforts and extended his heartfelt congratulations on winning the Best Paper Award stating: “This achievement reflects the team's dedication and the caliber of the international research undertaken at our Faculty of Engineering. It is a testament to the high standards of excellence sustained by our faculty mainly focusing on innovation and sustainability. We take pride in such a remarkable success and look forward to witnessing more groundbreaking endeavors from our esteemed faculty and students”.





​​