COVID-19 Measure: Read Full Magazine Here. E-learning apps may be the cough syrup for suspended school and university activities amid the Covid-19 outbreak.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has recently declared the Covid-19 as a pandemic with over 225,000 cases all over the globe. Due to its alarming virality, this disease altered the way we live and has brought numerous activities in public spaces to a halt.
Globally, universities have turned to the internet to deliver course materials. Many applications are used to deliver live lectures to students at home. This allows instructors to give assignments and projects that can be done at home. Parents can monitor their children's learning activities, including their scores, schedules, and attendance from their mobile phones.
The excellent communication between the three can pique a more robust growth for the students because they can easily reach out to both parents and teachers if they encounter any issue.
The virus that causes Covid-19 – which has been officially named SARS-CoV-2 – is too new to have any firm data on how cases will change with the seasons. The closely related SARS virus that spread in 2003 was contained quickly, meaning there is little information about how it was affected by the seasons.
But there are some clues from other coronaviruses that infect humans as to whether COVID-19 might eventually become seasonal.
A fourth coronavirus, which was mainly found in patients with reduced immune systems, was far more sporadic.
There are some early hints that Covid-19 may also vary with the seasons. The spread of outbreaks of the new disease around the world seems to suggest it has a preference for cool and dry conditions, although it is worth noting that the virus has appeared in countries with a wide range of climates, including hot humid ones.
An unpublished analysis comparing the weather in 500 locations around the globe where there have been COVID-19 cases seems to suggest a link between the spread of the virus and temperature, wind speed and relative humidity. Another unpublished study has also shown higher temperatures are linked to lower incidence of COVID-19, but notes that temperature alone cannot account for the global variation in incidence.
Further as-yet-unpublished research predicts that temperate, warm and cold climates are the most vulnerable to the current COVID-19 outbreak, followed by arid regions. Tropical parts of the world are likely to be least-affected, the researchers say.
However, it is said that necessity is the mother of invention. The social distancing dictated by the COVID-19 stimulated the creative efforts of an engineering student from the Rafik Hariri University (RHU) to develop the remotely-operated CO-BOT-19 Robot that disinfects an area it enters and is capable of delivering a load of 20 kg to an isolated patient. The RHU student started work on this Pandemic Aid robotic vehicle in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Another RHU engineering alumnus built a walk-through sterilization corridor and placed it at Roumie Prison. Furthermore, faculty members at RHU have initiated a collaborative effort with Staunch Machinery, Sidon, and Mina Medical Development, Beirut, to design and manufacture a highly controlled medical ventilator.
Dr. Suidan received his high-school education from International College of Beirut in 1967. He later earned a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Civil Engineering from AUB in 1971. He earned M.S. and Ph.D. degrees in environmental engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1973 and 1975, respectively. His first academic position was at the Georgia Institute of Technology where he served as an Assistant Professor. In 1980 he returned to the University of Illinois as a tenured Associate Professor and was promoted to Professor in 1985. His research led him to join the faculty at the University of Cincinnati in 1990 as the Herman Schneider Professor of Environmental Engineering where he served as Head of the Civil and Environmental Engineering Department and was later appointed as the Founding Director of the School of Energy, Environment, Biomedical and Medical Engineering. Dr. Suidan returned to Lebanon in 2011 where he served as Dean of Faculty of Engineering and Architecture until 2016. In October, 2018 The Rafik Hariri University Board of Trustees appointed Dr. Makram Suidan as President of the University.
Dr. Suidan is a world renowned researcher and academician. Dr. Suidan is author of over 300 manuscripts published in high-impact refereed technical journals. His areas of specialization include water, wastewater, and hazardous waste treatment and crude-oil spill remediation. His excellence in research led to his listing as one of three Highly-Cited Environmental Researchers in ISI. Of his 41 research and teaching awards, Dr. Suidan was recipient of the George Rieveschl Jr. Award for Distinguished Scientific Research in 2008. Also that year, he received the Frederick G. Pohland Medal given the American Academy of Environmental Engineering. In 1996 he was named the Association of Environmental Engineering and Science Professors Distinguished Lecturer. This involved a key-note address at the annual Water Environment Federation conference and presentations at 11 U.S. and 8 European Universities. He as selected Distinguished Alumnus at his two Alma Maters, the University of Illinois in 2000 and AUB in 2003.
Dr. Suidan's research interests deal with contaminants that are frequently in the headlines that include endocrine disrupting compounds, chlorinated organic compounds, gasoline oxygenates, pesticides, and heavy metals. He is a world renowned expert in the remediation of crude oil spills. His has published extensively in the areas of anaerobic treatment, adsorption on activated carbon, membrane bioreactors, gas phase biofiltration, and disinfection.
Under the leadership of President Suidan, RHU, which was established in 1999, is poised to become a beacon of knowledge, a brand for academic distinction and a force of meaningful transformation. it fosters a culture of quality, instituting authentic learning conditions, and supporting purposeful research to advance knowledge and nurture leaders capable of driving development and contributing to the enrichment of the community - immediate and beyond. The motto of RHU is Affordable Excellence in Education. Through its three colleges; the College of Business Administration, College of Engineering, College of Arts and Sciences RHU is the breeding ground for tomorrow's leaders.
Knowing all the above, BUSINESS LIFE reporter found that it is vital to conduct an exclusive interview with Dr. Makram Suidan, President of Rafik Hariri University who plays a key role in facilitating the efforts of his faculty members and students to create valuable and timely inventions.
BL: What is the purpose of establishing the Rafik Hariri University Coronavirus (Covid-19) Safety Committee (RHU-CSC)?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: We are fortunate at RHU to have on our faculty a virologist, Dr. Mahmoud Halablab. In order to avoid conflicting suggestions as to how to handle this calamity, I tasked Dr. Halablab on March 2, 2020 with chairing a RHU Coronavirus Committee (RHU-CSC). This committee was to provide the RHU community with the latest information and advice concerning the current Coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19).
BL: Why is it crucial that all universities and schools and public and private institutions should disinfect premises amid Coronavirus concerns?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: Owing to the fact that the Covid-19 virus is an invisible danger and is highly contagious and in the absence of an appropriate treatment or a vaccine, protective measures remain the only means for avoiding or reducing the incidence of the disease. Therefore, in stepping up our safety measures, the University initiated a complete disinfection procedure for ALL RHU premises using solutions provided by a reputable company (Boecker).
BL: What are the Key factors in controlling the transportation system amid COVID-19 pandemic?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: To start with, I would like to complement the Ministries of health and interior for their handling of the pandemic. The public has been kept well informed as to the statistics of infections and the unfortunate mortalities, and the application of the lockdown has, to some extent, mitigated the spread of infection. As for RHU, we switched immediately to on-line education and the policy of odd versus even travel restrictions had an affect only on the University administration since professors are, for the most part teaching from home. Once regular classes are resumed, we will implement a policy for disinfecting busses.
BL: What is your advice to students at the present critical time?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: Stay home and pay attention to online courses. Get involved with your community and spread awareness. Take free online courses offered by international universities.
BL: How long does the coronavirus survive on surfaces?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: Most of the work done employed the use of PCR technique which detects parts of the coronavirus and not if the virus is alive or not. However, a study published about three weeks ago reported the viability of the virus on different surfaces. SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of Covid-19, was more stable on plastic and stainless steel than on copper and cardboard, and viable virus was detected up to 72 hours after application to these surfaces. This is a serious finding since our public relies heavily on delivery of groceries and ready-to-eat food, and therefore delivery vehicles, personnel and packaging may pose a risk.
BL: Does sunshine kill the coronavirus?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: Ultraviolet radiation and not sunshine can be lethal to most microorganisms. This is mainly due to the cells’ nuclear material high affinity for energetic UV radiation which can damage the genetic material and eventually inactivate or kill microbes.
BL: Is it true that pandemics often don’t follow the same seasonal patterns seen in more normal outbreaks?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: Not at all, it is simply a coincidence that pandemics recur every 100 years. Novel microbes can emerge anytime, and new viruses are more likely to emerge than other organisms. For instance, SARS emerged in China in 2002 and was eradicated in 2003 after causing 8000 cases and a mortality rate of 10%. Then MERS emerged in Saudi Arabia in 2012 and is still ongoing causing, so far, about 4000 cases with a mortality rate around 34%. Today, we have another novel virus, SARS-CoV 2 the causative agent of Covid-19 and very likely it is not going to be the last.
BL: What can the Spanish flu teach us about Covid-19?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: Both the Spanish flu and Covid-19 are air-borne viruses causing respiratory disease. We do not have much accurate data about the Spanish flu pandemic that started in 1918. But, it seems there were two peaks. The second peak was, most probably a result of loosening on social distancing too early. The Spanish flu killed mainly young people because they did not have any immunity to the new virus; elderly people, on the other hand, had some form of immunity due to prior exposure to the influenza. In any case, the Spanish flu and the Covid-19 viruses are very different in their behavior:
• Influenza is less contagious: every infected individual may pass it on to 1.3 persons whereas the carrier of the Covid-19 virus may infect 2-3 people.
• Mortality from SARS-CoV 2 is faster. In the USA, between October 2019 and April 2020 influenza viruses killed 331 people daily compared to 739 killed daily by the COVID-19 virus between February 2020 and April 2020.
• Coronavirus spreads for few days before clinical symptoms appear: On average, influenza symptoms start within 2 days of infection and most people tend to stay at home until they recover. On the other hand, the incubation period for Covid-19 is 2-14 days and symptoms show after about 4-5 days after exposure to the virus. In addition, Covid-19 patients can spread the virus 48-72 hours before clinical symptoms become evident. This is why it is crucially important to wear masks, maintain social distancing, keep testing for new cases and track contact cases to limit the spread of the virus.
• We already have a vaccine for the flu, but, as of now, we do not have a vaccine for SARS-Cov 2.
BL: Why coronaviruses are a family of so-called “enveloped viruses”?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: Most viruses are classified as either enveloped or naked (non-enveloped). The envelope is mainly made up of phospholipids with proteins on its surface which mediate binding to the host cell which is crucial to transmitting infection. Therefore, enveloped viruses can be easily inactivated using different disinfectants while naked viruses tend to be more difficult to inactivate.
BL: What are your comments on a recent analysis which suggests this pandemic coronavirus will be less sensitive to the weather than many have hoped?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: There are many, mostly contradictory reports on the effect of weather conditions on the survival of coronavirus. The only confirmed information is that the virus prefers cold condition which is consistent with most coronaviruses.
BL: Why social distancing is so important?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: Since the virus can travel in aerosols over at least 1-2 meters, social distancing remains one of the main measures to slow down the spread of the virus.
BL: Does the weather impact our own immune systems to make us more vulnerable to infection?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: Cold weather may slightly reduce our immunity. Also, during winter we tend to have less vitamin D which has been demonstrated to aid the immune system.
BL: Many universities and schools around the world have turned to e-learning amid Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: Covid-19 pandemic, what about RHU? What are your recommendations?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: RHU, like all other universities in Lebanon have, and out of necessity has turned to e-learning. To accomplish this task, we are using a suite of software that includes MS TEAMS, ZOOM, Google Classroom, MOODLE, and YouTube. E-learning should be regulated, however, in order to ensure that the good name of some Lebanese universities is not tarnished. While e-learning can be very effective, there is no substitute to classroom instruction, especially where laboratory courses are concerned.
BL: Will e-learning replace our present academic system? Will it succeed in the Arab world?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: For e-learning to succeed, a strong internet and reliable and continuous electricity are a must. This is unfortunately not the case in Lebanon.
BL: Why do you consider RHU as the University of Top Achievers?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: I have been at RHU for 18 months. During that time, our students placed first in three international competitions and ten national competitions. This level of success for a university of only 750 students is due to the family atmosphere at the University and the low student to faculty ratio of 11:1. RHU has not increased its tuition over the past seven years. This conscious decision was taken in order to fulfil the Founder’s dream of providing excellent and affordable education. Our students, who come from all walks of life are hungry for knowledge and work very closely with their professors.
As a measure of the quality of education at RHU, all our engineering and business administration programs are fully accredited by U.S. Accreditation agencies.
BL: What are the most recent RHU's new programs of study launched for the first time in the Middle East?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: RHU was the first university in the Middle East to offer a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechatronics. This highly sought-after specialization produces graduates that work at the cutting edge of Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. RHU was the first university in the region to offer an MBA in Oil and Gas Management. Also, RHU was the first university to offer a degree in Healthcare Information Systems. This program prepares our graduates to manage the information systems of hospitals, insurance providers, etc. All three degrees are job-market market driven.
BL: What have you found to be the best way to monitor the performance of RHU?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: I consider the success and employability of our graduates to be the best measure of success. The employability rate of our graduates exceeds 90% which is among the highest in Lebanon.
BL: What is the most challenging part of budgeting for you?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: In order to fulfil RHU Founder’s mission of providing affordable excellence in education to all regardless of faith or political affiliation, we have maintained our tuition, which is in Lebanese pounds, constant over the past seven years. This has caused budgetary concerns that we are dealing with at present.
BL: What guidance and directions did you find most effective in managing RHU?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: We, at RHU have maintained a family atmosphere where students, faculty members and staff have fair due-process representation. I would like to recount an incident that took place this past year that best expresses the culture at this great institution.
An academically good third-year engineering student who carried a 50% tuition scholarship approached her department chairperson and expressed her inability to continue her studies due to her father being laid off in Saudi Arabia. The department chairperson gathered his faculty and informed them of this situation. The department faculty covered her remaining tuition from their own personal funds. I have been in academia for 43 years and I have taught at some of the best universities in the world, however, I have never witnessed such concern and affection for a student from her professors. I was so moved by this incident that I offered to cover her final year’s tuition from my own salary. The story did not end here. A couple of days later over breakfast, I told a friend this story. He as so moved by the kindness of the professors that he offered the University a $1M endowment that will fully support two new students at RHU every year.
BL: What are your comments on social and economic sustainability of urban systems?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: An economically sustainable urban system should offer a safe environment, free of chemical and noise pollution. It should also provide an infrastructure that supports healthy living conditions and is attractive to businesses and industry. This infrastructure, at a minimum, should include a good and affordable educational system, a good and affordable healthcare system, efficient and safe water and wastewater treatment, good roads, sidewalks, green areas, public transportation and sufficient and affordable parking. Additionally, a sustainable system should have an administrative structure that is transparent and exude confidence and trust.
BL: What measures do you recommend to enable Lebanon to establish a sound and solid social and economic sustainability amid its current challenges?
Professor Dr. Suidan, Makram: Prior to achieving a sustainable society, it is imperative that we establish an infrastructure that attracts capital and supports the foundation of a sustainable society. This infrastructure would lead to foreign and local confidence in the country, which I strongly believe is a prerequisite for jobs creation and investment in the future of Lebanon. I believe that the government is faced with an insurmountable task in achieving this infrastructure. The steps that need to be followed are:
• Our representatives in parliament and the various ministries should understand, in no uncertain terms, that they work for us and not the other-way-round. There ought to accountability and examples should be made of violators.
• There should be an office that overseas and coordinates capital projects. We cannot accept the status quo where, for example, once a road is completed, we dig it up to place sewers.
• Any capital project should be open for honest bidding and the least expensive qualified bidder should be awarded the contract. Any completed infrastructure project should meet stringent assessment prior to acceptance.
• A country does not exude investor confidence when its roads, sidewalks, are full of potholes, and where cars use sidewalks for parking. Extreme measures should be put in place where violators lose their vehicles no matter who they know or whom they are related to.
• All obstacles in front of embassies and government buildings should be removed. Obstacles should also be removed around the homes of those that are supposed to serve us. Honest politician should not fear the public.
• Untreated sewage cannot be discharged to the sea in a country that desired to attract tourism.
• The sewerage and water distribution networks should be revamped, and safe secure water should be supplied to all consumers.
• Modern power plants need to be constructed and all consumers should pay for the power they use.
• The internet system should be modernized so as to serve businesses, academic institutions and the public in a reliable manner.
• Monopolies on imports should be abolished.
• Every person should pay their fair share of taxes. Currently the only tax-payers in Lebanon are employees of large institutions.
• There should be an agency overseeing urban development. A real environmental impact assessment is needed to accompany any new project in order to ascertain that sufficient access, parking, sewerage, stormwater systems are available prior to approval of any project. Sidewalks should not be used for construction.
• A clean and reliable public transportation system is needed to minimize pollution.
• Almost all jobs and activities are centralized in Beirut. This leads to road congestion and air pollution. Major developments should be encouraged in all urban areas in order to create local jobs and minimize travel times.
• Finally, an independent National Oil and Gas Company should control any revenues from that sector and keep these resources away from the hands of corrupt political entities.
I honestly believe that the above projects represent the minimum effort needed to give Lebanon a chance.
