WtERT Iraq
Host institution:
The American University of Iraq – Baghdad
The American University of Iraq – Baghdad
Prof. Myrna Semaan, PhD
Council Member, Chair WtERT-Iaq
University Profile | Google Scholar | Email: myrna.semaan@auib.edu.iq
BOOKS
- Semaan M. (ed.) 2026. Agroecology for Ecosystem-based Adaptation in Climate-Resilient Sustainable Agriculture: A guide for farmers. Friends of Nature, Beirut.
- Semaan M. 2021. Concrete Artificial Reef Garden, Jounieh Bay. Friends of Nature, Beirut.
- Semaan M. 2014. A Sanctuary of Orchids, A Protected Area on Holcim Land, Lebanon – Biodiversity Assessment. IUCN.
- Haber R.M. and M. Semaan. 2013. Holy Land Of The Phoenicians, Adonis River, Valley Of The Dancing Shadows. Series: Natural Heritage from the Mediterranean-Spaces and Species, vol. III. Terre du Liban, Beirut. 360 pages colored. (subject: Ecological exploration of a unique water catchment basin)
- Haber R.M. and M. Semaan. 2010. FLORAL ENCHANTMENT TO LEBANON. Series: Natural Heritage from the Mediterranean-Spaces and Species, vol. II. Terre du Liban, Beirut. 250 pages fully colored. (subject: The rare and endemic plants that are named after Lebanon)
- Haber R.M. and M. Semaan. 2010. Orchids of Lebanon. Series: Natural Heritage from the Mediterranean-Spaces and Species, vol. I. Terre du Liban, Beirut. 218 pages fully colored. (subject: The first complete exploration of the orchids of Lebanon with 86 taxa uncovered).
- Haber R.M. and M. Semaan. 1994. Lebanon, Land of the Four Seasons, an album of photographic records of important nature sites in Lebanon. 192 pages.
B- BOOK CHAPTER
- Semaan, M., et al. 2021. Biodiversity (chapter 5). Lebanon State of the Environment Report – SOER 2020. National Report per decade. Ministry of Environment/UNDP/GEF.
- Chapter contribution – Land Resources (chapter 6). State of the Environment. National Report per decade. Ministry of Environment/UNDP/GEF.
C- SCIENTIFIC PAPERS
- El Zein, H., Semaan, M. & Machaka-Houri, N. Hieracium kneissaeum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T85752067A85753453.
https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T85752067A85753453.en.
- Fragman-Sapir, O., Semaan, M. & El Zein, H. Allium sannineum. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T13145504A141593470. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T13145504A141593470.en.
- Sapir, Y., Semaan, M. & Fragman-Sapir, O. Iris histrio (amended version of 2016 assessment). The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2020: e.T13161727A177442282. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2020-3.RLTS.T13161727A177442282.en.
- El Zein, H., Semaan, M., Bou Dagher Kharrat, M. & Lansdown, R.V. Sternbergia pulchella. The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species 2018: e.T13147429A18610073. https://dx.doi.org/10.2305/IUCN.UK.2018-1.RLTS.T13147429A18610073.en.
My teaching path was centered at Faculties of Arts and Sciences, and Faculties of Agriculture at several prestigious universities of Lebanon and then AUIB-Iraq. Due to my multidisciplinary background combining formative and practical skills and expertise, I teach a diversity of courses from different disciplines. Under sciences, I offer courses that basically address sustainable development through ecological studies, environmental sciences, environmental economics, biodiversity and biotechnology. In addition, my teaching portfolio includes basic biology courses the pillar of which is microbiology that interlinks agriculture, medical and environmental sciences. Botany and plant sciences are surely building blocks for the understanding of the natural surrounding and the planet. A pioneering path that I appreciate much was offering ecological studies to architectural engineers under the School of Arts, this was highly instrumental for the future architects in their conception and use of the natural space and resources. On the agriculture side, agroforestry was a domain that I pioneered and diffused through peer training to several universities.
In the teaching path, I tutored several thesis projects at masters and PhD levels, and sat as jury member on several thesis defense committees.
Solid waste management, energy sources and renewability, including waste-to-energy, are integral topics of the environmental science courses. They are thoroughly discussed with a sustainable management approach to problem solving and resolving pollution sources and impact.
