Biography
Joanna Doummar is an associate professor of Groundwater hydrology and Chair of the Department of Earth Sciences at the American University of Beirut. She holds a Ph.D. degree in Hydrogeology from Georg- August University Goettingen in Germany. Her research focuses on the development of methods for the assessment of the quantitative vulnerability of karst aquifers including the numerical simulation of integrated karst systems, the characterization of karst aquifers using different methods, and the assessment of transport behavior using specific contamination indicators. She is the principal investigator of international research grants. Her research includes also the gradual construction of a high-resolution monitoring network of water resources and climatic parameters in poorly-investigated and monitored sites in Lebanon. She is also involved as a principal investigator in a pilot testing of managed aquifer recharge (MAR) in Lebanon. She has supervised many undergraduate and graduate students in research topics in hydrogeology that culminated in various publications. She is an IAH member and a member of the IAH Karst Commission. She has been elected in the World Economic Forum Young Scientists Community- Class of 2020.
Personal statement
I am thrilled to have the opportunity to pursue the activities that were started back in 2020. When I first assumed the position of VP for the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, I had three main goals in mind, and wish to continue with this endeavor: 1) to foster networking and collaborations among chapters and individuals of the MENA region and beyond, 2) to encourage young scientists and hydrogeologists and especially mentor more females to join this field, 3) help promote, with other fellow scientists, groundwater hydrology in both academic and professional realm in the region. I will continue to encourage the formation/finalization of local chapters, with three new local chapters formed since 2020, and to represent IAH’s mission in different professional and international venues and events (to make the invisible visible). I hope through a growing national and international network that more scientific collaborative activities can be achieved through regional meetings. With local IAH chapters, we have started working on thematic research led by scientists of our region. Finally, I hope to facilitate the development of local policies/guidelines for water management in the MENA.
I commit to serve the mission of groundwater in the MENA and beyond and to try my best to achieve the goals set above.
