RHU hosted an exceptional event under the title “Delivering Innovation to the World,” to stage the outstanding Lebanese intellect, invention and entrepreneurship, demonstrated by the breakthrough inventions of RHU alumnus, Wassim Hariri, and AUB alumnus, Fouad Maksoud, as presented in Stars of Science, the first innovation program in the Arab world. In the presence of their parents, and a huge crowd of RHU faculty, staff and students, RHU honored the two Lebanese entrepreneurs at 11:00 a.m. on October 31, 2017 in RHU theatre.
The event began with the Lebanese national anthem and a brief word by RHU President, Dr. Ahmad Smaili, in which he said “welcome to this special gathering to meet two special people because they represent the best. A person once said that freedom works best when it pursues difficult goals; the two gentlemen here represented freedom at its best. We often celebrate innovators from a distant land, rightfully so, because any creativity that contributes to the elevation of humanity should be celebrated, but to celebrate innovators from our country is something to be proud of. “
Dr. Smaili praised Wasim and Fouad for their ability to mesh information, knowledge and wisdom in their quest to achieve seemingly difficult goals. He added that these two young men represented the stages of the creative process that begin with the arrival of the idea, displaying it to criticism by friends and associates, perseverance in work and analysis, refining and testing, working on developing the skills to present and teach it to others, and finally announcing it to the public with passion, determination and desire to make a positive change in the surroundings. “Our paths and the challenges we face could be different but what guarantees our success lies in the application of our human values which brings us together and which Wassim and Fouad embodied. We are proud of you. You are what mothers would like to see in their sons.”
Wassim Hariri then took the stage feeling nostalgic about being back at RHU. He spoke about his passion for robotics, which was first instigated at Rafik Hariri University through the support of RHU professors and the incessant work on student projects in the laboratories.
He then played a video, an exclusive one for RHU, which showed his marvelous robot invention that took him through Stars of Science, in action in a real hospital in Qatar. His robot delivered food to patients in hospitals, all the way from the kitchen to the patients’ tables. It delivered the right meal at the right time using advanced technology, saving hospital staff considerable time to focus on providing better healthcare and minimizing human error.
Wassim then directly addressed the students and encouraged them to work hard and believe in their abilities by saying: “Every single one of us has a hidden inventor inside. All what we need is that right chance and support from decision makers.”
Wassim then announced that he will deliver a fast track to a student in RHU to be part of Stars of Science Program season 10. The fast track will allow the student direct entry to the Program without passing through the initial rigorous application and casting stages. This student, he explained, should possess a winning idea and the needed passion and ability to pursue it.
It is worth noting that Wassim Hariri graduated from Rafik Hariri University in 2014 with a BS degree in Mechatronics Engineering. He then completed his Master's Degree in Robotics from Politecnico di Torino in Italy. Today, he works for a rising robot company in Berlin, Germany, on several projects for institutions in Italy, France and Switzerland.
Wassim then invited his Lebanese colleague in Stars of Science, Fouad Maksoud, to the stage. Fouad thanked RHU for hosting him, and RHU President for his speech that reflected most of the difficulties they passed through during their invention process. Fouad presented his Stars of Science project, which uses both electroplating and nanotechnology to create nanofibers that can be incorporated into the patient’s ordinary clothes to deliver medicine and drugs onto wounds and third degree burns.
Fouad concluded his presentation by saying: “We all leave footprints as we journey through life, our main duty is to make sure our footprints are worth following.”
Fouad completed his BS in Petrochemcial Engineering and MS in Chemical Engineering and received an outstanding achievement certificate from the Department of Chemical Engineering in the Maroon Semaan College of Engineering and Architecture at the American University of Beirut. He is today a nanotechnology consultant and AUB has supported his participation in Stars of Science.
At the end of the ceremony, RHU President handed Wassim and Fouad flower bouquets and memory photos were taken.
What those two young men have achieved is a manifestation of the Lebanese prowess and ability to impact the world with their creativity and innovation. Rafik Hariri University’s event came to emphasize the importance of nurturing their abilities, embracing them, and providing them the needed moral and material support to unleash their creativity.