Synopsis - Chlorophyll Biosynthesis and Technological Applications - page 41

Abou-Haidar, we studied the incorporation of 14 C -ALA into metalloporphyrins
in vitro. With Moustapha Yaghi we studied the incorporation of 14 C-ALAinto
protochlorophyllide (Pchlide) and its ester Pchlide ester in vivo in order to try to
demonstrate a precursor-product relationship between the two protochlorophylls.
Both Pchlide and its ester are precursors of Chl. With Antoine Chamai we studied
the anthocyanins of the Starking Delicious apple variety grown in Lebanon. With
Georges Saliba, we studied the lipid profile of cucumber cotyledons. After obtaining
their MS degress, Mounir Abou Haidar, Moustapha Yaghi and Antoine Chamai
continued their studies in France and obtained their doctorate degrees there.
2.6.3 Foundation of the Lebanese Association
for the Advancement of Sciences
In 1968 I discussed with a young French-trained inorganic chemist by the name of
Emile Samaha, the creation of a Lebanese Association for the Advancement of
Sciences (LAAS), patterned after the US American Association for the Advance-
ment of Sciences (AAAS). Emile had just returned to Lebanon from a postdoctoral
training in the Chemistry department at UC Berkeley in California. We got together
a group of Lebanese academics who became the founders of the association, namely
from the American University of Beirut, professors: Samir Thabet an inorganic
chemist, Charles Abou-Chaar, a marine Biologist, and Jamal Karam-Harfouche,
a public health scientist, and from the Lebanese University, Professors Rafic Eido, a
physicist, and Hafez Khobeisi and Mounir Abou-Hajal two mathematicians.
We drafted a constitution for the association that was approved by the Lebanese
Government. Then we created a yearly scientific symposium where research done
in Lebanon and the Arab World was presented. The first Symposium was held in
August 1969. Unfortunately by that time I had returned to the United States.
However my students presented their research findings at the symposium.
2.6.4 The Winds of War
After creation of the Lebanese Association for the Advancement of Sciences, Emile
Samaha headed a study, sponsored by LAAS about the social conditions in
Lebanon. Our investigation was helped by a French scientist, Marcel Piganiol,
CEO of Pyrex-Sovirell, who was then an advisor to Charles Helou, President of the
Lebanese Republic. The study came to the conclusion that some kind of revolution
was brewing and as a consequence I started thinking of leaving Lebanon, since
there was very little hope that anything would be done to correct the many problems
facing the country.