The Merge

The Merge•podeo.co

This is The Merge, a podcast where experts from diverse fields come together to tackle real-world challenges. Hosted by Alan Shihadeh, Dean of the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at the American University of Beirut, each episode dives into pressing issues and innovative solutions that bridge disciplines and inspire change.

Last refreshed: July 13th, 2025 at 12:06 PM ⓘ

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Episodes

The Merge: Episode 04 | Fadi Zaraket | Arabic LLMs, Surveillance, Tech Politics, Future of Eng & AI

Dr. Fadi Zaraket discusses Arabic Large Language Models (LLMs), he highlights their importance in ensuring technology aligns with the Arabic language and culture. For him, the development of Arabic LLMs is essential in bridging the gap between global advancements and regional identity. The conversation expands to encompass general LLMs, surveillance, tech politics, the future of engineering education and liberal arts, and the unregulated frontiers of AI, all of which are reshaping industries aro...

Mar 04, 2025•47 min•Season 1Ep. 4

The Merge: Episode 03 | Nassim Taleb | The architecture of the world we inhabit.

When Dr. Nassim Nicholas Taleb looks to the future, he doesn’t see the randomness of a roll of the dice, but a hidden order shaped by probability distributions and rooted in history. For him, randomness itself is epistemic—grounded in knowledge and the deep, unbroken threads that connect us to our past. The Merge is a production of the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at AUB. The podcast was recorded at the studios of the Abdulla Al Ghurair Hub for Digital Teaching & Lea...

Jan 14, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 3

The Merge: Episode 02 | Mona Fawaz | Urban Planning and Collective Living

Explore the critical role of urban planning and collective spaces in the rebuilding of war-torn areas with Dr. Mona Fawaz, Professor of Urban Planning and Convener of the graduate programs in Urban Planning and Design at the Maroun Semaan Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at AUB. Drawing on her extensive expertise, Dr. Fawaz discusses how urban design can foster social cohesion, economic revitalization, and the preservation of a community. The Merge is a production of the Maroun Semaan Fac...

Dec 20, 2024•32 min•Season 1Ep. 2

The Merge | Issam Srour | Recycling War Rubble for a Sustainable Future

Amid relentless bombardments in Beirut, southern Lebanon, and the Beqaa Valley, Professor Issam Srour from AUB, an expert in construction waste and sustainable rubble management, discusses urgent strategies for handling Lebanon’s mounting demolition debris and its potential for sustainable rebuilding.

Nov 18, 2024•35 min•Season 1Ep. 1

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