Experience at Birzeit University, Palestine: Results of Visit

Bruce Hawkins

March 4-22, 1999

I found that the department is vital but struggling. The usual problems of Physics Departments in justifying a low-enrollment major to the administration are compounded by the fact that the University budget has declined drastically since the Oslo agreement. Their main funding source had been the European Union, which is now expecting the Palestinian Authority to take over and channeling all funds through the Authority, which is distributing them differently than in the past, with a smaller proportion of a (I think) declining total going to Birzeit.

I believe that I accomplished the following:

  1. The general psychological effect of a foreign visitor finding it worthwhile to come.
  2. I assisted one faculty member in grant preparation and have made it known that I am available for consultation by email. The largest factor here is simply knowing the American granting culture to advise on what way of phrasing requests i appropriate.
  3. I catalyzed a meeting between Wa'el Qara'n, the department chair, and Rita Giacaman, the enterprising and efficient head of the Institute for Community and Public Health, in which she suggested a useful program that the Physics department could institute which would be likely to bring in substantial funds.
  4. I undertook to consult with Rita and Wa'el about laser eye safety. Rita is seeing eye damage as a result of cheap laser pointers in the hands of children, and has experienced it herself. She needs further documentation to convince the minister of public health. I have already found that this is a matter of concern in the US also, and it is probably just a matter of gathering information already available.
  5. I undertook to see if I can be of any help with their computer needs by locating useful surplus computers.
  6. I educated myself on the situation there.