News
Today is October 7, a full three years since the horrific attack and hostage crisis prompted a devastating Gaza war—again--with unrelenting suffering, displacement, and countless civilian deaths…
Joint research funding opportunity
The Office of International Affairs and Sabancı University (Türkiye) have announced a call for joint research projects under the…
Unbeknownst to many, The Ohio State University’s Middle East Studies Center does far more than host public lectures and campus events. Each year, MESC works with the other area studies centers in…
Dr. Sultana N. Nahar continues to champion STEM education and forging collaboration between The Ohio State University and institutions in the Middle East with numerous achievements. In July 2026,…
This article delves into the question, "What factors and events in US-Iranian relations over the past four, nearly five, decades have prevented diplomacy from taking hold?"
Part I of this…
The International Society of Muslim Women in Science (ISMWS), founded by Ohio State University astronomer Prof. Sultana N. Nahar, has launched a new chapter at the University of Barishal in…
Students at the Ohio State University (OSU) are discovering possibilities for teamwork and collaboration across cultural differences as they work with peers at Izmir University of…
The smell of saffron is all around the house. My mom is cooking some rice to serve it with the chicken she has cooked for dinner. I find her in the kitchen, grinding the saffron in the brass…
Below you will find a list of job openings in areas relating to Middle Eastern cultures, languages, and related topics. These jobs span all fields and experience levels, and we encourage you to…
“On the first day of the seventh month you shall have a holy convocation. You shall not do any ordinary work. It is a day for you to blow the trumpets.” — Numbers (Bamidbar) 29:1
As Rosh…
We are excited to announce 2 student assistant positions to support the MCRME project. We will give priority to applications received by September 30. The job posting is here:
https:/…
We are pleased to announce that Dr. Sultana Nahar was honored with two awards this April.
Nahar is a distinguished physicist and research professor in the Department of Astronomy at The Ohio…
The Directors of the Melton Center for Jewish Studies and the Middle East Studies Center, partnering with the Center for Ethics and Human Values, are pleased to announce the award of a $75,000…
Experiencing culture firsthand is perhaps the best way to learn about the Middle East. Yet, research in the Middle East is marked by significant challenges, due to political instability. The U.S…
What is Nowruz?
While March 20th marks the beginning of spring for most- more than 300 million people worldwide are celebrating the start of a new year! Nowruz, also known as Iranian New Year, is…
The Middle East Studies Center is launching a new food sovereignty project to encourage community building and cultural inclusivity by fostering local and sustainable food systems. Seeds of Middle…
The following organizations have upcoming deadlines for their conferences, fellowships, and additional language resources:
The Middle East Studies…
More than a year after the events of October 7th, public university administrations have struggled to make progress on the Israel-Palestine question. Not only has the general American public been…
The QRDI Fellowship for Displaced Arab Researchers (DAR) supports researchers from Palestine, Sudan, Syria, and Yemen whose careers have been disrupted by conflict.
Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year, begins tomorrow and will culminate with an observance of Yom Kippur, or the Day of Atonement, ten days later. Rosh Hashanah means families gather for a…
MESC-affiliated faculty member Professor Sultana Nahar uses her personal connections, online tools and her STEM background to engage internationally with Middle Eastern scholars and universities. …
Did you know that Ohio State University is part of an international project to make ancient Arabian language artifacts available to researchers? Professor Ahmad Al-Jallad is bringing…
By Melinda McClimans and Krishna Kewale
For decades, the Israel-Palestine conflict has been an important topic in news media. However, it remains one Americans are not comfortable discussing…
We are sending best wishes to those who will be celebrating Eid al-Adha starting this Sunday, June 16th. Muslim families and friends will gather to celebrate together and exchange gifts for Eid al…
We’re wishing the best to all who will be celebrating with family over a Passover Seder this coming Monday and Tuesday.
The central event of Passover is the Seder, a ritual meal that takes…
The Middle East Studies Center will provide a grant to support faculty revising their courses or developing new courses relating to the Middle East. Learn more on the application page. We hope to…
Join us tomorrow with special guest Dr. Ziad Adwan, a theater artist and author, as he talks about “Syrian Theatre Institutions and Enmity." Adwan is known for multiple insights into the nature of…
Looking to learn more about the Middle East? Check out these courses below! Find a full list of ME-related courses here!
JEWSHST 2201Introduction to Jewish Culture, Thought, and Practice …
The Digital Islamic Studies Curriculum (DISC) coordinates Islamic Studies across the Big Ten Universities, providing students to engage with peers from other campuses. This summer, DISC is hosting…
Civil rights form an important part of U.S. citizenship that shapes our identity and informs American attitudes and cultural norms. We value democracy and equal treatment of all citizens…
As members of an academic community with deep interest in the Middle East and North Africa region, we extend our sympathy and concern for all impacted by the violence in Israel…
WGSS/ARABIC 2702 Gender and Citizenship in Modern Arabic Literature
This course explores modern Arabic literature from the 1960s to the present as a space where…
The Institute for the Study of the Ancient World (ISAW) is a center at NYU for advanced scholarly research and graduate education. Their mission is to encourage particularly the study of the…
As the people of Derna cope with the deadliest flood in Africa since 1900, Libyans are on an ongoing search for missing persons. Furthermore, people fear the lasting consequences of such a…
On the third national day of mourning in Morocco, as declared by King Mohammad VI, we at Ohio State join communities all over the nation, as the world gathers to show support for the victims of…
Check out our report on the Food Sovereignty Workshop!
OSU Units in partnership with Central State University Professor Brandy Phipps organized a professional development workshop on…
Ohio State now offers an Intercultural Competence for Global Citizenship certificate to students engaging in cultural learning and exploration. Available as of autumn 2022, this certificate will…
Dr. Daniel M. Varisco, President, American Institute for Yemeni Studies, shared his expertise on Yemeni food systems for our Food Sovereignty Workshop on October 13th and 14th. Dr. Varisco is an…
The Middle East Studies Center is growing its internship program! We are now offering a paid opportunity to support our programming and lead the student team! We intend to grow the team to 3-5…
Hi Middle East Studies Forum friends and curious,
What do a Moroccan folklorist, Malcolm X’s hajj journey, and the reports of Noura Erekat have in common? Each made their presence known at…
The Middle East Studies Center and the Undergraduate International Studies Program (UISP) are offering an opportunity to support MESC's programming while developing academic and workplace skills…
The Middle East Studies Center is offering a paid opportunity to support our programming while developing your leadership and workplace skills while learning about Middle East Studies. You can…
Have you heard of International Society of Muslim Women in Science (ISMWS)? ISMWS leads young Muslim women in India to higher education in STEM, involving them in research and developing them…
On October 13th and 14th, 2022, Ohio State University held the food sovereignty workshop, Community-Centered Approaches for Food Systems Transformation. The workshop focused on university…
Konrad Dabrowski
School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State University, Columbus OH 43210,
The Middle East Studies Center at The Ohio State University condemns the tragic and brutal death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Iranian woman who died in the custody of the Iranian Morality Police…
The Middle East Studies Center, Global Water Institute, and University Libraries will host a food sovereignty workshop on October 13 and 14, 2022. Globally, 27% of people face moderate or severe…
The Middle East Studies Center is pleased to announce that Dr. Daniel M. Varisco, President, American Institute for Yemeni Studies, will discuss what local food systems can look like in the…
Food Sovereignty Workshop: Community-Centered Approaches for Food Systems Transformation
October 13 - October 14, 2022
9:00AM - 4:00PM
Locations: OSU Thompson Library (Day 1)…
By Alivia Kiefer
An older man steps into the frame carrying an ‘oud, the traditional stringed instrument of Iraq, and kneels. Behind him, two people dressed in US military uniforms dance…
Professor Rattan Lal, Distinguished University Professor of Soil Science, School of Environmental and Natural Resources, and Director of the CFAES Dr. Rattan Lal Carbon Management and…
Dear students, colleagues and friends,
As leaders of the Area Studies Centers at The Ohio State University, we are horrified by the violence and turmoil we see unfolding around us…
Next week is the Global Teacher Seminar co-hosted by the area studies centers of the Office of International Affairs. We organized the session with Professor Rattan Lal, world renown expert on…
By: Thorayah Abdelqader, Lead Intern
Saudi Arabia’s decision to lift the ban on women driving came with great surprise and joy to the international world. This change in policy was so…
By Cheyenne l'Auclair (Hall)
Last week, I met with Dr. Alam Payind, Director of the Middle East Studies Center at Ohio State to discuss al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula…
By Cheyenne l'Auclair (Hall)
الكاتب: شايان لاكلاير (هال)
منذ الانتفاضات الشعبية في اليمن في عام ٢٠١١، تزدهر القاعدة في شبه الجزيرة العربية في اليمن. انتهزت…
By Cheyenne l'Auclair (Hall)
An Arabic version of this article is available here.
Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) is on the rise in Yemen, coalescing power from the…
By Alex Rand
For the past four decades the United States has found itself increasingly committed to developments in the Middle East. Its involvement has made it one of the region’s major…
By: Cierra Carafice
The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict has been a source of contention since the 1947 partition plan was approved by the United Nations General Assembly1. This conflict has…
By: Thorayah Abdelqader
The crisis in Yemen is still getting worse as starvation, disease and destruction spreads. The country is battling a civil war and facing interference from outside…
By Alex Rand
Background
‘Rojava’ can be a nebulous term. Rojava references West Kurdistan, a series of Kurdish majority cantons spread throughout Syria’s northeast, north, and…
By: Thorayah Abdelqader
There have been multiple outbreaks of Cholera worldwide, with one of the biggest outbreaks occurring in the aftermath of the natural disasters that hit…
By Cierra Carafice
The ongoing civil war in Syria has been a very visible and heavily discussed conflict. However, one of the more obscure facets of this war is the toll it has taken on…
By Alex Rand
Part 1: Historical Context
For as long as the Kurds have existed they have been subject to non-Kurdish rule, whether it be Arab, Persian, Ottoman,…
By Alex Rand
Part 2: Natural Resources Dilemma
One of the several hurdles facing Kurdish efforts for independence comes in the form of natural resources. The…
By Alex Rand
Part 3: Political, Diplomatic, and Military Realities
Should Iraqi Kurdistan’s referendum succeed the next set of hurdles facing the KRG center around…
By Alex Rand
Part 4: Implications of the Referendum
The referendum itself is not exactly a close vote by any stretch of the imagination. The ultimate result will be…
By Alex Rand
To most readers, the idea of cracking open a book on Central Asian history sounds unpleasant. Unfamiliar places and strange names tend to throw off most western readers, since…
by Rachel LaPointe
“Women don’t know how strong they truly are,” says Lina Khalifeh, founder and owner of SheFighter, the first Middle Eastern self-defense academy and martial arts studio…