Advisory of Zewail City Commemorates Late Scientist’s Birthday

By Gehan Aboul Ela and Yassmine ElSayed

CAIRO, Mar. 4 (SEE) – The Supreme Advisory Council of Zewail City for Science and Technology held its first meeting since the city’s founder, Iconic Scientist and Nobel laureate Dr. Ahmed Zewail who passed away in 2016.

The meeting was held on February 26, which commemorates the scientist’s birthday, at the new headquarter of the Zewail City in October city. Sir John Thomas, Dr. John Chamou and Dr. Charles Alaltchi and other distinguished members of the Council were present at the event.

The meeting was also attended by Sir Magdi Yaqub, Dr. Nabil El Arabi, former Secretary General of the Arab League, Ambassador Fayza Aboul Naga, Minister Mohamed Said El-Assar, Dr. Farouk El-Okda, Dr. Mahmoud Saqr, Dr. Kamil Metias, Dr. Mona Zulfikar, Wael Fakharani and Dr. Zewail’s widow Dema El-Faham. It was chaired by Dr. Mostafa ElSayed.

Dr. Sherif Sedqi, city’s executive director, began the meeting with a welcoming speech. He gave a detailed presentation of the city, its components and latest achievements. The members of the council were then taken on a tour at the research institutes and centers of the city.

Dr. Sedqi was keen to pay tribute to the city’s partners, who contributed greatly to its success, and supported the university students through scholarships.

In this regard, businessman Hassan Abbas Helmi, who financed the establishment of the Institute of Medical Sciences with all its equipments, was honored.

In addition, several banks’ board chairmen were honored, including ‘Ahli bank’, which funded a center for nanotechnology and provided 119 scholarships to students. It also established a number of sports halls and planted the city.

Also honored were ‘Banque Misr’, which funded the establishment of the student services building, Qatar National Bank, Kuwait, United Bank, Banque du Caire, Misr El Kheir Foundation, Telecom Egypt, Development Association, Nile Valley Phosphate company, Apache and Egyptian Oil Refining company, all funded free student scholarships.

The event was concluded with an open meeting for the board members and the Supreme Advisory Council with researchers, professors and students to discuss the latest achievements. The meeting also discussed ways to provide the necessary support to complete the mission of the scientific city to contribute to the development of the scientific research system in cooperation with Egyptian centers and universities.

In the end, the Council praised the progress made by the city’s members, and the efforts exerted to provide stability and advancement of the city.