Egypt began preparations for science day celebration due to take place next Sunday in the presence of Egypt’s President Abdel Fattah El Sisi.
This comes within the framework of the state's interest in science as one of the progress key factors.
History of Egypt’s Science Day
The celebration dates back to the royal era on August 17, 1944, when King Farouk announced that Egypt would celebrate the science day on August 17, every year.
In 1958, late President Gamal Abdel Nasser changed the science day date to December 21, in accordance with Cairo University opening date. The late prominent writer Taha Hussein, dean of Arabic literature, was the first one to be honoured in this year.
Moreover, in 1965, Abdel Nasser honoured the legends: Umm Kalthoum (Planet of East) and Mohamed Abdel Wahab (Generations Musician).
The state's interest in the celebration of science day remained during the era of late president Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat and former President Hosni Mubarak.
After the January 25th revolution, the celebration was put at halt for two years because of the state political conditions and then resumed during former president chancellor Adly Mansour.
On December 21, 2013, Mansour honoured scientists in the fields of science, arts and literature, at the Presidency headquarters.
In 2014, El Sisi revived the science day celebration in December 2014 at the Cairo University, where he honoured a number of researchers, university professors, as well as top universities’ graduates and schools’ students.
During this celebration, the president announced an initiative entitled "Towards building an Egyptian society that learns, thinks and innovates”
Moreover, Egypt’s head of state decided to introduce four new innovation awards in the fields of agriculture, food, health, medicine, energy, water and industry; he dedicated them to young innovators.
Contributed by: Nada Mustafa
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