Egyptian-Swiss Symposium on Mummy Studies: 30 Years of Scientific, Academic Collaboration

In celebration of three decades of collaboration between the Swiss Mummy Project (SMP) and Egyptian partners, the Embassy of Switzerland in Egypt together with the University of Zurich organised a Symposium on Mummy Studies at the Egyptian Museum in Downtown Cairo. 

The event, which was held under the auspices of the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, took place in the presence of Ambassador-Designate Dr. Andreas Baum, the Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities Dr.Mohamed Ismail as well as the Vice President and CFO of the University of Zurich, Mr. Daniel Hug, and high-level representatives of the University of Zurich. It brought together key figures from the Egyptian government, the diplomatic community, as well as prominent archaeologists.

The Symposium marked another highlight of the Embassy’s series of activities celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Friendship Treaty between Egypt and Switzerland.

The Symposium featured a keynote address by renowned Egyptologist and former Minister of Antiquities, Dr. Zahi Hawass. This was followed by lectures from distinguished experts including the Co-Founders of the Swiss Mummy Project, Prof. Dr. Dr. Frank Rühli and Dr. Thomas Böni. Other notable speakers included Prof. Dr. Yehia Gad, Emeritus Professor of Molecular Genetics at the National Research Centre and Scientific Supervisor of ancient DNA lab at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, as well as Prof. Dr. Salima Ikram, Distinguished University Professor, Department of Sociology, Egyptology and Anthropology at the American University in Cairo.

In his address, Ambassador-Designate Dr. Andreas Baum stated: “For decades, Egyptian and Swiss researchers have worked side by side, advancing our common understanding of mummies. This collaboration is a testament to the power of shared knowledge and to the respect for cultural preservation. Today’s Symposium not only celebrates these achievements but also opens new possibilities for future research and cooperation between Egypt and Switzerland.”

Meanwhile, Prof. Dr. Dr. Frank Rühli stated: “Our collaborative Swiss-Egyptian biomedical Mummy research helps to decipher the important history of human health and diseases.”

Established in 1995 at the University of Zurich, the SMP pioneered biomedical mummy research, significantly advancing the understanding of ancient Egyptian mummies through innovative research, capacity-building initiatives and global public outreach. The Symposium also served as an opportunity to reflect on the long-standing partnership between Swiss and Egyptian researchers, and to explore the potential for future collaborations in Egyptology and scientific research.

In his speech, Dr Mohamed Ismail Khaled commended the Egyptian-Swiss cooperation in the field of antiquities, which is approaching a hundred years of cooperation in the field of excavations, museum displays and archaeological studies, underscoring that this cooperation will continue to reach new heights. For his part, the Director of the Egyptian Museum, Professor Dr. Ali Abdel Halim, stressed the effective role of the Egyptian Museum in the Egyptian-Swiss cooperation in mummy studies and what this type of scientific cultural event represents in terms of raising archaeological awareness among those working in the field of antiquities and others, especially since it combines archaeology and medical sciences.

Additionally, these joint events enhance international cooperation, as organizing such seminars and scientific events enhances academic cooperation between Egypt and Switzerland, and helps in exchanging knowledge and expertise in the field of mummy studies. It also contributes to educating new generations about the importance of ancient Egyptian history and civilization and the secrets it contains about the mechanisms of mummification, which enhances interest in the cultural heritage and history of ancient Egypt.

On the sidelines of this event, the Egyptian Museum organized educational workshops for children, shedding light on ancient Egyptian mummification practices for primary school students.

 Additionally, guided tours, coordinated with the Swiss Embassy in Cairo, highlighted ancient Egyptian mummification through the museum's collection.

Over the coming month, the Egyptian Museum will display the "Screaming Mummy" at the entrance as a special accompanying piece to the event.