In July 2017, in a milestone event, a Memorandum of Understanding between the Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA) and the Egyptian Academy of Scientific Research (ASRT) was formally agreed. An essential part of the agreement is the establishment of an AGYA Regional Office at ASRT in Cairo.
On 26 November 2017, AGYA and ASRT reached a milestone of their longstanding cooperative partnership built on mutual trust and respect: In a festive key hand-over ceremony, both academies laid the foundation for the AGYA Regional Office at ASRT in Cairo.
On 25 October 2018, the Official Opening of the AGYA Regional Office at ASRT in Cairo will be celebrated with the international conference entitled ‘Women Empowerment in Science, Technology and Innovation (WE-STI 2018)’.
‘With this newly established cooperation, ASRT and AGYA aim to foster innovative collaborative research with social impact and to raise capacities of young researchers in Egypt, the Arab world and Germany. I am convinced that we can expect to see this strong partnership flourishing,’ states AGYA Principal Investigator Prof. Dr. Verena Lepper. She inaugurates together with Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Sakr (President of ASRT and AGYA Advisory Board Member) the AGYA Regional Office and warmly welcomes the office team in Cairo. The new office is managed by Dr. Amr Radwan (Head of Office) and Ms. Samar Awad (Communication Officer).
The festive opening ceremony starts with words of welcome by distinguished guests and high ranking representatives from Germany, Europe, and Egypt: H.E. Ambassador Julius Georg Luy, German Ambassador to Egypt (tbc.), Ms.Sandra De Waele (Deputy Head of EU Delegation to Egypt), Mr. Peter Webers, Representative of the German Federal Minister of Education and Research (BMBF), and H.E. Prof. Dr. Khalid Abdul Ghaffar, Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research.
The launch of the Regional AGYA Office at ASRT essentially contributes to AGYA’s successful effort to support north-south-south research cooperation. Currently, AGYA has more than 50 Arab and German members affiliated with over 40 prominent institutions in 17 countries. During the festive opening ceremony 14 new AGYA members and the first cohort of AGYA alumni are officially inaugurated. For the first time, AGYA warmly welcomes members from research institutions in Kuwait.
The launch ceremony is musically enriched by the accomplished interpretations of traditional and modern Arabic tunes of the all-women music ensemble Al-Dandana Al-Nisa’iyya (‘The Warbling Ladies’). The subsequent international conference shifts the focus away from the power of female musicians to the empowerment of women in academia. In a jointly held conference, ASRT and AGYA invite the Egyptian scientific community to discuss strategies on ‘Women Empowerment in Science, Technology and Innovation’. Egyptian and German perspectives on women empowerment through science and technology are presented by high-ranking keynote speakers: H.E. Ambassador Nabila Makram, Minister of Immigration and Egyptian Expatriates’ Affairs, MP Prof. Dr. Marianne Azer, Member of Egyptian Parliament, and Dr. Sabine Behrenbeck, Head of the Higher Education Department, German Council of Science and Humanities.
This conference is a step forward in exploring andpromoting successful models and best practices of women empowerment in science and technology such as the innovative Egyptian empowerment program Women-UP. WE-STI 2018 is expected to provide a unique opportunity for exchange and the collaborative advancement of women empowerment strategies. High-ranking keynote and plenary speakers will not only inspire the audience with their success stories, but also tackle existing challenges and highlight empowerment opportunities. Moreover, the conference brings together distinguished scholars, entrepreneurs, policy-makers and practitioners with a strong interest in science and technology development from Egypt, Arab countries and Germany.
‘May this first AGYA & ASRT conference lead to many more joint science activities promoting knowledge exchange between Egypt, the Arab world and Germany. The new AGYA Regional office at ASRT is the major cornerstone to translate our ambition into reality`, says Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Sakr.
Academy of Scientific Research & Technology (ASRT) in Egypt
The Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (ASRT) in Egypt is a non-profit organization affiliated with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, established in September 1971 by Presidential Decree No. 2405 as the national authority responsible for science and technology in Egypt. ASRT conducts comprehensive planning for developing Egyptian science and technology. It supports relevant Egyptian ministries and national research institutions in creating an integrated system of scientific research that aims to increase the number of well-trained scientists in Egypt and elevate science and technology to a leading role in Egypt’s national development process. ASRT also promotes and encourages female and youth participation in science, technology and scientific leadership.
Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA)
The Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA) is based at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences and Humanities (BBAW) and at the Academy of Scientific Research & Technology (ASRT) in Egypt. It was established in 2013. It is the first bilateral young academy worldwide. AGYA promotes research cooperation among outstanding early-career researchers from all disciplines who are affiliated with a research institution in Germany or any Arab country. The academy provides partnership building opportunities and funding to support the innovative projects of its members in various fields of research as well as in science policy and education. More than 50 members—in equal number Arab and German scholars—have been selected to join AGYA since 2013. AGYA is funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and various Arab cooperation partners.
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Pressemitteilung als PDF (PDF, 349KB)
Contact:
AGYA Office in Berlin
The Arab-German Young Academy
of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA)
at the Berlin-Brandenburg Academy of Sciences
and Humanities (BBAW)
Prof. Dr. Verena Lepper, Principal Investigator (PI)
Dr. Sabine Dorpmüller, German Managing Director
Jägerstraße 22-23
10117 Berlin/Germany
+49 30 20 370-281 (Arabic speaking)
agya@bbaw.de
AGYA Regional Office in Cairo
The Arab-German Young Academy
of Sciences and Humanities (AGYA)
at the Academy of Scientific Research & Technology (ASRT)
Dr. Amr Radwan, Head of Office
101 Kasr Al-Aini St
11516 Cairo/Egypt
+201 225643-263
agya@asrt.sci.eg