The Library of Alexandria and the Ongoing Egyptian Revolution

- Remarks Delivered at the Gulbenkian International Prize Ceremony, Lisbon, Portugal

It is a privilege to be with you here in Portugal, in Lisbon and in the Gulbenkian Foundation. I hope that this occasion will mark the beginning of a more extensive collaboration between the Foundation and the Library of Alexandria, and more generally between Egypt and Portugal, a pioneer in managing a successful transition to democracy.

Gulbenkian Prize Awarded to BA and Serageldin

From among 70 nominations, the international jury of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, presided by Jorge Sampaio, Former President of Portugal, chose the Library of Alexandria and Ismail Serageldin, as its director, to be the winners of the 2013 Calouste Gulbenkian Prize.

Serageldin to Sign MoU between BA and Nizami Ganjavi Center

Ismail Serageldin, on behalf of the Library of Alexandria, and Nazim Ibrahimov, Minister of the State Committee for Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on behalf of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC), are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the NGIC.

Keynote Speech in Panama on the Universities of Tomorrow

Serageldin was keynote speaker at the opening session of the V Meeting of University Networks and Councils of Rectors. His presentation entitled “Tomorrow’s Universities and the Seven Pillars of the Knowledge Revolution” was very well received. The meeting was organized by the International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC), which is a UNESCO organization devoted to the promotion of higher education.

Egypt’s Ongoing Revolution – Part I

Egypt is once more doing things its own unique way. After millions of people went into the streets and in 18 days that shook the world succeeded in toppling the regime of Hosny Mubarak after 30 years of rule, they came back again in their millions into the streets and squares of Egypt and toppled Mohamed Morsi after one year of rule.

African Students Graduation Cermony 2013

The Poetry of the Magnificent Sage

The Nizami Ganjavi International Center of Azerbaijan, invited Dr Ismail Serageldin to give a lecture on Nizami Ganjavi, which was delivered on 3 May 2013, in the city of Ganja at the Azerbaijan State Agrarian Academy Auditorium...

Serageldin Welcomed as New Member of Royal Academy of Belgium

Serageldin is invited to the Welcome ceremony of the new Members of the Royal Academy of Belgium for the class of Technology and Society. He was elected, in March 2013, a member of the Académie royale des des sciences, des lettres et des beaux- arts de Belgique, ARB, (The Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium).

Once Again at the Library of Congress

After the huge success of Serageldin’s lectures at the Library of Congress (LoC) in December 2012 and March 2013, he is once again invited to the prestigious library to give a lecture on "The Arab World and the Future of Egypt". The lecture takes place today at 6:30 in the Members Room of the LoC. It will be attended by Members of Congress.

The Story of the BA at the British Academy

As part of the Lecture Series of the Egyptian Cultural Bureau in London, Serageldin gives a talk at 6:30 pm today, at the British Academy’s central London venue just off Pall Mall (10 Carlton House Terrace). The lecture is entitled "Rebirth and Revolution: The Story of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina".

Flame of Peace Awarded to Serageldin

In a ceremony held at the BA, Herta Margaret Habsburg – Lothringen, President of the Flame of Peace Organization, presented the Flame of Peace 2013 Award to Ismail Serageldin. The event also witnessed the inauguration of the Flame of Peace Monument. Made of wood and mounted on stone, it is a symbol for peace, bravery and perseverance.

Serageldin Opens the First South Caucasus International Forum

As co-chair of the board of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC) Serageldin opened the first South Caucasus International Forum on ‘Shared societies’. In his opening address Serageldin said “… the forum will discuss the clash of civilizations, shared values, norms, regulating our societies”. The Forum, which was attended by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, was co-organized by NGIC and Club de Madrid.

Presentation at APS Annual Meeting: A Great Success

At the annual meeting of the American Philosophical Society (APS) , Serageldin gave a presentation entitled Rebirth and Revolution: the Library of Alexandria in the 21st Century”, which was very well received. Present at the meeting were his peers in the Society, which has 1022 members of eminent scholars from a wide variety of disciplines.

Keynote Speech at NCL in Taipei

To celebrate its 80th anniversary, the National Central Library (NCL) in Taipei held an international conference under the theme “A New Paradigm for Globalized Knowledge and Library Development”. The directors of national libraries throughout the world and scholars and experts from Taiwan were invited to speak at the conference.

Opening Session - Ecrire la Méditerranée: Exiles of the Mediterranean

Think Globally, Model Regionally, Act Locally Part 2

Think Globally, Model Regionally,Act Locally PART 1

Shakespeare and the Burden of Leadership

Shakespeare and the Burden of Leadership

Dr Ismail Serageldin always liked Shakespeare, finding in him a multi-layered complexity that speaks to us beyond the beauty of words and the power of the poetry...

Reissuing Essays on Islam

Upon the request of many of his friends and former colleagues Dr. Serageldin has been asked to reissue the essays he had written on Islam, 20—30 years back and that are out of print. Their request is based on the fact that the subjects in these essays are STILL VERY RELEVANT TODAY.

Lectures at LoC on the Future of Egypt and the Future of Libraries

Serageldin gave three lectures at the Library of Congress (LoC) this week. On 6 March he spoke before a packed auditorium on “The Arab World and the Future of Egypt”. Large audiences returned to the LoC on 8 March for two more lectures by Serageldin on the topics: “The Loss and Rebirth of the Library of Alexandria” and “The Knowledge Revolution and the Future of Libraries”.

A Talk at the World Bank on Egypt’s Revolution and the BA

Egypt’s revolution and the Library of Alexandria were the subject of a talk given by Serageldin at the World Bank. For the benefit of audiences in different locations, the talk was broadcast to country offices and a great number of questions were addressed to Serageldin through this live connection.

Ismail Serageldin's Interview at Nizami Ganjavi International Center

An interview with Dr. Serageldin held at Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

Rebirth of Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Climate Change and Sea Level Rising symposium Part 1

Climate Change and Sea Level Rising symposium Part 2

A Fruitful Meeting at the Austrian National Library

During his short stay in Austria, Serageldin visited the Austrian National Library, where he met with Elisabeth M. Edhofer, Head of Development and International Relations. The meeting discussions revolved around plans for future cooperation and exchange between the two institutions.

World Water Scenarios in Laxenburg

As a world renowned authority on water issues, Serageldin was invited to the launch meeting for the Water Futures and Solutions Scenarios Project held at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). Senior representatives from government and non-government organizations, business and academia gathered at IIASA to discuss this new initiative which was started through a partnership of IIASA, UNESCO, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the World Water Council, and the International Water Association.

Sessions on Culture, History and Politics at Davos

At the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, held under the theme “Resilient Dynamism”, Serageldin joined world leaders from politics and business, media and academia, technology pioneers, spiritual and cultural leaders, to share insights on critical issues, and to collaborate on the risks and opportunities that lie ahead of the global community.

A Keynote Lecture at KAUST

Serageldin gives a keynote presentation today at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal Saudi Arabia. Entitled “Building a Global Knowledge Society”, the lecture describes the major social and technological forces that are fostering and challenging the creation of a global knowledge society.

Europe’s Dark Secret Tired of Democracy, in love with Fascism Part 2

Europe’s Dark Secret Tired of Democracy, in love with Fascism Part 1

The Poetry of the Magnificent Sage

 Ismail Serageldin    Download

Reflections on Education

 Ismail Serageldin  

La Renaissancee la Bibliotheca Alexandrina

 Ismail Serageldin    Download

Shakespeare and the Burden of Leadership

 Ismail Serageldin    Download

Shakespeare’s Henry V - Modern reflections on a Medieval Hero

 Ismail Serageldin    Download

Shakespeare’s Richard II - Reflections on the Downfall of a King

 Ismail Serageldin    Download

The Book: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

James H. Billington, the Librarian of Congress, initiated the idea that the world should have a yearly international event, to celebrate the culture of the Book...

The Book, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow

- The First International Summit of the Book at the Library of Congress, Washington DC

Standing Ovation at the Library of Congress

At the first International Summit of the Book, Serageldin gave a keynote speech entitled The Book, Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow , which received a standing ovation from a huge gathering of leaders in academia, libraries and technology. Organized and hosted by the prestigious Library of Congress, the event was also open to the public, and was the inaugural summit of a global dialogue that will be held annually to debate and discuss the powerful role of the book in information transmittal.

WDL Executive Council Meeting Presided by Serageldin

Following the annual partner meeting of World Digital Library (WDL) held at the Library of Congress on 5 December, Serageldin chaired the meeting of the Executive Council of the WDL, which convened the next day to review progress made within the past year, and to discuss priorities for the coming year.

Serageldin Main Curator of Nizami Exhibition in Washington DC

In joint collaboration between the Library of Alexandria, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center, and the Karabakh Foundation, an exhibition of the original manuscripts of Nizami Ganjavi was held in Washington DC under the title "Nizami Ganjavi: Legacy of a 12th-Century Poet from Azerbaijan". About 50 original manuscripts and rare miniatures were on display at the Josephine Butler Parks Center, on 3 December, 2012.

Tomorrow’s Universities and the Seven Pillars of the Knowledge Revolution

- 14^th General Conference of the International Association of Universities (IAU), San Juan, Puerto Rico

While others are thinking of how current higher education institutions can contribute to the global agenda, I would like to underline that Universities, as agents of change themselves, must chart a path that takes into account how they must transform themselves to cope with the emerging knowledge Revolution.

Examining the Role and Responsibilities of Higher Education

In the plenary session of the 14th General Conference of the International Association of Universities (IAU), Serageldin gives a speech today, focusing on “Are Higher Education Institutions addressing and contributing to the challenges facing humanity?”. The theme of this quadrennial Conference, which is held in partnership with the Inter American University of Puerto Rico in San Juan, is “Higher Education and the Global Agenda: Alternative Paths to the Future”.

Peacemakers Award Ceremony

In a grand ceremony held at Musée du quai Branly in Paris, Serageldin got together once again this year, with the International Jury of the Chirac Foundation to award the winners of the conflict prevention prizes. The jury, composed of distinguished personalities who have worked for peace and dialogue, had convened in September 2012 to select winners of two prizes: the Chirac Foundation Prize and the Special Jury Prize.

Center for Hellenistic Studies to Pursue Further Success

As head of the Board of Directors of the Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies, Serageldin chaired a meeting of the Board held in Athens this week. Based on the success achieved by the Center in the past five years, a new Memorandum of Understanding was signed by Serageldin, as Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and Marianna V. Vardinoyannis, President of the Vardinoyannis Foundation, to continue with the Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina for a further five years.

Terrorism, the Constitution and the Law

A few years ago, before the 25 January 2011 Revolution, Egypt considered passing a “Terrorism Law” to replace the vast powers given to the state under the “State of Emergency” that was invoked and remained in place for thirty years. Such a law would have enshrined the sweeping coercive powers claimed by the executive under the Emergency into the regular laws of the nation.

A Talk at WIPO on Innovation and Food Security

Addressing an audience comprising a mixture of diplomats, NGOs and think tankers, Serageldin will give a presentation on “Intellectual Property, Food Security and Rural Development: Collaboration and Partnership”. The seminar takes place at the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) headquarters in Geneva, on 16 November, at 13:30 pm, as part of a new series of seminars that focuses on “Global Challenges” – health, climate change, and food security.

APS Induction Ceremony

In recognition of his extraordinary accomplishments in fields of intellectual endeavor and public service, Serageldin was voted, last April, into membership of the American Philosophical Society (APS). He was nominated and elected by his peers in the Society, which has 1022 members of eminent scholars from a wide variety of disciplines.