EOL Executive Committee Holds Follow-up Meeting

As member of the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL) Executive Committee, Serageldin was invited to the 2012 Meeting organized by the Biodiversity Committee, Chinese Academy of Sciences, held in Beijing on 25 and 26 July 2012. The Committee members, who are senior figures from the cornerstone institutions of the international initiative, convened to discuss future plans for the EOL as it soon enters into its sixth year of providing global access to knowledge about life on Earth.

Strengthening Collaborations in Research and Innovation

At the the meeting of the Informal Competitiveness Council of the European Research Council (ERC), Serageldin spoke in the plenary session on EuroMediterranean Cooperation in Research and Innovation. Serageldin and his co-speaker Eduard Brezin, Former President of the French Academy of Sciences, both gave speeches entitled “Enhancing regional collaborations in Research and Innovation – The way forward”; while Serageldin addressed the topic from the Mediterranean countries perspective, Brezin spoke from the EU countries perspective.

Serageldin Chairs Africa-Europe Partnership Symposium in Dublin

At the biennial Euroscience Open Forum (ESOF), hosted in Dublin, and assembling more than 5000 leading researchers and influential scientists from Europe and around the World, Serageldin chaired the Africa-Europe Partnership Symposium: Science for Economic Development.

Update on Events in Egypt and the BA on 2 July 2012

Many friends have been sending me individual questions about the unfolding events in Egypt and events concerning the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA), especially given the negative and malicious campaign that has been waged against me and the BA. So this is to set the record straight and to keep you informed of developments.

About the BA and the Arab Spring

At the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars, a gathering place for leading experts and scholars from around the world, Serageldin gave a speech entitled “Revolution and Rebirth: the View from Alexandria, Egypt”. He spoke about the role of the reborn Library of Alexandria in helping to promote the values of freedom that were at the heart of Egypt’s revolution, and about the challenges facing the Library in the Arab Spring.

The Gender Agenda in MENA

With special focus on the importance of the gender agenda in the MENA region at this point in time, Serageldin spoke at the forum held at the World Bank by the Gender Economic Research and Policy Analysis (GERPA), entitled Changing Times, Emerging Issues on Gender Equality and Women''s Empowerment in MENA.

Keynote Speech at Library of Congress on Video

On the occasion of 150th anniversary of the birth of Jurji Zaidan, the Library of Congress and the Zaidan Foundation held an international conference, open to the public, entitled Jurji Zaidan: His Contributions to Modern Arab Thought and Literature.

Al-Hayat Publishes Chapters from Serageldin’s Consititution Essay

Al-Hayat, one of the leading daily pan-Arab newspapers, carried the last two of the chapters of Ismail Serageldin’s essay on the Egyptian constitution on 2/3 of a page, in its issue of 23 May 2012.

Serageldin Elected Member of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences

The American Society of Arts and Sciences has announced the election of Ismail Serageldin as one of its new members. The Academy honors excellence by electing to its membership scholars, artists, scientists, writers and philanthropic leaders of exceptional achievement.

Science Supercourse Round Table

Biovision 2012 Closing Session

Routable Discussion of BioVisionAlexandria 2012 Conference

Biovision 2012 Welcome note

Biovision Opening Presentation

Serageldin Opens Sixth BiovisionAlexandria

In the Great Hall of the Library of Alexandria, Serageldin welcomed worldwide participants to the opening session of the BioVisionAlexandria (BVA) 2012. He introduced the eminent guests and speakers of the sixth international biennial conference: Didier Hoch, CEO, the World Life Sciences Forum, BioVision (France); Koji Omi, Founder and Chairman, Science and Technology in Society (STS) Forum (Japan); Romain Murenzi, Executive Director, the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World - TWAS (Italy); and Osama El-Fouly, Alexandria Governor (Egypt).

Building the Global Knowledge Society: The Challenge and the Response

Dr Ismail Serageldin was invited to give a plenary lecture "Building the Global Knowledge Society" at the 2012 AAAS Annual Meeting which was to be held 16--20 February 2012, Vancouver, Canada...

The BA Mourns the Tragic Death of the Football Fans in Port Said

Ismail Serageldin and all the staff of the Library of Alexandria offer their condolences to the families of the young people who lost their lives in the tragic events of the football match in Port Said last week. The BA observes three days mourning and shares in the grief of all of Egypt over all the young lives lost.

Al-Masry Al-Youm Publishes Serageldin’s Thoughts on the New Constitution

The January 6 edition of one of Egypt’s leading daily newspapers, Al-Masry Al-Youm, features an article by Ismail Serageldin titled “Different thinking for the new constitution”. The article covers six issues: Citizenship; Civil Society; Environment; Media; joint management of resources; and nuances in applying concepts. Follow Serageldin’s thoughts on Twitter on these issues.

Short Essay on the Constitution (Arabic)

 Ismail Serageldin    Download

Building the Global Knowledge Society

 Ismail Serageldin    Download

البحث عن الدستور

 إسماعيل سراج الدين    Download

Serageldin Chosen as Vice President of the Institut d’Egypte

At an urgent meeting held at El-Sennary House, Dr. Mohammed El-Sharnoubi, Secretary General of Egypt’s Science Academy, the Institut d’Egypte, announced that Dr. Ibrahim Badran was chosen as the new President of the Academy, and Ismail Seragelin as the Vice President. Serageldin had up to now been a member of the Board of Directors.

Events in Alexandria as of 23 November 2011

As you know, we had strikes and demonstrations that called for my resignation and that of senior managers and that closed down the Library for two weeks (albeit with the Eid Holidays included). Armed with the confidence of the Board of Trustees and a strong statement of support from the Government and of intellectuals inside and outside of Egypt, I re-engaged with the demonstrators.

Update on Events in Alexandria as of 23 November 2011

The Egyptian elections are progressing extremely well, better than anybody dared to hope for. As I cautiously predicted on my Tweets, despite the violence in the streets last week, there were signs that the incurable optimist in me saw as good signs for the advance of democracy. What were those signs?

Ismail Serageldin's Interview at OnTV's Akher Kalam

An interview with Dr. Serageldin about the Library of Alexandria after the 25 January Revolution at OnTV's Akher Kalam.

Serageldin Gives Nexus Lecture 2011

At the Nexus Institute in Tilburg, Serageldin addressed a large audience of intellectuals, artists, diplomats, politicians, and other decision-makers, with a lecture entitled “Knowledge and Memory in Alexandria. A Bridge between Islam and Europe”. The lecture was very well received and was followed by a question and answer session with the audience, moderated by Rob Riemen, Founder of the Nexus Institute.

The BA and Al-Azhar Co-organize a Seminar on Cultural Consensus

The BA and Al-Azhar co-organized today a seminar entitled “Cultural Consensus in Light of Al-Azhar Declaration” at the Al-Azhar International Conference Center, Cairo.

Keynote Address at WIPO on Copyright Infrastructure

At the two-day Conference on Copyright Documentation and Infrastructure organized by The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), on 13-14 October, Serageldin will deliver a keynote address entitled “Copyright Infrastructure: Enabling the Exercise of Rights and Facilitating the Public Interest”. The meeting is open to the general public and participants will include technology experts, policy developers and legal practitioners.

Plenary Speech on Food and Population at STS Forum

At the STS Forum Eighth Annual Meeting, Serageldin gave a plenary session speech on Food and Population, and also lead a discussion on Regional Climate Change Adaptation in Africa. Since the inauguration of the STS Forum in November 2004, an annual meeting is held on the first Sunday of October every year in Kyoto, Japan, gathering top policymakers, business leaders, scientists, researchers, media leaders and Nobel laureates from all over the world, to address science and technology issues in the 21st century.

The Fourth International Symposium of History of Printing and Publishing 2011 Opening Session

Chirac Foundation Jury Convenes

Serageldin meets tomorrow, 15 September, with the jury committee members of the Chirac Foundation to select a winner for the Chirac Foundation Prize for the Prevention of Conflicts. The selection is to be made after meeting with a committee of experts who propose a list of individuals or institutions that have taken exemplary and urgent action towards prevention of clash in areas of potential conflict.

On Sea Level Rise Adaptation in Alexandria

Serageldin is invited to speak at the international conference “Improving the Capacity to Assess and to Adapt to Climate Change in Urban Coastal Regions”. Organized by the Venice Water Authority through Consorzio Venezia Nuova with the assistance of Thetis and the Sustainability Solution Institute at the University of California at San Diego, the event brings together experts from around the world to exchange knowledge and discuss the best methods to assess the impact of climate change on coastal urban regions and identify suitable adaptation measures for development.

Nelson Mandela Lecture 2011

The Library of Alexandria Greatly Admired by IFLA Delegates

At the World Library and Information congress held by The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) on “How to fix the World: Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression”, Serageldin gave a lecture entitled “In the Eye of the Storm: The Library of Alexandria and the Arab Spring”.

Serageldin Now on Twitter

Follow Ismail Serageldin on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/I_serageldin

A Busy Schedule in South Africa

Serageldin followed a very busy schedule in South Africa this week. First on his agenda was a lecture on the morning of 22 July at the University of Johannesburg, “In conversation with Youth. The shape of tomorrow: the seven pillars of knowledge”.

The Making of Social Justice: Pluralism, Cohesion and Social Participation

- Ninth Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture, Johannesburg

It is a rare privilege to be invited to South Africa, to celebrate the birthday of Nelson Mandela, the man who inspired the world, who liberated his people and perhaps did more than any other man to destroy the venom of racism in the world. Madiba, along with your countless admirers and disciples, I wish you many happy returns.

Serageldin Presents Ninth Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture

The Nelson Mandela Foundation invited Serageldin to present their Ninth Annual Lecture in Johannesburg . The aim of the lecture was to stimulate dialogue around a range of critical social justice issues. Previous speakers were Presidents Bill Clinton, Thabo Mbeki and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Nobel Laureates Desmond Tutu, Wangari Maathai, Kofi Anan and Muhammad Yunus.

Serageldin Gives a Remarkable Presentation at IFPRI

Serageldin was invited to be this year’s speaker at the 2nd Annual Malthus Lecture. This is a lecture series organized once a year by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the U.S. Population Reference Bureau. The name of the series refers to the English scholar Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus, known for his theory published in the early 19th century that sooner or later population gets checked by famine and disease.

A Constitution for Our Times "Independence Day"

France Names Serageldin Commander of the Order of Arts & Letters

For his role in the field of intercultural dialogue, Serageldin will today be decorated by Frédéric Mitterrand, French Minister of Culture and Communication, with the insignia of Commander of the Order of Arts & Letters. The order, created by President De Gaulle, is awarded in recognition of eminent international contributions to the arts and literature, and is not limited to French nationals

A Speech on Poverty Eradication and Biodiversity

Serageldin speaks today at the International Conference “Reconciling poverty eradication and quality of the environment: What are the innovative solutions?” held in Paris under the patronage of the French Ministry for Economy, Finance and Industry.

Upholding the Universal Values of Science

Science Magazine’s issue of 3 June 2011 features an editorial by Ismail Serageldin on the “The Values of Science”. In his article Serageldin writes about the special importance, at this crucial time in the Arab world, of embracing the values of science in the rebuilding of the new Arab Societies.

Towards Enhancing Education and Research in the Life Sciences

Together with Life Science educators from the MENA region, Serageldin is invited to participate in the planning meeting for the project by the National Research Council of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences to design and develop a framework for an international series of faculty development workshops, called “educational institutes”.

In a Lifelong Endeavor to Abolish Hunger

Invited by the College de France to organize the international conference “To Abolish Hunger” to be held on 19-20 May 2011, Serageldin is gathering distinguished experts, scientific and political leaders and decision-makers for an exchange of solutions on how hunger may be abolished, and to discuss a global plan to this end.

ONTV Interviews Serageldin Tonight

Egyptian TV channel “ONTV” hosts Ismail Serageldin tonight on their show “Baladna Bilmasry”. The program airs today Tuesday, 10 May, at 9:30 pm local time (7:30 pm GMT).

Ismail Serageldin's Interview at OnTV's Baladna Bel Masry

An interview with Dr. Serageldin about the Library of Alexandria after the 25 January Revolution at OnTV's Baladna Bel Masry.

The Values of Science

- On receiving the Public Welfare Medal, Washington DC

It is with profound thanks and great humility that I stand before you today to accept this enormous honor you bestow upon me. I accept it as an invitation to redouble my efforts and to mobilize even more of my colleagues and compatriots in the cause of science. In that latter sense, it is a timely Award indeed.

Serageldin Receives NAS Public Welfare Medal

In January 2011, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), in Washington DC, selected Ismail Serageldin to be the 2011 recipient of their most prestigious award: the Public Welfare Medal. On Sunday 1 May, the medal was presented to Serageldin in an award ceremony held during the Academy’s 148th annual meeting, where he got a standing ovation after his acceptance speech.

American Philosophical Society Votes Serageldin as Member

The members of the American Philosophical Society (APS) have voted Ismail Serageldin into membership. This high honor was conferred to Serageldin in recognition of his extraordinary accomplishments in fields of intellectual endeavor and public service. He was nominated and elected by his peers in the Society, which has seven hundred members of eminent scholars from a wide variety of disciplines.