Serageldin Presents BA Contributions at UNESCO Launch of WDL

At a reception co-hosted by UNESCO Director-General, Koïchiro Matsuura, and U.S. Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, UNESCO and 32 partner institutions launched the World Digital Library (WDL), a website that features cultural material from libraries and archives from around the world.

Building Trust at the WANA Forum

In his keynote speech at the First Annual West Asia North Africa (WANA) Forum, Serageldin addressed the challenges and potential for cooperation in the WANA region, weaving together the social, economic and environmental tracks.

A Talk at Cairo University on the Clash and Alliance of Civilizations

Serageldin gave a lecture at Cairo University entitled “From Clash of Civilizations to Alliance of Civilizations”, where he tackled the role of the Alliance of Civilizations in decreasing the gaps between different cultures and nations, and establishing partnerships that foster dialogue between cultures.

President of Cyprus Visits the BA

His Excellency Mr. Demetris Christofias, President of the Republic of Cyprus, accompanied by a high-level delegation including Ministers of Finance and Industry, visited the BA, a landmark not only in Egypt, but in the whole region.

Serageldin Moderates High Level Ministerial Debate at AoC Forum

As Ambassador of the Alliance of Civilizations (AoC), Serageldin is attending the Second Forum of the Alliance being held in Istanbul from 6 to 7 April. Several top-level political leaders will participate in this year’s event: Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan; Prime Minister of Spain José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero; UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon...

Serageldin's Lecture at the University of Geneva a Great Success

Serageldin was this month’s speaker at Les Grandes Conferences - a series of monthly lectures held by the University of Geneva in celebration of its 450th anniversary.

Finding Solutions Through Life Sciences at Biovision 2009

At this year’s Biovision forum, Serageldin moderated several sessions on topics ranging from biodiversity to biorobotics, and shared his visions on the "Economic Future of Africa" with other prominent personalities with different perspectives at a “Debate Dinner” where the speakers debated with the participants on issues related to Life Sciences and Nutrition, Agriculture, Health and Environment.

Dialogue Without Boundaries

Serageldin inaugurated the Sixth Arab Reform Conference, entitled The Arab World: The Present and the Future, at the BA, with the participation of eminent intellectuals and public figures from Egypt and the Arab world. This year’s conference marks five years from the issuance of the Alexandria Statement in the First Arab Reform Conference, held in March 2004.

Arab Youth Exchange Views on Culture and Identity

The Fourth Arab Youth Forum, entitled Arab Youth Culture and Identity in the Era of Globalization, was inaugurated by Serageldin with a welcome note to the participants. Always a champion of youth, Serageldin expressed his delight in hosting such a large number of young participants from different Arab nations and giving them the opportunity to discuss issues impacting their societies...

Reflections On Terrorism

The Magic of Movies

At the BA Great Hall, in a three-part series presentation on the Art and Technique of Cinema , Serageldin illustrated the evolution of the seventh art, from its earliest days of silent cinema to the computer generated magic of today; tracing how “it went from being a curiosity to being an art form”.

In Honor of Sadat

Serageldin welcomed HE Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt and Chairperson of the BA Board of Trustees; Mrs. Gihan El-Sadat, wife of the late President Sadat; Minister of Culture, Farouk Hosni; Minister of International Cooperation, Fayza Abul Naga; Governor of Alexandria, Adel Labib; as well as several other public figures...

Facing Common Challenges

Serageldin participated, as speaker and moderator, in the 2009 U.S.-Islamic World Forum: Common Challenges, which brought together key leaders in the fields of politics, business, media, academia, and civil society from across the Muslim world and the United States...

TWAS in Trieste

Serageldin attended the third meeting of the Steering Committee of The Academy of Sciences in the Developing World (TWAS). Members of the Steering Committee convened to discuss TWAS activities and new initiatives, as well as the program and budget for 2009. Serageldin is Vice President of TWAS for the Arab World.

Serageldin Appointed Member of the Advisory Board of CoDA

Serageldin has been formally appointed a member of the Advisory Board of Coalition of Dialogue on Africa (CoDA), an initiative jointly sponsored by the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa and the African Development Bank, which is aimed at promoting inclusive dialogue in support of African development.

On the Role of Think Tanks in Development

Invited to speak in the opening session of The International Conference on The Role of Think Tanks in Developing Countries: Challenges and Solutions , Serageldin gave a keynote speech entitled Think Tanks and Development Policies. The conference was held by The Egyptian Cabinet Information and Decision Support Center (IDSC)...

“Arab Women Facing the Challenges of Globalization” Conference at the BA

Serageldin welcomed the speakers and participants of the conference Arab Women Facing the Challenges of Globalization which is being held at the BA during the period from 13 to 15 January 2009. Calling for a greater gender equality, Serageldin said that just as we breathe with two lungs, see with two eyes, walk with two legs, but speak with one voice, so must enlightened men and empowered women work side by side towards a better future.

A Lecture on “Scientific Research Horizons” in Bahrain

Upon the invitation of Sheikha Mai Bint Mohammad Al Khalifa, Minister of Media and Culture in Bahrain, Serageldin gave a lecture on Scientific Research Horizons at the Sheikh Ibrahim bin Mohammed Al Khalifa Center for Culture and Research.

STS Meeting in Washington

Serageldin joined the members of Science and Technology in Society (STS) forum in a Council Meeting held to discuss reports and feedback on the fifth annual meeting which took place in Kyoto in October 2008, and to prepare a program for the 6th annual meeting due to convene in October of this year.

SuperCourse Dreams!

Launching the Science Supercourse Project

Serageldin today inaugurated the Science Supercourse Day, an event held at the BA to launch the Library’s new Project: The Science Supercourse. The project aims to build an internet archive of PowerPoint lectures in four main scientific disciplines, namely: Medicine (public health), Agriculture, Engineering and Environment. It is targeting a total of 100,000 Golden PowerPoint lectures within a year and one million in three years.

Le Peuplement de la Méditerranée: Synthèse & Question D’Avenir

 Ismail Serageldin et Éric Crubezy  

حسن فتحي- المدرسة و المسيرة

 إسماعيل سراج الدين    Download

داروين و نظرية التطور

 إسماعيل سراج الدين    Download

Tales of Edgar Allan Poe

Addressing a large number of scholars, literature students and lovers of mystery tales, Serageldin gave an enlightening talk at the BA on Edgar Allan Poe, in commemoration of the bicentennial anniversary of the father of the detective story. Himself a professed Poe fan since early youth, Serageldin presented to his audience an account of Poe’s life and works and shed interesting light on little-known sides of the writer and his contributions to science.

Preserving Cultural Heritage in Florence, Alexandria, Rome

The BA is hosting a conference entitled Investing in Cultural Heritage, in preparation for the Second International Cultural Heritage Conference to be held in Rome in 2009. As Vice-President of the World Bank (at the time), Serageldin had played a key role in the First International Cultural Heritage Conference held in Florence in 1999, which was co-sponsored by the Government of Italy, the World Bank and the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

France Names Serageldin a Knight of the French Legion of Honor

On behalf of the President of France, French Ambassador to Egypt, Mr. Jean Felix-Pagnon, decorated Serageldin with the insignia of Knight of the French Legion of Honor, in recognition of his outstanding role as visionary and humanist, as promoter of Franco-Egyptian cooperation, as ardent advocate of the dialogue of civilizations, and in admiration of the brilliant success of the New Library of Alexandria, as a place for the promotion of human rights, tolerance, pluralism, science, and dialogue between cultures.

Serageldin Co-chairs UNEP Meeting in Santa Barbara

Over the next three days, Serageldin will be co-chairing the third meeting of the International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management, of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), together with Ernst Ulrich Von Weizsäcker, Dean of Donald Bren School of Environmental Science and Management, University of California.

Ibn Jazla

Dr. Serageldin introduces the achievements of Islamic civilization in different fields of science and knowledge. In this episode, he presents Ibn Jazla, one of the renowned scholars from the Islamic Renaissance period.

Ibn Juljul

Dr. Serageldin introduces the achievements of Islamic civilization in different fields of science and knowledge. In this episode, he presents Ibn Juljul, one of the renowned scholars from the Islamic Renaissance period.

Al-Idrisi

Dr. Serageldin introduces the achievements of Islamic civilization in different fields of science and knowledge. In this episode, he presents Al-Idrisi, one of the renowned scholars from the Islamic Renaissance period.

Al-Khwarizmi

Dr. Serageldin introduces the achievements of Islamic civilization in different fields of science and knowledge. In this episode, he presents Al-Khwarizmi, one of the renowned scholars from the Islamic Renaissance period.

Serageldin Appointed as Alliance of Civilizations Ambassador

On behalf of United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, President Jorge Sampaio, UNSG High Representative of the Alliance of Civilizations (and former president of Portugal), informed Serageldin of his appointment as Alliance of Civilizations Ambassador. Established in 2005, at the initiative of the Governments of Spain and Turkey, under the auspices of the United Nations, the Alliance aims to improve understanding across cultures and religions and to counter the influence of extremism and its threat to world peace.

TWAS Meetings and Celebrations in Mexico

Serageldin is attending the 25th Anniversary Celebration of The Academy of Sciences in the Developing World (TWAS), as TWAS Vice President for the Arab World. A series of Jubilee Lectures will be given by eminent scientists and Nobel Laureates at the celebration meetings.

A Candid Exchange of Japan-Arab Views

As head of the Egyptian delegation of the Japan-Arab Dialogue Forum, Serageldin will once again join the members of the forum for their 6th annual meeting. The first Japan-Arab Dialogue Forum was held in Tokyo in September 2003, and annually brings together delegations from Egypt, Saudi Arabia and Japan for a candid exchange of views.

Cairo Opera House Ceremony

Strengthening Dialogue in the West Asia and North Africa Region

Serageldin joined the members of the international senior advisory board of West Asia North Africa (WANA) for their first board meeting. The WANA process has been launched by His Royal Highness Prince El Hassan bin Talal of Jordan, with the support of the Nippon Foundation, in order to stimulate and strengthen regional dialogue in the West Asia and North Africa region.

Serageldin Signs Cooperation Agreement with Shoman Foundation in Amman

Serageldin signed a cooperation agreement between the BA and the Abdul Hameed Shoman Foundation, to support and enhance scientific research and creativity in the Arab World. Founded in 1978 by Arab Bank, the foundation supports scientific research, cultural dialogue and open access to knowledge.

Introduction to Economics

The Global Credit Crisis

Biofuels . . . A Double Threat

At the Fifth Annual Meeting of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) forum, Serageldin chaired a plenary session discussing Biofuels and their Potential Effect on Food Production and the Environment. This years meeting was held under the themes Harmony with Nature and How is Information and Communication Technology Affecting Humankind?.

Serageldin Signs Cooperation Agreement with United Nations University

In a symposium held at the United Nations University , the Japan consortium on the Library of Alexandria was launched with the aim to promote multicultural communication and coexistence. On this occasion, Serageldin delivered a keynote speech entitled From Papyrus to PDF: The Rebirth of the Library of Alexandria.

Serageldin Accompanies First Lady of Egypt to YES Summit in Azerbaijan

Following YES Alexandria 2002, YES Mexico 2004 and YES Kenya 2006, the Youth Employment Summit (YES) was this time held in Baku, Azerbaijan under the joint patronage of Mrs. Suzanne Mubarak, First Lady of Egypt, and Mrs. Mehriban Aliyeva, First Lady of Azerbaijan.

Addressing the Challenges and Opportunities of Globalization

Serageldin is one of 120 delegates participating in the Global Creative Leadership Summit taking place over a three day period. The delegates include heads of State, Nobel Prize winners, global CEO’s and technology experts. The Summit addresses the challenges and opportunities of globalization and explores ways for greater cultural understanding and tolerance.

Reaching Hands Across the Mediterranean

Serageldin will be attending a board meeting of the Center for Hellenistic Studies to discuss its forthcoming inauguration. As of November 2008, the Library of Alexandria will host a Center for Hellenistic Studies which will teach history, philosophy, literature and fine arts and will collaborate with the University of Alexandria to confer master’s and doctoral degrees.

Radio Interview with Serageldin at Wellcome Trust

A radio interview was held with Serageldin at Wellcome Trust on the topic of a major digitization project encompassing the Trust’s unique collection of archives, manuscripts, rare books and visual materials relating to both ancient and modern Egypt. A joint proposal had earlier this year been reached by Serageldin and Wellcome Trust for this important project. A range of meetings and discussions were held during Serageldin’s visit, as well as viewings of original items of the digitization project.

Serageldin Interviewed for a Documentary on Human Rights

The Mediterraid Association held an interview with Serageldin on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on 18 December 2008. The interview will be used in a documentary to be screened in Brussels in celebration of this occasion. In the interview, Serageldin discussed the role of culture in supporting and consolidating human rights, in addition to the history of the Ancient Library of Alexandria, its revival, and its role as beacon for culture and a forum for dialogue and understanding between people.

“Muslim Scholars" Everyday at 3:55 pm on Channel 1

Ibn Khaldun

Dr. Serageldin introduces the achievements of Islamic civilization in different fields of science and knowledge. In this episode, he presents Ibn Khaldun, one of the renowned scholars from the Islamic Renaissance period.

Dawud al-Antaki

Dr. Serageldin introduces the achievements of Islamic civilization in different fields of science and knowledge. In this episode, he presents Dawud al-Antaki, one of the renowned scholars from the Islamic Renaissance period.