Jurji Zaidan: His Contributions to Modern Arab Thought and Literature

 Ismail Serageldin    Download

I am honored to have been invited to join in celebrating the legacy of a remarkable man, who in the short span of half a century, had a profound impact on the culture of his people, the history of his region, and the literature of his language. He helped forge the modern identity of the Arabs, founded the modern mass media there and brought culture to the broad public as he pioneered the use of the novel in Arabic. He was a man of letters who understood and publicized science; a man of the Christian faith who had a profound knowledge of Islam and the history of the Muslim peoples, and helped bring that history to life for generations of Muslims, including myself.

Egypt and the Origins of Medicine

- On Being Inducted as “Academic of Honor” of The Royal European Academy of Doctors, Spain

A Special Address On Being Inducted as “Academic of Honor”
of The Royal European Academy of Doctors

Barcelona, Spain

RAED Awards Serageldin Academic of Honor

Serageldin will today be received as Academic of Honor by the Royal European Academy of Doctors (RAED).

In commemoration of the 400th Anniversary of Cervantes

Serageldin today joins an academic debate at the Royal European Academy of Doctors (RAED), paying tribute to the eminent Spanish writer Cervantes on the occasion of his 400th anniversary

Fighting Violent Extremism

Protecting Cultural Heritage in Armed Conflict Zones

BA Holds Workshop on Extremism at Birmingham University

The Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) is holding a workshop on “Models of Extremism” at Birmingham University on 28-29 November 2016. Serageldin will give the opening speech entitled “Extremism, Violence and Social Change”.

Discussing European Peace

Under the auspices of Mr. Mladen Ivanic, member of the Presidency of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC) held a conference in Sarajevo on 22-23 November entitled “The European Peace. What is the Recipe for a strong Union for All?”.

On the Impact of Technology on Society

The Swiss Center of Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM) invited Serageldin to give a keynote speech at their conference entitled “Business Day Innovating to Zero”.

Fifth Summit of the Book: “Words are all we have”

Taking inspiration from eminent Irish writer Samuel Beckett, the theme for this year’s International Summit of the Book was “Words are all we have, the Book: history, knowledge and technology, the Voyage”.

Sofia University Awards Honorary Doctorate to Serageldin

In a ceremony held at the Aula Magna of Sofia University St. Kliment Ohridski, Serageldin received the Academic Degree of “Doctor Honoris Causa of the Sofia University”.

A Keynote Speech on the Future Role of Libraries

Celebrating 20 years of the School Libraries Network (Rede de Bibliotecas Escolares ),RBE, which creates and supports school libraries throughout Portugal, the “Forum 20 anos RBE: a story with a future”, was held at the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation.

On the Value of Cultural Inheritance

In the city of Florence, in 1966, the flooding of the river Arno, killed 101 people and damaged or destroyed millions of masterpieces of art and rare books. Marking the 50th anniversary of this tragedy, the Academia Nazionale dei Lincei, held an international conference , under the title of “Florence 1966-2016 – Resilience of Art Cities to Natural Catastrophes: The Role of Academies”.

Discussing Climate Change Strategies

Invited by Japan Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry to participate in the third annual meeting of the Innovation for Cool Earth Forum (ICEF), Serageldin chaired a session on “Technology Transfer”.

Serageldin in Kyoto for STS Annual Meeting

The Science and Technology for Society (STS) forum annual meeting convened in Kyoto on 2 - 4 October 2016. The forum held concurrent sessions covering a wide range of topics: Earth science, Cities, ICT, Cooperation in science and technology, Science, Technology and Society, Engineering and innovation, Life sciences, Energy and environment.

Talks on Climate Threats: Risks and Resilience

Serageldin chaired the opening plenary session of the eighth meeting of the Regional Action on Climate Change (RACC) held in Kyoto on 1 October 2016.

Sharing insights and Opinions with JST

The Japan Science and Technology (JST) Agency invited Serageldin to participate in the JST Advisory Committee Meeting held in Kyoto on 30 September 2016.

Serageldin Awarded Rings of Tolerance

In a ceremony held at the Old Town Hall of Cologne The European Academy of Sciences and Arts awarded the "Rings of Tolerance", to Ismail Serageldin, Cardinal Péter Erdö and Uri Lubrani.

Interview with Dr.Serageldin in weekly magazine IR

Interview with Dr.Serageldin in the weekly IR magazine, Latvia

Meeting with President of Latvia

In Latvia Serageldin had a meeting with President Raimonds Vejonis at the Riga castle.

BA Hosts Regional Action on Climate Change and Future Earth Experts Meeting

The BA is hosting a meeting experts on Regional Action on Climate Change (RACC) and Future Earth (FE) on 25 and 26 August 2016. The meeting aims to discuss the challenges posed by climate change worldwide, with special focus on its effects on Egypt.

BA Hosts the 12th International Conference on Dryland Development

The BA, in collaboration with the International Drylands Development Commission (IDDC), is hosting the 12th International Conference on Dryland Development from 21 to 24 August, titled “Sustainable Development of Drylands in the Post 2015 World”.

Foundation Alliance of Civilizations Presents Award to Serageldin

At the International School for Young Leaders, Serageldin gave lecture on the topic of “Leadership in the Age of The ICT Revolution and Artificial Intelligence”, which was very well received by his young audience.

Committee on Human Gene Editing holds Fourth Meeting

The Committee on Human Gene Editing: Scientific, Medical and Ethical Considerations held its Consensus Study fourth meeting at the Keck Center of the National Academies of Sciences in Washington DC.

Serageldin Chairs Water Futures and Solutions Meeting

As a world renowned authority on water issues, Serageldin chaired the Water Futures and Solutions 2 nd Scenarios Focus Group Meeting of the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA) held in Laxenburg, Austria on 19-21 June.

Addressing the Issues of a Globalized World

The Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC) & Julia Reig Foundation held their VIII High-Level Meeting "Global Forces, Local Voices - People Power in a Globalized World" in Andorra on 12-15 June 2016.

It is 2016

- Delivered at the 8th NGIC High-Level meeting, Andorra

Sharing Insights on Education and Technology at eLearning Africa

At the 11th eLearning Africa conference “Vision, Innovation and Reality”, Serageldin gave a plenary keynote speech entitled “Reaching out to Africa”.

Serageldin invited to give a Lecture at Oxford University

Serageldin was invited to give a lecture at the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies as part of several important events being organised by the Centre, relating specifically to libraries and their central role in academic life and the wider development of societies.

STS Forum Workshop in Brussels

Following attendance of the Science and Technology in Society (STS) forum council meeting held in Paris on 3 May, Serageldin participated in the high-level conference of political, industrial and academic leaders “Adapting to the Changing World Through Science, Technology And Innovation - Strengthening cooperation between the STS forum and the EU” held in Brussels on May 4, by STS, Science and Technology Options Assessment (STOA), and Japan External Trade Organization (JETRO).

Open Science in an Open World

- STOA-STS Forum “Adapting to the changing world through Science, Technology and Innovation”, 4 May 2016 Brussels

Reflections on a Multi-Polar world

Third Meeting of Human Gene Editing Study Committee

Serageldin joined the members of the Human Gene Editing Study committee in their third meeting held in Paris at the French National Academy of Medicine.

Shakespeare… Forever and a day

Shakespeare’s Richard II: Reflections on the Undoing of a King

It is 400 years since Shakespeare passed away, and he still amazes us by his prolific genius and his unique protean imagination. We stand in awe of the craftsmanship and mastery of language that this great poet and dramatist possessed. But we are also overwhelmed by how he uses this language in the service of his plays to give superb multi-layered complex creations and well-rounded personalities, be they heroes or villains.

Serageldin opens BioVision 2016

In the packed Great Hall of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA), Ismail Serageldin, inaugurated BioVision 2016. This major conference is being held from 12 – 14 April under the theme of “New Life Sciences: The Road Ahead”. It focuses on the three major themes “health”, “food and agriculture” and “environment”.

President of Egypt presides over annual BOT Meeting

World Bank Delegation Visits BA

On the occasion of the visit of the World Bank Delegation to the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Serageldin gave a 30 minute presentation at the Human Rights workshop.

4th Global Baku Forum: “Towards a Multipolar World”

Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC) held its 4th Global Baku Forum: “Towards a Multipolar World” this week. The event brought together a number of heads of state and government, and well-known political figures, as well as ambassadors of foreign countries to Azerbaijan.

Serageldin Joins IAP Conference on Science Advice

This week Serageldin joins distinguished scholars, representatives of national academies of science and medicine, experts and science advisors, at the Inter Academy Panel: The Global Network of Science Academies (IAP) Conference and General Assembly, hosted by the Academy of Science of South Africa (ASSAf), which takes place from 28 February to 2 March 2016 in Hermanus, South Africa, under the theme "Science Advice".

Exploring the Need for a BA Science Grid

At the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Annual Meeting, thousands of leading scientists, engineers, educators, policymakers, and journalists from around the world gathered together to discuss recent developments in science and technology.

Second Meeting of Human Gene Editing Study Committee

Serageldin joined the members of Human Gene Editing Study committee that is conducting a comprehensive consensus study on the scientific, medical, and ethical considerations of human gene editing. The committee held an information-gathering meeting, where invited experts discussed perspectives on human gene editing.

A Public Lecture at Sofia University

A two day visit to Sofia, Bulgaria, held another busy schedule for Serageldin. He met with Vezhdi Rashidov, Minister of Culture, and paid an official visit to the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, where the President of the Academy, Stefan Vodenicharov, presented to Serageldin the Honorary Sign of the President of the Academy for his outstanding contributions in science.

An Eventful Day in Athens

Serageldin started off his visit to Athens chairing the board meeting of the Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies. This was followed by a meeting with Prokopis Pavlopoulos, President of Greece at the Presidential Megaron.

Discussions on Democracy and Interfaith Dialogue in Sarajevo

Foundation “Shared Societies and Values Foundation” in Sarajevo gathered a group of prominent international public figures in a Forum titled “New generation democracy and interfaith dialogue - Responding to violent extremism”.

Serageldin speech for meeting with President of Italy

Rome Concluding Remarks

A Speech on Interfaith Dialogue in Rome’s Quirinale Palace

At a reception hosted by Sergio Mattarella, President of Italy, at the Quirinale Palace, Serageldin gave a speech on the theme of “Interconnectivity and the global search for spirituality. What is society looking for and what is the role of the State?”

Towards an Inter-Faith Dialogue: To Confront Radicalism and Extremism

Echo Chambers and the Vortex of Lies: Spirituality & Materialism in the Modern State