The Commission’s Cultural and Educational Program has collaborated with Cairo University’s Center for Civilization Studies and Dialogue of Cultures to convene an Egyptian American-Dialogue.  U.S. Fulbrighters joined graduate and undergraduate students from the university to discuss five topics:  the role of Egyptian youth in the January 25 revolution and their importance in shaping Egypt’s future, the 2012 Egyptian presidential elections, bridging Egyptian-American cultural divides, the development of political systems in the U.S. and Egypt, and social and cultural transformations in Egypt and the U.S.   A general dialogue followed, moderated by Fulbright alumna Dr. Riham Bahi, (Northeastern University AY2001-2002), an associate professor of political science at Cairo University.  “… great perspective on topics that I had not considered before” said one Fulbrighter.  “I hope that the dialogue will continue [because] is extremely valuable.”  The Commission’s Cultural and Educational Program sponsors site visits, seminars and other activities to help its American grantees understand Egypt and its culture.

The Commission’s Science Circle has conducted the second of its seminars on “Fulbrighters Face Egypt’s Scientific Challenges.”  Hosted by the American University in Cairo, the seminar continued an initiative begun in July 2011 at the City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications.  Scientists from more than two dozen universities and research centers heard Fulbright alumni and other researchers address three of Egypt’s critical challenges:  energy, food, and water.  Alumni Dr. Noha Khalaf (Creighton University 2006-2007) of the October University for Modern Sciences and Dr. Sherif Elnagdy (University of Rochester 2011-2012) of Cairo University presented useful findings in the fields of biotechnology and microbiology.  Dr. Mohab Hallouda (Texas A&M University 1999-2000) of the World Bank described the role of renewable energy in Egyptian development.  Dr. Mohab was joined by a cooperating businessman, Eng. Amr Mohsen, Chairman and CEO of Lotus Solar Technologies. Dr. Abdel Fattah Badr (Miami University 2000-2001) from Tanta University discussed “Breeding Wheat for Water Stress Tolerance” as a solution to the food gap.  Dr. Nagwa Nawar (Texas A&M University 1995-1996) from Mansoura University and Dr. Hani Moubasher (University of California - Davis 2001-2002) from Cairo University described their project, “Technology Transfer for Removal of Phosphorus from Wastewater.”  And future “Fulbrighters Face Egypt’s Scientific Challenges” activities were investigated in discussions led by Dr. Amr Shaarawi (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 1996-1997) of the American University in Cairo and Professor Essam Khamis, a member of the Commission’s Board of Directors and Director of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications.  Through these and other activities, the Commission’s Science Circle brings together Egyptian science and Egyptian industry.

The Commission’s Science Circle has conducted the second of its seminars on “Fulbrighters Face Egypt’s Scientific Challenges.” Hosted by the American University in Cairo, the seminar continued an initiative begun in July 2011 at the City of Scientific Research and Technology Applications. Scientists from more than two dozen universities and research centers heard Fulbright alumni and other researchers address three of Egypt’s critical challenges: energy, food, and water. Alumni Dr. Noha Khalaf (Creighton University 2006-2007) of the October University for Modern Sciences and Dr. Sherif Elnagdy (University of Rochester 2011-2012) of Cairo University presented useful findings in the fields of biotechnology and microbiology. Dr. Mohab Hallouda (Texas A&M University 1999-2000) of the World Bank described the role of renewable energy in Egyptian development. Dr. Mohab was joined by a cooperating businessman, Eng. Amr Mohsen, Chairman and CEO of Lotus Solar Technologies. Dr. Abdel Fattah Badr (Miami University 2000-2001) from Tanta University discussed “Breeding Wheat for Water Stress Tolerance” as a solution to the food gap. Dr. Nagwa Nawar (Texas A&M University 1995-1996) from Mansoura University and Dr. Hani Moubasher (University of California - Davis 2001-2002) from Cairo University described their project, “Technology Transfer for Removal of Phosphorus from Wastewater.” And future “Fulbrighters Face Egypt’s Scientific Challenges” activities were investigated in discussions led by Dr. Amr Shaarawi (Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 1996-1997) of the American University in Cairo and Professor Essam Khamis, a member of the Commission’s Board of Directors and Director of the City of Scientific Research and Technological Applications. Through these and other activities, the Commission’s Science Circle brings together Egyptian science and Egyptian industry.

Dr. Francisca Oboh-Ikuenobe, a professor of engineering and geology at the Missouri University of Science and Technology, has conducted a workshop at Alexandria University.  The seminar, on the “applications of palynology with special emphasis on oil and gas exploration,” was convened on March 18-20, 2012.  It was sponsored by the University’s Faculty of Science and coordinated with Fulbright alumnus Dr. Mohamed Ismail Ibrahim (University of Florida 2005-2006), Dean of the Faculty.  Dr. Oboh-Ikuenobe visited Alexandria under the auspices of the Commission’s Fulbright Specialist Program, which provides short-term opportunities for Egyptian institutions and American scholars to increase collaboration between the United States and Egypt.  The Commission is grateful for Dr. Oboh-Ikuenobe’s collaboration with Dr. Mohamed.

In March the Commission’s circle of humanities alumni conducted a workshop on “Teaching Revolutionary Literature at Egyptian Universities.” Three dozen academics from universities throughout Egypt participated in the event, which was hosted at Helwan University. The workshop included the screening of documentaries describing the Egyptian revolution, which were followed by a discussion on the “Challenges of Teaching the Revolution.” Other presentations included “Liberty, Individuality and Creativity:  an American Studies Course And The Egyptian Revolution” by Dr. Heba Sharobeem of the Alexandria University Faculty of Education; “Texts that Outpace the Revolution: Teaching Mohamed Salmawy’s Wings of the Butterfly” by Dr. Lobna Ismael and Dr. Mona Radwan of the Cairo University Faculty of Arts; and “The Making of a Revolutionary:  Teaching Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie’s Cell One” by alumna Dr. Sonia Farid (University of California - Santa Cruz 2006-2007), also of the Cairo University Faculty of Arts.  Several distinguished alumni contributed to the organization of the workshop, including Dr. Areeg Ibrahim (Yale University, 2005-2006), Dr. Mounira Soliman (New York University 2004-2005), and the Circle’s leader, Dr. Osama Madani (Study of U.S. Institute 2001). The workshop was the second in a series of Humanities Circle events design to enlighten the classroom discussion of Egypt’s revolution.

Late last month American Fulbrighters and their families enjoyed “A Walk Back in Time to Discover Islamic Cairo”. The event was a walking tour of Islamic Cairo guided by renowned Islamic art and architecture scholar Dr. Tarek Swelim.  In this series of on-site seminars the Fulbrighters visited the Ahmed Ibn Tulun Mosque, Bayt Al-Suhaymi, and sites along the famous al-Muizz li-Deen Illah Street. “Dr. Tarek Swelim was perfect,” said one Fulbrighter.  “… well-informed, fun to move around with, professional and enthusiastic….  Dr. Tarek helped us to see what we perhaps couldn’t have seen otherwise.”  Another Fulbrighter noted that she “was able to learn a lot about the history of Islamic Cairo” and recommended that the tour “be organized for future Fulbrighters.” The excursion concluded with a Citadel-view luncheon in Al Ahzar Park. The event was organized by the Commission’s Culture and Education Program, which helps American grantees to see Egypt and to meet each other to build new friendships with other Fulbright scholars, students, and their families.

Dr. Magda Bagnied, a Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence from Ahram Canadian University, has spoken at her host institution, Elizabethtown College, on the role of social media in the Arab spring in Egypt and elsewhere in the region. While an AY2012-2012 Scholar-in-Residence at Elizabethtown, Dr. Magda is teaching a course “Mass Media in the Middle East.” She has also been active off campus, serving a guest speaker and meeting with women journalists throughout central Pennsylvania. The Fulbright Scholar-in-Residence program sends scholars and professionals from Egypt and other countries to American universities that wish to focus on global issues or pursue cross-cultural or international perspectives. Dr. Magda has been an associate professor and the Head of Ahram’s Canadian’s radio and TV Department since 2008. The Commission is grateful to Dr. Magda for her participation in the program.

A sculptor from the Academy of Art College in San Francisco has begun lecturing in Helwan University’s Faculty of Applied Arts. He is Mr. Erik Blome. A noted sculptor, Mr. Blome’s work includes life-size figures of prominent Americans (including George Washington Carver, Thurgood Marshall, Martin Luther King, and Duke Ellington) and in 2010 he sculpted “the Edmonson Sisters,” two large figures installed in Old Town Alexandria, Virginia. Blome was educated at University of Michigan (B.F.A. 1989) and Boston University (M.F.A. 1992), and took a Diploma in drawing and sculpture from the Royal College of Art (London) in 1993. Prior to joining Helwan University he participated in the prestigious Aswan International Sculpture Symposium. While at Helwan he will collaborate with students and faculty on sculpture technique. The Commission extends a warm welcome to Erik.

Ms. Deena Omar of the Commission’s Egyptian team members called on Benha University recently. While at the University Ms. Deena presented a seminar on Fulbright student opportunities to more than 75 potential Fulbrighters. Of particular interest, she reported, was the Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Program (FLTA), which strengthens foreign language instruction of Arabic in American institutions while providing Egyptian teachers with opportunities to refine their skills, increase their English language proficiency, and expand their knowledge of American society. The seminar was preceded by a call on the University’s President, Dr. Ali Shams El Din.  Through visits like this, the Commission is able to enrich its relations with Egypt’s academic and professional communities.

Mr. Tom Healy, Chairman of the J. William Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board, has visited the Commission.  While at the Villa, Mr. Healy conferred with senior members of the Commission staff and was hosted at lunch by the Commission.  His other calls while in Egypt included visits with the Commission’s Co-Chairs, Prof. Hussein Mostafa Khaled, Minister of Higher Education, and U.S. Ambassador Anne W. Patterson.  Mr. Healy was also guest of honor at a reception hosted by the Commission for him and selected Fulbright alumni and grantees.  Appointed by the President of the United States, the 12-member Fulbright Foreign Scholarship Board establishes policies and procedures for Fulbright programs worldwide.  The Commission was honored by the Chairman’s visit.

Research by Fulbright alumna Noha Gamal Khalaf has appeared in Multi Drug Resistance:  A Global Concern, published by Bentham Books.  Dr. Noha collaborated with her Fulbright affiliate, Dr. Nancy D. Hanson of the Creighton University School of Medicine to contribute findings on the scope of bacterial resistance to antibiotics in the Middle East and North Africa.  According to its editors, Multi Drug Resistance wishes “to understand the different molecular mechanisms responsible for developing resistance against … antibiotics” and to examine “several approaches to control the spread of multi-drug resistance organisms….”  Dr. Noha is a lecturer in the pharmacy faculty and the Modern Science and Arts University in Cairo.  In AY2006-2007 she was an Egyptian Fulbright Scholar at Creighton University.  The Commission is proud to note this alumni contribution and extends warm congratulations to Dr. Noha and her co-author.

Grove/Atlantic has published Adios, Happy Homeland, a novel by Fulbright alumna Ana Menendez.  A former columnist with the Miami Herald, Menendez was a 2008-2009 U.S. Fulbright Scholar at the American University in Cairo’s Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud Center for American Studies and Research.  Menendez is author of three earlier novels, In Cuba I Was a German Shepherd, Loving Che, and The Last War.  She contributes regularly to the New Republic, the New York Times, and Gourmet.  Ana now lives in Maastricht and Miami.  Congratulations to her on the publication of Adios, Happy Homeland.

Mr. Zachary Newell, an associate librarian at Salem State College, is lecturing at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Mr. Newell was educated at Susquehanna University (B.A. 1999) and took a degree in art history from the University of Massachusetts - Amherst (M.A. 2003) before earning his library science degree from Clarion University (M.S. 2006). While at the Bibliotheca he will focus on “Regional Identity, Global Perspective:  the Art of Engagement at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.” Mr. Newell is in Egypt with his wife, Angelique Elser, their son Luke, and daughter Maya. The Commission extends a warm welcome to the Newell family.

On February 16-18 American Fulbrighters and their families enjoyed a retreat in Ismailia.  While offsite the grantees heard their student colleagues share the results of research experience as of midyear. “It was great to hear [about] other people’s progress on their projects,” said one student, “to see the different, but similar, obstacles and challenges that others encountered during their research process.” Another Fulbrighter described the retreat as “a helpful and low-pressure way for us to reconnect regarding our work and learn from one another.” While away from the conference table the Fulbrighters enjoyed a visit to the Ferdinand de Lesseps House, a lecture at Suez Canal Authority’s Simulation Center, and a canal-side luncheon overlooking ship convoys passing from the Red Sea to the Mediterranean.