By Kara Fitzgerald Elgarhy

The video game industry is booming across the Middle East and North Africa. Playing on a console, PC or smartphone, there were more than 65.3 million gamers in the region in 2021, with revenues reaching $1.76 billion in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt alone, according to a 2022 report by Niko Partners. As the industry continues to ascend the leader boards, more opportunities arise every day for local talent to find their place in the game.

There's just one glitch in the code, observes Ahmad Saqfalhait, associate professor of practice and associate chair of AUC's Department of the Arts. "Most game design professionals in the industry are self-taught," he explains. "Because their training is primarily either technical or visual, they compensate for the design aspect of game development by wearing multiple hats."

To support the development process, AUC introduced a new game design minor in Fall 2022, bringing together students from different disciplines to learn the role of a designer in game development. A collaboration between AUC's graphic design program and Department of Computer Science and Engineering, the minor will equip students to join a flourishing industry that has surpassed three of the biggest entertainment-related industries combined: music, film and sports, according to Saqfalhait.

The perks don't stop there. "In addition to their economic value, game applications have expanded and evolved to cover various purposes, from educational and social to medical and psychological -- all playing on our need to have fun and engage," Saqfalhait said.

Communicating Culture

Much like the industry, the program is fast on the rise. Saqfalhait and students are working to further spread awareness and interest by holding gaming activities on campus, such as hosting group Nintendo Switch sessions. "Not only do students enjoy playing, they also reflect on Nintendo's success in the gaming industry," Saqfalhait explained. "Nintendo is a school of design. It maintains a DNA and philosophy in its offerings. I want to channel this in the minor."

Moreover, Saqfalhait believes that Nintendo's work offers important lessons for AUC students about cultural expression and identity.

"If Nintendo, a Japanese company, borrows ideas from the outside, it reinterprets them and makes them its own, with mutual respect for both cultures," he said. "This concept of thinking locally and regionally is emphasized throughout the semesters of the game design minor so that students are not just making copies of existing games."

For instance, Nintendo's famous Animal Crossing video game introduced many international players to Japanese culture. Originally developed for a limited audience in 2001, the playful village- building game now features an array of international flavors, from bamboo baskets and cherry blossoms to Arabian thobes and Moroccan dresses.

"Nintendo is a school of design. It maintains a DNA and philosophy in its offerings. I want to channel this in the minor."

Sophomore Tarek Kassab, a longtime gamer and fan, was drawn to the minor for this very reason. "I started to notice that such a powerful entertainment tool can be used to push forward political and cultural messages," he reflected. "For example, games made in Japan tend to portray Japanese society -- traditions, food, celebrations and culture. And because video games are highly interactive, these small additions naturally resonate with players. I wanted to learn game design to create games that are entertaining while also spreading my Egyptian and Arab culture."

The locally grounded character of game design at AUC was always intentional, according to Saqfalhait. However, one unexpected outcome has been the resulting buy-in and support from the Egyptian community. Outside of their coursework, game design students have had the opportunity to work directly with community and creative partners on the design and development of games for local impact.

Last semester, students worked with UNICEF and Karim Aboul-Enein of Largelabs game development studio on an arcade game prototype that makes children indirectly associate healthy snacks with fun activities through play. A separate student group has been working since July 2022 in collaboration with Megawra - BEC to create a game for children that will strengthen their sense of neighborhood ownership and connection to their communities by presenting them with their rich culture and history.

These extracurricular projects reflect a guiding principle of AUC's approach to game design: integration within the industry. "It's difficult to gain hands-on experience in game design in Egypt because the industry is not yet thriving here. AUC's practical approach is a substitute source for direct experience in the field," said Kassab.

Still, AUC's game design project is far from final. The pioneering minor program, itself an organic result of feedback and learning from a smaller seed, is poised to blossom into a fully fledged major -- addressing more skills, reaching more students, and building more industry and community connections.

"A few years from now, AUC will graduate students who are equipped and ready to join and reinforce game design in Egypt," Saqfalhait affirmed.

Explore AUC's Game Design minor.

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By Devon Murray

Step back in time to 1973, when, in the midst of the Arab-Israeli conflict, Egypt and Syria launched an attack on Israel on October 6, catching the world off guard. Known as the October War, this conflict and its results signaled a major shift across the region's political landscape and United States foreign policy in the Middle East.

Today, on the war's 50th anniversary, we look back not on the battlefield, but on Cairo -- and AUC -- to understand what life was like for AUCians in wartime. Drawing from a series of oral histories and clippings from The Caravan found in the University Archives, we explore the varied experiences of students, faculty and staff in October 1973.

Whispers of War

What are the signs a country is headed toward war? Tim Sullivan, provost emeritus and former professor of political science, who landed in Cairo just before October 1973, sets the scene.

We arrived on September 16, 1973, which is obviously 20 days before the war. So we didn't have much time to get adjusted to Egypt before that. Most places had windows painted blue. That would mean you could have the light on at night, and it couldn't be seen by a plane that might drop a bomb on you. There were sandbags everywhere. ... The Sheikh Rihan entrance to AUC had a barricade in front of it..

Of course, we didn't plan to arrive in a war zone. You know, obviously, the Arab-Israeli conflict had been going on since the establishment of Israel. And one knew you were going into a place where conflict was, in a sense, endemic. But there was no inkling that war was imminent. It looked like something of a stalemate, actually.

For Jayme Spencer, librarian emerita who served as the director of public services at the AUC Library for more than 43 years, October 6, 1973 began as any other day.

It's a Sunday. And we are invited out. In those days, we did not work on Sunday.

She recalls going to a barbecue at the home of a colleague who lived by the Pyramids.

And at some point toward the evening, we got ... a knock on the door. The sun had already pretty much gone down. And some army people came in, and all started talking. ... Apparently, as it was translated to us, you know, "How can you be doing this? A day that you, your country is at war! And you have foreigners with you!" ... And they said, "Pack everything up and get out of here immediately. Go to your home."

I think they painted the headlights of the cars blue so that they wouldn't show ... because all of a sudden we were of course in curfew and darkness.

According to Spencer, the University remained open the following day, though not everyone showed up.

People were waiting for the University to make an official announcement. And we didn't know how long [this was] going to happen. Were we going to, you know, be defeated immediately, and that would be the end of it? But as it turned out of course, it lasted much longer.

Classes Canceled

Thoron at AUC Tahrir Square

Walid Kazziha, political science professor who has been with AUC since 1972, describes the community's initial reaction to the war.

In 1973, when the war broke out, students were up in arms, faculty were very much fired up with what was happening. And then we get this statement from the Vice President... [Ahmed Abdel Ghaffar] Saleh or something, who says, "Classes will be held as usual."

The faculty called for a meeting, and we met. [President] Thoron came personally to that meeting.

Thoron laid it out and said, "We're fully in support of Egyptian efforts to regain its land in Sinai, and the University cannot be opened as usual, you know. Now we will have to think of a way to support Egypt in its war effort. And the students are proposing [to] do some medical service ... and support here.

Of course we didn't have classes. We were listening to what was on the radio, and no one at that point could go and give a lecture. Let's face it. And then after the war, we came back and that was it.

Helping Hands

Spencer recalls students immediately organizing to support the war.

[The students] quickly mobilized themselves, the ones who could, to support the war. I know I went in two or three days and rolled bandages.

Farkhonda Hassan (MSc '67), professor emerita in the School of Sciences and Engineering, took her students to Kasr El Aini Hospital to help with cleaning and gathering supplies.

We took four big wards in Kasr El Aini. ... The students were running around bringing sheets from the factories -- clean ones, clean sheets, pillowcases.

While at the hospital, Hassan ran into a number of celebrities, including Tahiya Carioca, an Egyptian belly dancer and film actress, whom she asked to bring a food processor to prepare meals for patients who were having difficulty eating.

I used to put the rice and the vegetables and the meat and have [the patients] drink it. ... This made them more healthy. And [the hospital] used to have visitors coming to us and reporters from all over the world to see. This [is] where AUC is. And [these were] the students, girls and boys. And teachers. So I was very happy. We stayed there for about two months.

Rescue team practices as part of custodians' civil defense training1970s shot of Hill House, which at the time was AUC's main library

War Stories

Sullivan describes how Cairenes got their news about the battlefront during the war.

[At AUC], we had meetings during the war, no classes, and [I would] come in on the train. And people are excited, they're talking. I didn't know what the heck they're saying, but they've all got newspapers and they're pointing to stories and there are pictures. I can't read Arabic at the time, but they've got pictures of stuff that's going on in the war.

During the war, something happened [that] I was immediately made aware was unusual. ... Egyptians were getting news from Egyptian news sources. Now, let me explain what I mean by that. Up to that time, if, you know, the Egyptian, I will have to call it upper middle class or even elite -- they would have access to what was going on in the world and in Egypt by listening to the BBC [British Broadcasting Corporation] or the VOA [Voice of America] or Radio Monte Carlo. Radio Monte Carlo was a big hit, and the reason was simple: It was news that was actually news. It wasn't censored. It wasn't interpreted through some political screen. So if they want to know how their troops were doing, how the war was going, they would listen to Monte Carlo, they would listen to the BBC. They would also listen to or watch television news, what little there was. And if they found the BBC and Egyptian news were saying the same thing, they were thrilled. Because it [means] the government is telling us the truth.

Life Goes On

Despite the war, many living in Cairo in October 1973 were able to enjoy hobbies and make connections with others. Spencer reflects on social life during this time.

We didn't have a curfew during the day, so if I didn't go roll bandages or do whatever else it was I was doing with the students and other faculty members, I had a group of people that I went out horseback riding [with].

And then as it started to get toward dark, we'd always make [our way] back home. However, within every quarter, I would say, Zamalek, Garden City, Maadi, people violated the curfew as they wished. Some of my closest friends happened to live just a block and a half away from me on Tolombat [Street]. We spent many a night till about 9:00 or 10:00, playing cards and just sitting around talking.

While out and about, Spencer and a friend discovered a group of stranded American tourists who were meeting at the Hilton in Zamalek every night. Most of them had been vacationing in Cairo when the war broke out and were now waiting to be evacuated safely from Egypt.

Because of course the embassy was trying to get them out. And I think they ended up going out through ... a boat from Libya. And they had to pay for it.

Spencer and her friend were invited for breakfast with a Catholic family one morning.

They noticed that we were taking the sugar out of the container at the table and they said "Why is that?" And I said, "Well, sugar is being rationed right now, and we don't have any." And so they started saving their sugar. I think it was about three, four days before they actually got away. So we had a huge stash of sugar from them, from the Hilton.

And for about the next two years, this family used to send like a little care package back to

Cairo. It would take months, several months to get here, and be full of sugar and just, candy, and well wishes, and maybe a book or two. I lost track of 'em many, many years ago, but it was just one of those kinds of things -- you bond with people in a certain way, you know, in a catastrophe, where you're swept up by the circumstances. But what was important for me was the fact that they were so positive about Egypt. And they had enjoyed their time here. They really didn't have an agenda ... They were curious to see how it was going to turn out.

For Sullivan, adjusting to life in Cairo during this tense period was a great way to get to know Egyptians.

It was actually a good introduction to the country and the people. A better introduction than AUC could have possibly organized because ... you could see people under stress. My father always said there are a couple of ways to really understand what people are like. ... So one test is what happens when you get in the wilderness? It's a Hobbesian test. What do you do when there is no law, when there is no order, when there is no government? How do people behave? And another one is when you're under great stress. Well, the whole country was under great stress. And they behaved well.

AUCians play football on campus, early 1970s 

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Tracing the past between dust- covered buildings from the Fatimid dynasty, inspecting 50 million-year-old whale bones in the middle of the desert, putting smiles on the faces of underserved children in one of Cairo's poorest neighborhoods -- these are just a few of the activities that nearly 100 international students took part in during AUC's faculty-led programs last winter.

Oberlin students at Abdeen Palace. Photo by Omar Mohsen

The short-term, customized programs are designed to introduce students to AUC and Egyptian culture under the guidance of a faculty leader. With more than 20 years at the University, faculty- led programs have relied on Egypt's rich history to help students sharpen their understanding of a variety of topics.

This year, AUC hosted students from Oberlin, George Washington, Utica and Westmont. Each course covered a different topic, from history and political science to healthcare ecosystems and intensive Arabic.

Cultural Connections

Alongside AUC students, a group from Oberlin took the Museums, Historical Memory and Politics in Egypt course, during which they made daily visits to Cairo's numerous museums and discovered other historical hotspots around the city.

For Nikki Keating, an Oberlin student majoring in Africana studies, the post-museum excursions were just as valuable as the museum visits.

"After the museum, we'd go get food somewhere in the middle of Cairo," she said. "On top of learning so much about Cairo's history, I learned so much about the culture and people. Working with AUC students gave me more of a perspective about how Cairo and Egypt as a whole really are."

Zeinab Abul-Magd, professor of Middle Eastern history at Oberlin, described the constant cultural exchange that took place between AUC and Oberlin students throughout the course. "This program is unique because, for the first time, it brought Oberlin and AUC students together to take the same course, go on the same field visits, do the same activities and sit together in the same classroom," she said.

Watch: AUC, Oberlin students explore Cairo Museums

Inside Institutions

Diving headfirst into Egypt's state institutions, a class from The George Washington University led by AUC Trustee Nathan Brown (CASA '84) convened with Amr Adly, assistant professor in AUC's Department of Political Science, and AUC students for a course examining the country's legal and religious establishments and how they interact with Egyptian society.

The monthlong course included lectures on Egyptian law, economy and history as well as visits to key official institutions in Cairo, including the Egyptian Parliament, Al-Azhar, Coptic Patriarchate, Supreme Constitutional Court and Economic Courts."Through these visits, the students got to interact firsthand with senior officials, politicians and judges," Adly explained. "Additionally, class discussions between GW and AUC students about historical and current matters in Egypt added some invaluable insights to both groups, allowing them to compare views and bring new ideas into circulation."

A History of Healing

Utica students traveled back in time with a course covering the vast history of medicine and healthcare in Egypt, from Pharaonic herbalism to recent mental health awareness campaigns.

"Incorporating Egypt's historical sites into the course brings home how culture and tradition play a very important role in Middle East healthcare," said Hassan El-Fawal, professor of biomedical sciences and founding director of AUC's Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology.

The group also engaged with the local community, spending a day with underserved children at Resala Charity Organization. "My favorite part was going to Resala," said Utica student Madealyn Frankovic. "Not only did I see what kind of therapeutic interventions I could be doing as a future occupational therapist, but I was also able to laugh and smile with the children. That can be just as healing."

Watch: AUC, Utica students explore history of medicine throughout Egypt 

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By Devon Murray

H2O Woes

While water covers around 71% of the Earth's surface, the lion's share of this precious resource lies in the oceans (97%) and is too salty to be used for agriculture, drinking water and industry. Moreover, pollution, waste and the unequal distribution of resources have put a strain on the planet's freshwater supply, with areas on each continent experiencing water scarcity, according to UN-Water.

Egypt is particularly hard hit when it comes to water scarcity due to rising temperatures, a drier climate and a growing population driving up water demand.

"In Egypt, the annual water share per person is 540-560 cubic meters. The water poverty line, however, rests at 1,000 cubic meters per person per year, meaning that Egypt is missing almost 50% of its needed water supply," said Egypt's Minister of Water Resources and Irrigation Hani Sewilam, AUC professor and founding director of the University's Center for Applied Research on the Environment and Sustainability (CARES).

And the problem extends beyond H2O.

"This is a multifaceted issue," Sewilam said. "You cannot work on water scarcity without considering food and energy."

Sewilam: "The sky is the limit. This could be the next food production revolution." Photo by Ahmad El-Nemr

Like most countries in the Middle East, Egypt consumes 80% of its water for food production and agriculture. Adding another layer, agriculture requires energy -- whether it be for irrigation, processing, storage or transportation. Considering the intricate and dynamic relationship between water, energy and food is known as the water-energy-food nexus. It is within this nexus that Sewilam, CARES and student researchers operate, working to find a solution that considers all three sectors.

(Aqueous) Solutions: The Three S's

Desalination -- the removal of salts and minerals from a substance -- has been around for ages in theory and practice. However, it is not seen as a "green option," according to Sewilam, because it uses a lot of energy and creates brine, a highly concentrated salt solution that occasionally contains chemical residue.

"With the existing technology, brine is disposed of in the sea or thrown in the desert," he said.

Harnessing the three S's of Egypt's abundant resources -- sun, sand and salty water [seawater and brackish water] -- Sewilam's Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus Model uses solar panels to power reverse-osmosis desalination. This technique sends water through a synthetic lining to purge the water of unwanted molecules and impurities, like salt and dirt.

"After desalination, we work to get more out of each drop of water," Sewilam said. "The freshwater will be used to produce fish. The waste from the fish can be used as fertilizer for crops, while the excess cleaned water from the crops can be given back to the fish."

As for the brine, it can be used to produce small crustaceans for feeding the fish and algae, which have become a major component in producing biodiesel, he explained.

At COP27, Sewilam will receive the 2022 Water-Energy-Food Ecosystem Nexus Award from the European Union's Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area, known as PRIMA, for his WEF Nexus Model.

More Crops Per Drop

At AUC, the model is already in use on a limited scale at CARES, with preparations to upscale for commercial use in motion. On the state level, it is slated to be used in some of Egypt's major green development projects, such as the 1.5 Million Feddan Project, New Delta Project and buildout of the Sinai Peninsula.

For now, Sewilam and his team have turned their attention to fine-tuning the model by increasing crop yield to make the model even more economically viable and working toward zero waste to make the model more sustainable.

CARES, which is part of AUC's Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology, is sharing its knowledge with the community. Last fall, the center launched its Water-Energy-Food Technologies Diploma, which combines expertise in engineering, hydrology, irrigation and solar technology to prepare students for facing Egypt's climate challenges. CARES also partners with the International Desalination & Water Treatment Group, transferring research findings and know-how directly to the market in Egypt and the region.

Sewilam believes that implementing the WEF Nexus Model will not only be a major first step toward solving the water (and food) crisis in Egypt and the region, but will also create a ripple effect globally, causing a major shift in world food security.

"The sky is the limit," he said. "This could be the next food production revolution."

 

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By Abigail Flynn

Transforming abandoned tires and old washing machine drums into living room furniture, Ibrahim Abougendy '14 turns trash into treasure with the startup he co-founded, Mobikya. Abougendy upcycles waste materials into colorful and comfortable handmade furniture, such as chairs, mirrors and couches.

Abougendy also co-founded two other startups that utilize eco-friendly and biodegradable designs. His water bottle line, Qarura, uses a special clay mix "pottery" that boosts the alkaline content in water and requires less energy in production, while his pottery-based coffee brewing tools from his company Gahawena require less energy than traditional copper.

Outside of the home, Abougendy's work supports local animals. He helped design shelters out of tires, or "Sheltires," which optimize the heat-trapping capacity of rubber tires to offer a warm retreat for stray cats.

"Waste is actually raw material," Abougendy said. "What keeps me persistent against all odds is my passion to be an accelerator for a paradigm shift to happen."

 

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By Yasmin El-Beih

Today, more than 180,000 users in Egypt have replaced their short-distance car, cab or ride-hailing trip with an electric scooter or electric bike at least once, thanks to Rabbit Mobility, a clean-tech startup with the ambition to revolutionize how we take short-distance trips while bettering the planet in the process.

Co-founders Kamal ElSoueni '13 and Mohamed Mansoury '14 came up with the idea in 2019 after working for a couple of years in global management consulting firms based in Dubai and London, respectively. Returning to Egypt for vacation, they both noticed an increasing reliance on cars, even for short-distance trips.

Mansoury and ElSoueni hope to expand Rabbit's operations outside of Egypt

"When you're traveling a lot and you come back home, you really feel the difference," ElSoueni described. "We started to notice a grayish black cloud forming over the city, which we had never noticed when we lived in Egypt, and we were always complaining about traffic. In 2018, while visiting the United States, I came across a massive electric scooter company, and that's when we started thinking about applying similar solutions in Egypt."

ElSoueni and Mansoury held focus groups through their own networks to tackle transportation-related inquiries that might aid their blossoming business idea. They found that regular cycling wasn't highly popular given the hot weather for much of the calendar year in Egypt, making it an uncomfortable option for commuters. "I myself used to cycle to AUC for a semester or two as a student, but I always had to shower once arriving to campus before heading to class, so I was able to relate to the feedback we got from the focus groups," said ElSoueni. "We thought that if we removed the element of effort, it would make life easier. We also learned through some of the ride-hailing apps operating in Egypt that around 50% of the trips are for a distance less than 3 kilometers, while 70% are for a trip that is less than 8 kilometers."

The data posed a tremendous opportunity for a business idea -- and for the environment. By mid-2019, ElSoueni and Mansoury had both quit their management consulting jobs to make Rabbit a reality.

"By replacing car rides with electric scooters or electric bikes, you're relying on electricity instead of fossil fuels," Mansoury said. "From this simple shift, you save a lot of carbon dioxide emissions. We estimate that we've saved more than 50,000 kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions just this year."

Although their fast-growing userbase is mostly comprised of riders under 40 years of age, a reflection of the growing youth population in Egypt, up to 10% of their customers are over 45.

User segments also differ in every governorate or city where Rabbit operates. In Tanta, they found that nurses at the public hospital were taking a couple of rides every day between 1 and 2 pm. Through making a few feedback calls, the Rabbit team realized that the nurses were not only using Rabbit bikes and scooters for their daily commutes, they were also going back home for lunch using the eco-friendly vehicles, as they found them safer, faster and more cost-effective than taking a taxi.

Besides a relentless vision to become the go-to solution for any trip under eight kilometers, be it commutes, first-mile/last-mile or delivery services, Rabbit has other audacious goals on the horizon.

"For us to achieve this vision, it's going to require a lot of expansion into many locations, as well as development to our tech," said Mansoury. "Right now, we only have electric scooters and electric bikes, but our short-term plan is to also introduce electric mopeds. We've already brought in our first prototypes and are working on this."

The co-founders have shortlisted potential countries for expansion, with urban issues and infrastructure similar to Egypt. Rwanda, Morocco, Saudi Arabia and South Africa are new markets Rabbit has set its eyes on. In many of these locations, Rabbit has already begun securing international partners to support their process.

Mansoury and ElSoueni credit the milestones they have achieved to their supporters and mentors, a tight-knit community of fellow startup founders. From Ayman Ismail '85, '87, associate professor in the Department of Management and AUC Venture Lab founding director, to former AUC President Lisa Anderson, there are many who have assisted in their journey, along with the networks, resources, global experts, advisers, research papers and reports at their disposal -- much of which came through their access as former management consultants.

They also have a third co-founder, Bassem Magued, whom they call a "borderline genius." Magued helped in restructuring Rabbit as it took off and in nailing the app's geographic accuracy.

"We see a lot happening, with the potential for much more, not only in clean transportation but also clean tech across the Middle East and North Africa," asserted ElSoueni.

 

By Dalia Al Nimr

In his book, Age Is Just a Number, the late Charles Eugster recounted his experiences as a retired dental surgeon. He revived his passion for competitive rowing at age 63, ventured into bodybuilding at 87 and embraced sprinting for the first time at 95. His remarkable achievements include securing 40 gold medals in World Masters Rowing, claiming world championship titles in 200-meter indoor and 400-meter outdoor races, and setting world records for his age group in various sports. Eugster died in 2017 at age 97.

While not everybody can be record- breaking athletes at an older age, it's up to each individual to make the most of their time in this life. "Age is really just a number," said Mohamed Salama, professor at AUC's Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology. "Healthy aging is all in the mindset."

This year, Salama is launching "AL- SEHA [Health]: A Longitudinal Study of Egyptian Healthy Aging," the first nationally representative panel study on aging in Egypt. The first of its kind in the Middle East, the study aims to fill knowledge gaps to help set policies and effective healthcare strategies that improve the lives of the country's elderly population.

AUCToday spoke with Salama on AL-SEHA and what it takes to be happy and healthy.

What is healthy aging?

The word "health" in itself does not connote the absence of disease. Healthy elderly people still have illnesses. The true definition of health is improving one's quality of life. This notion of health is becoming correlated with the term "happy aging," whereby as people age, they are content, independent and engaged in community activities while maintaining a good physical quality of life.

A 2023 paper published in Cell journal argues that aging is a reversible process, based on experiments with mice. Can aging be reversed? Can the body "reset itself?"

Reverse aging is too ambitious. Such experiments have been successful with reverse aging in mice through gene manipulation in a controlled experimental setting. However, humans have different exposures and ways of living. So theoretically yes, the body can reset itself in a controlled environment, but realistically, this can't happen because you can't control all of the variables around you. This is the problem with basic research: oversimplification.

What's a more realistic approach?

Applied research, which is more accurate and aims to improve quality of life while postponing or slowing down the aging process. It's normal to have a decline in cognitive and other functions as you get older. Our role as scientists is to postpone this to 80 or 90 years of age, especially since life expectancy is increasing. So we're looking at a gradual, not sharp, decline that can be accommodated and doesn't hit elderly people hard.

How does that happen?

There are two tracks to study aging: purely biological, which ignores the complexity of human beings, and a social science path, where scientists study human experiences throughout life. The best approach merges both tracks, and this is where longitudinal studies come in.

How does the AL-SEHA study work?

Before getting into the aging phase, which begins at around 45 or 50 years of age, we follow up with individuals who are in good physical and mental health. We do this every couple of years for a decade or two. At age 60, we examine when the decline happens and identify possible contributing factors: Is it specific experiences they went through, such as work, diet, sports or marriage? Is it where they live or how much education they have completed? Embracing the complexity of human beings is a main pillar in longitudinal studies, and such determinants provide us with real-time data to analyze.

"We need to embrace aging and understand its determinants. It's a normal process."

How do you use this data to assess cognitive aging?

We identify modifiable risk factors. So far, there are 12: lower levels of education, physical inactivity, air pollution, excessive alcohol, smoking, head injury, infrequent social contact, obesity, hypertension, diabetes, depression and hearing impairment. If we can control them, we'll probably be able to postpone, decrease, slow down and, in some cases, eliminate the risk by up to 40%. We basically match each of these lifestyle aspects with biological factors.

Can you illustrate this from everyday life?

Take education, for example. The number of years of education is directly proportional to cognitive functions. The more educated you are, the lesser the chance of cognitive decline. Continuing education and graduate studies are even better. Also, people who are skilled in memorization have a high cognitive reserve, meaning their brains are resilient to new demands and damage and are therefore less likely to develop cognitive diseases later on. Family coherence, or the degree of love from primary caregivers, also affects cognitive functions among the elderly. Even coffee can protect against neurological diseases and cognitive decline. Studies have shown that four cups of coffee a day could help prevent Parkinson's and dementia. On the other hand, stress, trauma and pollution can negatively affect cognitive processes.

Why are aging studies important?

There has been a growing global interest in healthy aging studies because they reveal the challenges and opportunities that will face the world in the future, especially in low- and middle-income countries that suffer from a lack of data in this field. Aging studies can help prevent the development of major diseases, such as cancer and dementia, including Alzheimer's.

What is different about the study you're conducting?

AL-SEHA is the first to apply the U.S.- based health and retirement survey, which has been implemented on a global scale, to the Middle East. With longitudinal studies, it's important

to understand the human condition in one's own country versus others. For example, a study conducted in a war-torn country will be different from one where there is no conflict because human experiences and exposures stand in stark contrast.

Why start with Egypt?

Egypt is the most populated country in the Middle East and the third in Africa. Although the country's population is relatively young, the number of elderly people is rising. Egypt is in an ideal position to prepare its population for healthy aging to help reduce access inequities and age-based discrimination while facilitating the evaluation of current health policies.

How big is the project?

It started in 2021 with a pilot study in coordination with AUC's Social Research Center and will expand to include about 20,000 participants aged over 50, representing all of Egypt's governorates. The study will span at least 10 years, with researchers following up with participants every two years to track changes in their health. We will collaborate with government agencies, civil society and nonprofit organizations in Egypt, in addition to the SHARE project, which researches the connection between policy and quality of life for European citizens and beyond.

What's the main message you wish to convey through this research?

Aging is not a disease. If people view aging as a biological problem or illness, their life expectancy falls back four years. There is still a misconception that the elderly should retire and stay at home. On the contrary, working reduces the chances of a sharp decline in health and cognitive functions. We shouldn't make the elderly feel like they have a problem. There will be some decline, of course, but one can remain healthy at 70, 80 and even 90 years of age. We need to embrace aging and understand its determinants. It's a normal process and shouldn't be accompanied by major morbidities or lethal diseases.

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By Claire Davenport

Carbon is a major indicator of climate change. In the last century, the amount of carbon in our air has exponentially risen to a record high of over 400 particles per million -- a level reached on Earth only millions of years ago. Yet while carbon emissions have a volume measurable in units of metric tons, calculating the amount any given country, organization or even person is emitting yearly is a difficult task.

Tarabieh is leading a team of faculty experts to create AUC's Data Hub for Climate Change Mitigation, photo by Omar Mohsen

When AUC initially decided to measure its carbon footprint in 2011, it faced similar challenges. However, since the first task force was commissioned to assemble this data, the University has lowered its energy consumption by 35% and published six climate footprint reports. "We measure everything in these reports, from our water and electricity use down to our composting and recycling activities," said Khaled Tarabieh, University architect and associate professor of sustainable design in the Department of Architecture.

AUC is a pioneer in Egypt and the region in terms of measuring and publishing its carbon footprint. The University's desire to share its knowledge in this area is what inspired the idea to create AUC's Data Hub for Climate Change Mitigation -- a new initiative that is in its initial phase and will bring together AUC faculty from diverse disciplines to share measurement tools with higher education institutions in the region.

As Tarabieh, the project's principal investigator (PI), noted, "The dream team of Co-PIs is formed of faculty who are experts in their specializations and in what they can contribute to this ambitious project: Nouri Sakr '13 (computer science), who is a leader in building data hubs; Ali Awni (business), who specializes in operations management and environmental policy; Omar Abdelaziz (mechanical engineering), who focuses on building mechanical and energy systems; Ahmed El-Gendy (construction engineering), whose work centers on environmental and water resources; and Sherif Goubran '14 (architecture), a sustainability expert and one of the key contributors to AUC's carbon footprint report."

In 2016, AUC's carbon emissions in one day corresponded to 42,808 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per year and 117 MTCO₂e per day (pictured above), based on the 2015 published report of campus-wide emissions. In 2021, AUC's carbon emissions totaled 94 MTCO₂e per day and around 2.97 MTCO₂e per capita -- a considerable decrease in overall campus emissions due to implemented policies and in line with global standards.

Despite AUC holding instructional events with other universities to share how it puts together its climate footprint report, there weren't tangible results, Tarabieh said. "This is not due to a lack of interest, but rather to a lack of resources for collecting information and conducting data analysis in a validated and institutional way," he noted.

The data hub overcomes these barriers by allowing AUC to create a centralized database across higher education institutions in Egypt and beyond. AUC faculty members will train other institutions on how to collect their energy data, analyze the information, and pass on insights and learnings. "Through the hub, we will be able to scale the methodologies and best practices we've successfully piloted at AUC, equipping other institutions across Egypt and North Africa with the ability to measure their carbon footprints and take action. It will also help us aggregate and assess trends over time as well as across universities and countries while compiling best practices in tackling climate change."

Data hubs can operate as a mechanism for accountability. Once other institutions are presented with their climate impact, they will have more of an incentive to make a change. Tarabieh believes this will create channels for universities to collaborate in the fight against climate challenges.

"We hope that a data hub like this could ultimately inform how many institutions -- banks, hospitals and airports -- measure their carbon footprints, drawing on the hub for best strategies to lower their emissions," he said. "The more measurable data within the hub, the more institutions can learn how best to be energy-efficient and, most importantly, know the areas of their operations to control their daily emissions. This way, sustainability is more than a goal. It becomes a value."

He added, "For me, this topic isn't just strategic for our operations but for our future as well. It's not about competition. It's about the achievement of a higher level of building performance and data acquisition, and what a consortium of higher education institutions can put together for others to follow."

 

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By Yasmin El-Beih and Abigail Flynn

As major flooding wracks Pakistan, droughts choke much of East Africa and wildfires raze Australia, it is becoming clear that the consequences of climate change are not distributed equally across the globe. Industrialized countries in the Global North, particularly those with strong colonial histories, have the worst carbon emission records. Yet it is the Global South, with relatively lower emissions, that is bearing the brunt of the resulting environmental catastrophes.

Awni: "African universities and networks have a major role to play." Photo by Omar Mohsen

Ali Awni, professor of practice in the Department of Management and director of AUC's John D. Gerhart Center for Philanthropy, Civic Engagement and Responsible Business, explains the need for a "just transition" to address this inequality.

A just transition can be defined as "a fair and equitable process of moving toward a post-carbon society," said Awni, using the words of researchers Darren McCauley and Raphael Heffron. This approach to cutting carbon emissions prioritizes fairness and equity in global justice concerns, especially pertaining to ethnicity, income and gender. It considers the realities of marginalized communities while recognizing that the solution must be globally connected and systemic. "The transition to net-zero emissions means a fundamental change in the current fossil fuel-based growth model to a more regenerative and sustainable economy," said Awni.

These changes will not be subtle. A just transition intends to do much more than patch one hole in the boat. It aims to build a newer, stronger ship. The way we work, live and develop public policy will all need to change. A just transition ensures that no one gets left behind. This will require an intricate balance of environmental, socioeconomic and political concerns, explained Awni.

"This is what we mean when we talk about climate justice," Awni said. "Climate change affects various sectors of society differently. A just transition is about making the shifts more equitable across societal segments so that some aren't more drastically affected than others."

For instance, individuals who work in the fossil fuel industry must be taught new skills and provided with new employment opportunities. The costs of economic adjustments must be distributed fairly between the privileged and underprivileged. The way future generations may be disrupted by this transition must also be considered and prepared for. In short: It won't be easy, but it is necessary.

Climate change catastrophes are no longer a speculation; they are a proven reality. Egypt itself is facing problems with water scarcity, land degradation, desertification and mass migration as a result of global climate change. While larger economic decisions about carbon emissions remain in the hands of governments, solutions can also be found in universities.

AUC's research on climate change solutions is expansive. To address water scarcity, the Center for Applied Research on the Environment and Sustainability is exploring how to recycle wastewater from fisheries to act as fertilizer for plants. The Department of Physics is using light waves to identify pollutants in water reserves. These are only a few examples of a multitude of AUC projects that can be used to fairly address local and regional impacts of climate change through their implementation in underprivileged communities. A just transition will use these projects and build upon them with larger, systemic and multidisciplinary approaches.

AUC's Gerhart center helps to connect projects across Africa, including the Johannesburg-based Centre on African Philanthropy and Social Investment. "African universities and networks have a major role to play, given the need to change the mindsets of individuals, culture and the way we conduct research," Awni said. "African universities don't only create and disseminate knowledge. They also produce a generation of young people who are aware of sustainability and climate issues, as well as the injustices that surround them."

 

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By Claire Davenport

Breaking Silos

Large global issues such as climate change are difficult to tackle across sectors. Scientists, politicians, local governments and corporate industries often get isolated in their efforts to address environmental challenges, coming up with solutions that are narrower or smaller in scale.

Laila El Baradei with Public Policy Hub members, photo by Ahmad El-Nemr

"When you're just adopting the views of a single entity or governorate, you focus on its needs only," explained Laila El Baradei '83, '85, professor in the Department of Public Policy and Administration and director of AUC's Public Policy Hub. "But environmental issues, in particular, cut across all boundaries, and there is a need for different ministries to talk to one another and figure out the responsibilities they have to shoulder in order to achieve their common objectives."

The Public Policy Hub at the School of Global Affairs and Public Policy (GAPP) bridges the divide between research and implementation, offering well-researched solutions to Egypt's policy dilemmas around climate change and beyond.

Policy Proposals

The Public Policy Hub was co-founded by El Baradei in 2017 to advance evidence-based policy recommendations that meet the needs of government organizations. Participating graduate students and alumni from AUC and other universities work in teams to tackle policy issues identified by Egyptian government bodies, developing creative and cohesive policy solutions to the problems Egypt faces.

The hub is currently focused on climate change policy issues, which include examining the effects on agriculture and tourism in Egypt, mitigating the impact of climate change on Egyptian cities, studying the localization of climate change alleviation and adaptation efforts, as well as evaluating the current impact of these strategies.

When creating a public policy recommendation, there is a lot for the researchers to consider: existing data, how other countries have tackled similar issues, what is administratively feasible and politically acceptable, affordability and any challenges they foresee.

After a weeklong intensive training and four months of research on a given subject, each group is assigned a mentor and works to create a policy research paper, policy brief and advocacy tools, such as graphics and animated videos, to raise broader awareness. The groups then present their work at an annual conference held by GAPP, an event often attended by sector leaders and government representatives.

A Hub for Impact

By allowing government agencies to propose issues for the researchers to tackle, the hub has a unique ability to affect government decisions and have its policy recommendations taken into consideration.

"What's unique about our Public Policy Hub is that we follow a demand-based approach, and we are very proud of that -- so it's not us the researchers and academics who decide what the policy issues or research problems are, but it's the government agencies that do so," explained El Baradei.

To date, the hub has published 40 papers that have more than 8,200 downloads across 112 countries, and it has tackled issues as diverse as child marriage and care for the elderly.

Beyond the hub's impact on influencing policy decisions and legislation, it is also an incubator for the next generation of policy leaders.

By putting together reports and taking part in the day-to-day operations of policymaking -- from navigating scheduling to parsing through data -- researchers leave the hub well-equipped to enter the policy sector and bring their climate insights to bear through their future work.

"We hope that the focus on climate change is continuous and sustainable," said El Baradei.