It's been all about jazz these days at AUC’s School of Continuing Education (SCE). In partnership with the U.S. Embassy in Cairo, SCE hosted acclaimed American musicians in Egypt during the 14th edition of the annual Cairo Jazz Festival. 

“Jazz is the ultimate American musical form that has become a global phenomenon, with a rich history of cultural diplomacy that brought us the iconic picture of Louis Armstrong at the pyramids,” remarked SCE Dean James Ketterer. “We are proud to continue the legacy this year with our partners at the U.S. Embassy in Egypt by hosting these world-class musicians in a variety of enriching musical and educational activities.” 

The cultural exchange initiative came in the form of two American music ensembles coming to Egypt on different but overlapping tours. 

The first group was the violin-piano duo of Steve Sandberg and Zach Brock. Sandberg is a three-time Emmy-nominated composer and pianist. Brock is a two-time Grammy award winning composer and violinist. 

“This has been unforgettable. The team made our jobs easy and the eagerness of the musicians we met was inspiring. I look forward to returning to Egypt as soon as possible,” reflected Zach Brock. 

The other group was a trio that included Fulbright alum at the Egyptian music conservatoire, Dave Meder, who is a prominent pianist, composer, and educator; Michael Piolet, a drummer with extensive academic and performance experience coming to us from Broadway as percussionist for the Hamilton; and the eclectic bassist and composer, Ben Tiberio, who has presented his talent across the world in many ensembles and genres.

In addition to packed performances at the Cairo Jazz Festival, the world-class musicians engaged with communities across Cairo and Alexandria through masterclasses, workshops for beginners and professionals and guest lectures, as well as a public talk on the connection between creativity and wellness. This was carried out in collaboration with some of Cairo and Alexandria’s cultural and music hotspots, such as the Cairo Jazz Festival, the Jesuit Cultural Center in Alexandria, Music Hub and the AUC Music Department. 

“Egypt is full of musical talent. I’m happy to come back and experience that,” added Dave Meder.

This cultural and artistic initiative is a demonstration of SCE’s mission to expand life enrichment programming. From here until next year’s jazz season, stay tuned!

The Public Policy Hub at AUC’s School of Global Affairs and Public Policy bridges research and practice.

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.

“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.”

To read the full article, click here.

The Egyptian pound has dropped dramatically against the dollar after the Central Bank of Egypt announced the flotation of Egypt’s currency on October 27, as the Egyptian government secured a three-billion dollar loan from the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Dina Abdel Fattah, assistant professor and chair of the Department of Economics, explains why the government pursued this loan and what it means for the average consumer.

Why does Egypt need money from the IMF?

The government has many bills to pay, including the wage bill of the public sector and the subsidy bill. The sources of incoming revenues for the government, on the other hand, are very limited and will not cover the bills. To close this financing gap, the government secured a loan from the IMF. 

What does “floating a currency” mean?

This means the forces of supply and demand will determine the price of the currency. A floating currency should witness different values according to the season of peaks and troughs with sources of foreign currency.

What does an IMF loan mean for the economy in the short-term and long-term? 

In the long term, this loan means another financial burden and obligation. In the short term, it means fresh funds to help close the financing gap.

Why did the government originally decide to restrict imports?

Imports means you are buying products from abroad to be paid for in foreign currency. With the increasing financial commitment on the government budget in the form of expenditures in foreign currency (imports and payments of debt and the service of the debt) with limited sources of foreign currency (tourism, Suez Canal and remittances of Egyptians abroad), the pressure is high and we have to prioritize. Import restriction policies have also been followed at different points in time to protect and encourage local industry.

What exactly is inflation? 

Inflation is measured using the consumer price index, which monitors the price of a basket of goods over time. If you go to the supermarket every month to buy exactly the same products, the change in price of these exact same products over time reveals the inflation rate. 

What impact is the Russia-Ukraine war having on inflation in Egypt?

The Russia-Ukraine war is having a direct and indirect impact on Egypt. Directly, Egypt is one of the world's major importers of wheat and the war is affecting the size of wheat production and export. Indirectly, the war is causing a global economic slowdown affecting the global demand on products, leading to a global slowdown, reducing the trade through Suez Canal. Additionally, people are not able to afford holidays outside their countries, reducing tourism revenue, and the economic slowdown is affecting job creation, reducing overall demand on workers, including Egyptian workers and potential workers abroad. This is impacting the main sources of foreign currency to Egypt.

What does the future look like for average Egyptians?

This question is very tricky. I believe it is difficult to characterize the "average" Egyptian now. The purchasing power of Egyptians is decreasing as inflation is increasing. An average Egyptian is an individual who has a job, pays taxes and contributes to social security, may use the private sector for the provision of social services (education and health) and hopes to provide their kids a decent life with some elements of leisure. This class keeps moving items from the list of priorities to the list of luxuries and sacrificing them, indicating a downgrade in their standard of living.

Hassan Azzazy, distinguished University professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry, has been honored for his extensive work in the field of biochemistry with the Distinguished Research Award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation and a Doctor of Science from Alexandria University, in addition to being elected chair of the National Committee of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in Egypt. 

The highly prestigious award from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation includes a one-year invitation and grant to conduct research at the Leibniz Institute for Photonic Technologies in Jena, Germany. Azzazy’s research addresses a wide array of global health and environmental challenges by creating diagnostic tests and biosensors for disease detection, developing new medicines, designing chemosensors for monitoring heavy metals and improving wound care. 

Azzazy was also awarded a Doctor of Science from his alma mater, Alexandria University, in recognition of his overall research productivity and scientific contributions made since he received his PhD from the University of North Texas Health Science Center in biomedical sciences.

In his position as chair of the National Committee of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology in Egypt, Azzazy works with a committee to lead national efforts in developing research and teaching activities in biochemistry, molecular biology and related disciplines. 

He also coordinates collaborations with similar regional and international societies, such as a recent symposium on “drug delivery nanocarriers,” which was attended by 200 participants from research institutions from all over Egypt.

“All the world’s a stage,”- Shakespeare (As You Like It)

What is the world, but a stage? Jillian Campana, professor of theatre and associate dean for undergraduate studies at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, will explore the relationship between art and life during “invisible theatre” performances at COP27. 

The play, titled It's Just One Bag, involves AUC student actors who will perform a conversation in conference exhibit rooms in which they argue about single-use plastic bags and their effect on Egypt’s environment. The interactive performance will ask the audience to examine why people choose to use single-use plastic instead of sustainable options and what impact these decisions have on their community. 

Invisible theater scripts are written using a hybrid form of traditional playwriting and improvisation. “We will have a few rehearsals on campus to challenge the actors to adjust their responses according to how spectators engage,” Campana says. “This type of theatre demands training in improvisation and deep research into the subject matter.”

The students will disguise the fact that their conversation is staged, leading the audience to perceive it as a real event. “Invisible theatre seeks to reach smaller audiences but to make a bigger impact with those small groups,” Campana explains. “When participants do not know they are seeing a rehearsed performance piece, they are more apt to engage with the dialog and share their own thoughts. Invisible theatre capitalizes on this by demanding audience participation.”

Around 43% of plastic waste in the Mediterranean comes from Egypt, much of which is single-use plastic. By making the audience an active participant in the art, It's Just One Bag will emphasize the importance of individual autonomy. Invisible theatre hinges on audience engagement, which the student actors are trained to encourage. 

“Many people think only large corporations and governments can help work toward solutions, but the truth is, if someone is not part of a solution, they are part of the problem,” says Campana. “And when people feel they are not part of the conversation and actively helping with the issue, they tend to ignore it. The more everyday citizens feel involved in helping with this issue, the more they will begin to make other changes. Big solutions take both large and small steps and the involvement of everyone.”

Whether in the lab synthesizing new formulas for concrete, tackling the challenges of renewable energy or igniting a passion for learning in their students, PhD students Heba Zaky and Rawnaa Yassin are fostering the values of AUC’s academic mission. 

Zaky, a graduate student in the Department of Construction and Engineering, is conducting her PhD research on a new type of concrete that aims to minimize construction’s carbon footprint.

“It’s a lot of experimental work,” Zaky states. “My research is actually split between two departments. In the chemistry department, I test how to synthesize the material for the concrete. In the construction department, I study how viable it is for building.”

With this interdisciplinary approach, Zaky aims to create a new type of concrete formula that produces less carbon dioxide. A major component of concrete is cement, which contains calcium carbonate in its traditional formula. When calcium carbonate decomposes, it emits carbon dioxide. There has been an international movement to decrease carbon dioxide emissions due to its impact on the environment, which is a major component of AUC’s Climate Change Initiative. 

“Instead of calcium carbonate, my formula uses a silica base,” Zaky explains. “So when it decomposes, it won’t produce carbon dioxide, making it a more environmentally friendly choice.” 

Zaky began exploring eco-friendly engineering while pursuing a Master’s degree at AUC. While she started with a more management-focused approach, she quickly found her passion for experimenting with construction materials.

“That’s what inspired me to look for this totally new type of material that hasn’t been explored yet,” Zaky recalls. “This material has been researched in different ways and countries before, but not how to synthesize it or use it in concrete.” 

After completing her PhD, Zaky hopes to continue her research, explaining that there are many areas left to explore. While in her graduate study program, Zaky has also had the chance to explore her passion for teaching through the new PhD Teacher Training Program. This program, which began last spring as a collaboration between the Center for Learning and Teaching, Office of Graduate Studies and the School of Science and Engineering, allows PhD students to teach their own classes while conducting their graduate research.  

Zaky was particularly interested in working with (CLT) to develop the skills that would push her from being a TA to an instructor. “The center gave us a new perspective about teaching,” Zaky states. “It’s not just about the information. It's about how you can convey that information, how you make students believe that they belong to the classroom and establish a real connection with them.”

Yassin, who researches renewable energy for her PhD, is also a member of the program’s first cohort and is enjoying the challenge of leading classes herself after being a teaching assistant (TA) during her Master’s program. This program offers Yassin the ability to follow her passion for teaching while continuing to conduct her research on green hydrogen, a form of renewable energy.

“Green hydrogen is simply hydrogen produced from renewable sources of energy,” Yassin explains. “One way is through electrolysis, which uses electricity to split water molecules, H₂O, into their individual hydrogen and oxygen components. Using water and electricity to produce hydrogen is more eco-friendly than using natural gas, coal or oil. My goal is to make green hydrogen less expensive to produce.”

While Yassin enjoyed her Master’s research, she also wanted the opportunity to be a stand-alone instructor by crafting her own lessons and facilitating her own classes.

“This program is totally different from being a TA,” Yassin says. “PhD students feel they aren’t as young as TA’s anymore, but they still aren’t professors. When I heard about the teaching program, I thought, ‘This is what I’m looking for, it sounds like a perfect fit.’ I was right, this program equipped me with all the new and innovative ways of effective teaching, it was a really unique experience.

Yassin and Zaky are great examples of the AUC’s academic mission to provide excellent education for their students by training stellar instructors and important contributors to the climate change initiative through their research on sustainability. 

Art connects human experience with climate crisis realities through The Earth Turns, a feature play from Adam Marple, assistant professor of directing, to be performed at COP27 and Falaki Theater at AUC Tahrir Square. Crafted from 12 stories about families experiencing different climate crises, including desertification, flooding and deforestation, Marple uses Egypt’s tradition of storytelling to bridge the gap between hard data and human emotions in his 40-minute production. The play will be followed by a discussion with the cast and crew, audience and scientists about the data behind the story.

“Facts and figures are fantastic and scientists are doing a really good job,” Marple said. “But at the end of the day, we need to humanize this. We want to connect emotion to these stories and to what’s happening to us.”  

Using props, costumes, and sets all made by the cast and crew, Marple hopes to make this production as sustainable as possible. Instead of using large lighting rigs, the cast will use battery-powered lamps, phones and flashlights. The actors, members of the AUC community, are involved in both the development of the story and the construction of the sets and props.  The play has been adapted from We Still Have a Chance: 12 Stories for 12 Days of COP27, an anthology of micro-stories produced by a UK-Egyptian collaboration including the University of Exeter, the Met Office and AUC and is funded by the British Council's Creative Commission Egypt for COP27. 

“This production has been unlike any other play I have taken part in because it is a collaborative process where we are creating something collectively,” explains actor Noah Abdel Razek ‘21. “I believe art is the best way to address any difficult topic. In theater, we engage with the audience’s emotions, which is perhaps the best way to get people to actually listen and care.”

Both the design of the props and set pieces and the content of the play itself stress the importance of individual autonomy. Abdel Razek sees an opportunity to encourage people in the community to make more eco-friendly choices. “I feel that in Egypt the majority of people aren’t conscientious of their use of water, electricity and plastic. As someone who has the privilege to afford these more sustainable alternatives, I believe it is my duty to do as much as I can to reduce waste,” they explain.

The Earth Turns will be performed live and streamed online at the Falaki Theater in AUC Tahrir Square next week on Wednesday, November 2, and Thursday, November 3. It will be performed again at COP27 in Sharm El-Sheikh at the Amphitheater in the Peace Park on Friday, November 11. 

Protests have erupted in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini in the custody of the country’s morality police last month. Women have taken to the streets, removing their hijabs and even burning the fabric to protest Iran’s modesty laws. Maye Kassem '89, associate professor in the Department of Political Science, and Rawan Adel Maged ‘17 share their collective insight on the situation as the protests stretch into their fifth week. 

What does it mean for the hijab to be the focus of the protests? 

It's not a coincidence that the veil is at the center of current protests. The Islamic Republic has been antagonistic to women as a totalitarian state since its founding, and requiring them to wear the hijab is one of its most obvious attempts to restrict and marginalize them. 

What are the goals of the protestors? 

Prior to the recent protests, prominent opponents of the dictatorship were unwilling to make rejecting the "compulsory veil" a political demand, frequently neglecting the push from female activists to criticize the particular kinds of oppression experienced by half of society. Therefore, the current protests fight for women’s rights as a whole and call against marginalization and restrictions set on Iranian citizens.

How are these protests different from past protests, such as Bloody November? 

Unlike the previous protests, these are not driven by economic or political discontent. Rather, current protests call for “women, life and freedom.” This indicates a more generalized opposition to the entirety of the Islamic Republic and makes women’s rights and freedoms at the core of these protests. Another major aspect that makes current demonstrations different is that there is no single leader.

Who is supporting the movement? 

A unique feature of the current movement is that it is receiving support from women around the world. This is one of the few occasions when Iranians within Iran and abroad have joined together to express their aspirations.

One interesting point is that clergy do not have any connection to the movement. This is not to argue that it is a campaign against religion; in fact, protesters have purposefully avoided using any religious imagery or language. 

What role does the clergy in Iran have in this situation? 

Clerics have historically played a significant role in all major political revolutions in Iran, from the Constitutional Revolution of the early 20th century through the Islamic Revolution of 1979. Clerics are unable to embrace this movement's core beliefs or goals because, in the views of the clergy, the demand for equal rights for women poses a threat to sharia and their position as its protectors.

You mentioned that these protests are unique because there is no single leader. Do you think Iranian women can achieve their goals without a clear figurehead?

Generally, while the current demonstrations have no single clear leadership, participants are united by a common goal and aim. Demonstrators appear to be breaking away from established political opposition groups and individuals, whether they be domestic reformists or dissidents abroad. 

Who are the members of this movement?

The majority of the movement's members are young Iranians under the age of 25 who declare themselves to be opponents of both the Iranian regime’s ideology and the mindset of the older generation, including anti-regime politicians.

Where are the protests happening?

These protests are not constrained to a single city. This geographic dispersion makes it harder for the government to stop them, but also makes it harder for each group of demonstrators to become one coherent movement. 

Do you think the Iranian government will offer reforms?

The most obvious reason that the Iranian government may refuse to reform, or compromise is fear of encouraging further demands and protests that may have a negative impact on their legitimacy and may even trigger their downfall

An exhibition honoring world-famous painter and former AUC instructor Gazbia Sirry will open on October 23 at Center of Arts (Aisha Fahmy Palace) in Zamalek.

Included in the display are pieces donated by Sirry to AUC, including three sections of a 1970s 10-meter mural named “Life on the Embankment of the Nile” to AUC and 14 selections from a 2008 donation of 16 paintings to the University.

These collections are regarded as Sirry's largest landmarks throughout her career that spans over 70 years. The exhibition will also display Sirry’s paintings owned by private collectors.

During the course of her career, Sirry hosted 68 solo exhibitions showcasing her work in Egypt, the Middle East, North America and Europe. Many of her pieces are on exhibit in prominent museums across the world, including the Institut du Monde Arabe in Paris and the National Museum for Women in the Arts in Washington, D.C. She was the first Egyptian to have artwork on display at New York City's Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Find your favorite painting in person at  the exhibition, which will run until December 23. Here are our favorites:

Cat Walking on Nubia (1969)

Detention (1962)

Life on the Embankment of the Nile (1964)

Which is your favorite? Let us know.

Did you know that every type of bacteria has a unique light signature? Mohamed Swillam, professor and chair of the Department of Physics, is using this fact to identify different types of pathogens in Egypt’s water supply with new remote sensors designed by the professor and his team.

“We’re making portable sensors that can detect different bacteria in the water, like E. Coli and salmonella,” Swillam explains. “They can also report on the presence of heavy metals or water salinity.”

With a grant from the Conservation, Food and Health Foundation in the US, Swillam and his team are creating sensors that are designed to float in bodies of water, like rivers or canals, and transmit their reports wirelessly to a nearby data station. These reports will be analyzed in real time, providing a live map of contamination areas throughout the country. Such a map could help to improve food security by monitoring water quality and consequently, protecting crops. In the future, this data will be used to develop an artificial intelligence model capable of automatically identifying the best conditions for growth.

“The sensors can record salt concentration and pollutants in the water and transmit that information to farmers,” Swillam explains. “Then, the farmers can compare that to how the crops are either growing or dying and make necessary adjustments.”

In Action

The sensors develop the reports by taking a water sample, shining a light through the bacteria in the water and measuring how the intensity of the light changes. Each bacterium has a distinctive effect on light intensity, like a personal signature or a fingerprint, that sets it apart from other bacteria.

Ideally, each sensor will be fastened to a 3d-printed miniature boat which also houses a solar panel on top — used for powering the sensor. A small antenna will transmit the report and the boat’s location to a central data station. In order to get as much data as possible, Swillam hopes to release thousands of boats throughout both Egypt and Africa as a whole. 

Improving Environmental and Physical Health

Moving forward, Swillam and his team, which includes students of biology, pharmacology, engineering and physics through SSE Dean’s research initiative, are hoping to develop the sensor in a way that can be used in all sorts of contexts, such as identifying illnesses in humans. He is currently working with funding from Pandemic Tech and the Academy of Scientific Research in Egypt to use this sensor technology to detect COVID-19. He is also working with AUC’s Department of Biology to identify the light signature of ovarian cancer in human urine samples. If the light signature of a virus or disease can be classified, then Swillam can adjust the sensor to identify it.

The sensor can also be used to identify emissions from cars in Egypt. With an Information Technology Academia Collaboration grant from Egypt’s Information Technology Industry Development Agency, the team is designing a small laser sensor that can identify pollutants and, similar to the water pollution sensor, create a real-time map of air pollution in the city. This will help compensate for the lack of widespread emissions testing of cars in the country.

Through his research on combating air pollution, water pollution and environmental health, Swillam’s work contributes to AUC’s Climate Change Initiative. In a ranking of scholarly output for the last year, Swillam placed second in Egypt in the field of electronics and optical materials, third in material engineering and fourth in condensed matter physics. A prolific researcher, his recent publication on technology that can sense all green-house related gasses was chosen as the editor’s choice in Nature.