Inaugurating NAMES First General Assembly Meeting
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Alexandria—
Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of Bibliotheca Alexandrina, and Eng. Hoda El-Mikaty, Director of BA Planetarium Science Center, have inaugurated on Sunday, 2 November 2008, the 1st General Assembly Meeting of the North Africa and Middle East Science Centers Network (NAMES), taking place on 2-3 November and sponsored by the Middle East Science Fund.
Dr. Hassan Nadir, President of Alexandria University addressed a speech on behalf of Dr. Hany Helal, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in which he expressed his deep pleasure with what this meeting is to achieve through activating world educational approaches and maximizing the role of non-formal education. Mr. Atef Ibrahim, representing Dr. Yousry El-Gamal, Egyptian Minister of Education, stated in his address that the Ministry had the precedence in employing scientific research and developing the education process, in a reference to the “ Virtual School” project.
In his lecture on “Islamic Civilization and Science”, Dr. Ismail Serageldin took the attendees on a journey through time and bygone centuries as he shed light on the enlightening role played by the Arab region, and the Islamic world in general, and on the contributions they both presented to humanity. Moreover, he reflected on the ancient Middle East, the Ancient Library of Alexandria, the golden age in which the Arab and Islamic Civilization flourished as well as Egypt`s role in fostering scientists and philosophers.
Through facts, figures and pictures, Dr. Serageldin also took the attendees on a tour in the New Library of Alexandria and introduced them to its many contributions in the area of digitalization and information technology.
At the end of the opening session, the Middle East Science Fund representative addressed a brief speech about the MESF, launched by King Abdullah II at the 4th Petra Nobel Laureates Conference in June 2008.
She explained that the MESF, headquartered in Jordan under the umbrella of the King Abdullah II Fund for Development, works on supporting high quality scientific research projects in the Middle East. It also aims at promoting joint regional scientific projects, through linking scientists and research institutions, in an attempt to achieve a tangible development in a number of scientific fields. In addition, the Fund sponsors meetings of scientists from different universities, educational and research institutions in the region, and one of which is Names 1st General Assembly Meeting.
Following the opening session, Dr. Ismail Serageldin; Eng. Hoda Elmikaty; Dr. Farouk El Baz, Director of the Center for Remote Sensing in Boston University; Dr. Mohamed Bin Ibrahim El Soweil, President of King Abdel-Aziz Science and Technology City in Saudi Arabia; Dr. Ridha Methnani, Professor of Science Communication, Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Technology in Tunisia; Dr. Rashed El Hamad, Ambassador of Kuwait and Ex-Minister of Education, have all inaugurated the Names exhibition, which displays the latest technologies in the industry of experiments that helps to simplify and convey scientific information to students.