Projects
Highlight Events
Official Opening of the German Egyptian Year of Science and Technology
On the 15th January, 2007 the German-Egyptian Year of Science and Technology was inaugurated at the Main Hall of Cairo University. The two opening speeches were held by the Minister of Higher Education H.E. Prof. Hany Helal and the German Ambassador H.E. Bernd Erbel followed by the two key note speeches.
The afternoon‘s schedule was dedicated to a short introduction of the six main topics of the Year of Science and a panel discussion on "Technology Acceptance in the Intercultural Dialogue”
At night a VIP event took place at the Cairo Opera House. The audience could lean back and enjoy the wonderful German musical ensemble "Leipziger Barocksolisten”.
The event included the inauguration of the exhibition "Nobel! 100 years of the Nobel Prize” showing the achievements of Nobel laureates during the last century.
The ceremony was concluded by the ceremonial ribbon cutting which opened the exhibition as well as the buffet.
You can find further pictures of this event here: pic1, pic2, pic3
Centenary of the German Archaeological Institute
In the framework of the German-Egyptian Year of Science and Technology the German Archaeological Institute celebrated the centenary of its activities in Egypt this year. On this occasion, several celebrations and events were held between the 18th and the 22nd of November 2007.
The centennial festivities began with a press conference at the Conrad Hotel on the morning of November the 18th. More than 80 journalists representing the Egyptian and international media attended the event and addressed their questions to Bernd Erbel, the German Ambassador in Cairo; Prof. Dr. Zahi Hawass, the Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities; Prof. Dr. Hermann Parzinger, the President of the German Archaeological Institute, Prof. Dr. Günter Dreyer, the Director of the Cairo Department; and Dr. Daniel Polz, the Deputy Director of the Cairo Department.
On the evening of November the 18th, the centenary was officially opened with a reception in the garden of the Institute’s premises in Zamalek. Around 300 attending guests and colleagues were welcomed by Farouk Hosni, the Egyptian Minister of Culture, Georg Boomgaarden, the State Secretary of the German Federal Foreign Office, and Prof. Dr. Parzinger.
During the following three days, a scholarly symposium was held at the Conrad Hotel. Results and prospects of past and ongoing excavations and projects of the Cairo Department were presented by the respective project directors and were complemented and commented on by distinguished external scholars. Up to 350 international scholars and researchers of various fields attended the symposium every day.
The end of the official part of the Institute’s centennial was marked by a grand reception hosted by the German Embassy in Cairo, in the garden of the Ambassador’s residence in Zamalek.
Egypt’s Sunken Treasures
The exhibition Egypt’s Sunken Treasures was shown at the Art and Exhibition Hall of the Federal Republic of Germany in Bonn from 5 April, 2007 to 27 January, 2008.
Egypt ’s Sunken Treasures presented a spectacular collection of artifacts recovered from the seabed off the coast of Alexandria and in Aboukir Bay. Lost from view for more than a thousand years, they were brought to light as part of an ongoing series of expeditions first launched in 1992 by the European Institute of Underwater Archaeology headed by Franck Goddio in co-operation with Egypt’s Supreme Council of Antiquities. Franck Goddio’s expeditions and this exhibition were supported by the Hilti Foundation.
You can find further pictures about this event here: pic1, pic2
Day of Open Ship on the German Research Vessel METEOR
The German research vessel METEOR berthed in Port Said the 3rd of September, arriving from Herakleon in Greece to continue its research in the Red Sea. The METEOR is one of the world's best research platforms, at the disposal of all marine research disciplines carrying out their research on the world's ice-free oceanic regions all year round. The vessel is operated on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and the German Research Council (DFG). Members of several interested parties were invited by the Egyptian Ministry of Higher Education and Research and the Federal Ministry of Education and Research to participate at the Day of Open Ship on board of the METEOR which was held the 4th of September 2007 and was coordinated by the DAAD.
During the morning pupils from the DSB and students from the GUC went on guided tours on board. They were shown the various sites of the vessel as the laboratories, the several decks, the surgeon and the steering mechanism. In the afternoon the Captain of the ship, Walter Baschek, invited German and Egyptian Scientists to participate in a scientific workshop about German Egyptian Marine Research. Previous and future METEOR cruises were presented to the participants.
Meanwhile a press conference was held at the Helnan Hotel in Port Said followed by a dinner reception on deck. The vessel left the next morning to continue its cruise to Fujairah (U.A.E.).
The aim of this very successful event was to bring together German and Egyptian Scientists and to reinforce their scientific collaboration concerning Red Sea Research as well as to draw attention to the German Scientific landscape.
You can find further pictures about this event here: pic1, pic2, pic3
Multimedia Show CULTURAMA – Culture in a Panoramic View
The multimedia exhibition CULTURAMA at the Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin was inaugurated on the 7th of March.
The modern technologies enabled the visitors to immerse themselves in the long and varied history of the land on the Nile. Besides the Pharaonic period the exhibition reflected the pinnacle of the Islamic and Coptic civilizations and modern Egypt on a huge screen made of nine flat screens. Providing a huge amount of cultural and natural heritage information in a very informative and attractive way, this panoramic view of temples, mosques and churches turned the ‘voyage’ into an impressive experience.
You can find further pictures about this event here: Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4, Pic5, Pic6, Pic7
"German-Egyptian Year of Science and Technology 2007 - Conclusions and Perspectives" - Closing Ceremony in Egypt
On the 12th of November, 2007, the Closing Ceremony of the German-Egyptian Year of Science and Technology 2007 took place in Cairo.
On this occasion, a number of speakers from both the Egyptian and the German side highlighted the achievements made during this year, which proved to be an important landmark in the field of science. Further perspectives in six different scientific areas were outlined during the conference.
After the welcome speeches and an inspiring key speech on the importance of innovation within science by Dr. Dieter R. Fuchs, the General Manager of the Fraunhofer Middle East Institution, the thematic evaluation of the German-Egyptian Year of Science and Technology was initiated by several presentations on the German and Egyptian Research Landscape. Four German and Egyptian institutions presented their projects, focusing on technology transfer at the German University in Cairo, the establishment of transnational networks at the National Research Center, the adaptation to international standards at the Mubarak Science Park and the cooperation between Germany and Egypt shown at the case of the Theodor Bilharz Research Institute.
Furthermore an insight into the happenings during the 2007 Year of Science and Technology was given. Each thematic area in this context was analyzed by the respective Egyptian coordinator.
The program was concluded by a panel discussion about the contribution of the German-Egyptian Year of Science and Technology to better conditions for young scientists.
The event was followed by a dinner reception by invitation of the DAAD on the premises of the DAAD Cairo Office.
Press article: Article1
You can find further pictures about this event here: Pic1, Pic2, Pic3, Pic4, Pic5, Pic6, Pic7, Pic8, Pic9, Pic10
German-Egyptian Year of Science and Technology 2007 - Official Closing Ceremony in Berlin
On the 6th of December 2007 the official closing ceremony of the German Egyptian Year of Science and Technology took place at the Melia Hotel Berlin.
The day started with a press conference where H.E. Dr. Annette Schavan, German Federal Minister for Education and Research, pointed out that through the science year the cooperation between both countries has been strengthened in the fields of science, education and research. She announced the signature of a bilateral agreement between the two ministries for a joint research fund with a contribution of 300.000 Euro from each side per year. Until the year 2012 bilateral teams can submit applications for the support of joint research projects. The end of this year represents a beginning and leads to intensification of the German Egyptian partnership in the field of scientific research and development, said H.E. Prof. Dr. Hany Helal, Egyptian Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research. Prof. Dr. Max G. Huber, Vice President of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), emphasized that it has been a great honor for the DAAD to coordinate this year. He also pointed out the highlight events which have been carried out in Egypt and Germany during the year.
H.E. Annette Schavan emphasized the importance of Egypt to Germany as the gate to the Arab world.. H.E. Hany Helal pointed out that the German Egyptian science year has not only intensified the scientific but also the cultural exchange. The scientific exchange of individuals within each of the different projects opens the possibilities of cultural dialogue and enriches the projects with their cultural differences.
Prof. Max G. Huber referred to the final brochure where the outcomes and the activities of the science year are summarized. Besides the numerous events the DAAD ensures by the signing of several bilateral agreements that the collaboration will continue in coming years.
In June 2007 the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the DAAD signed an agreement on a program of short-term scholarships. He also announced the agreement which supports mobility in bilateral research projects between Egypt and Germany as well as a Memorandum of Understanding in which the intention to support long-term visits from Egyptian PhD students at German universities is expressed. The ceremony was accompanied by the music group "Egypt Stars".
The program was concluded by the awarding of the "German Egyptian Cooperation Prize" to thank certain persons and institutions for their special engagement during the science year.
You can find further pictures about this event here: Pic1, Pic2
