Speaker Details

Mr Mohamed Hedi Ben Ismail earned a master’s degree in science and geology techniques from the Faculty of sciences of Tunis in 1979, a degree of Advanced Studies in sedimentology (DEA) in 1980 and a doctoral speciality in 1982 from Pierre and Marie Curie university –Paris IV, and a doctoral thesis of science in 1991 from the Faculty of sciences of Tunis. Mr Mohamed Hedi Ben Ismail is currently occupying the position of a Professor at the Faculty of sciences of Tunis and the position of a General Director at the Tunis Science City since September 2005. His international activities have been dominated by projects investigating the sedimentology world wide. He participated in many international meetings and congresses in Japan, Australia, China, Italy, Germany, Brazil, South Africa…He was also invited to take part in meetings and regional conferences in France, Poland, Morocco, Libya and of course Tunisia… Mr Mohamed Hedi Ben Ismail undertook many research projects on Jurassic regional geology and reservoir aspects, Sedimentological study (reservoir and source rock aspects) of Jurassic early Cretaceous series in Central and East Tunisia, study of reservoirs and Jurassic mother rocks in Northern Tunisia, impact on the distribution of channel flow on the appreciation of the reservoir limits of El Borma, evaluation of the petroleum potential of Sidi El Itayem project, distribution and heterogeneities of trias sandy reservoirs and petroleum potential of a series of medium Eocene in the area of Sfax. Mr Mohamed Hedi Ben Ismail took part to the associative life. From 1998 to 2002, he was elected member at the Board Directors of the International Association of Sedimentologists in the Alecante Congress-Spain and from 2002 to 2006 in the Johannesburg Congress- South Africa. He is also President of the Tunisian association of geological international studies and member of the executive board of the Arab Geologist Union, member of the Geoscientist Association for International Development and of the Earth Science Society of Tunisia. From 2002 to 2004, he was national representative in GEOMED Consortium and in 2004 national coordinator for the 32nd International Geological Congress, in Florence-Italy. From1995 to 2000, Mr Ben Ismail occupied the function of a Municipal counsellor of Hammalif City as vice president in charge of administrative and financial affairs and Director of the Boukarnine cultural Festival (Hammam lif City) during the session 1998-1999. Mr Ben Ismail participated in many scientific reviews and magazines. He has been a reviewer of the scientific review the Journal of African Earth Sciences since 1992 and Editor of the review Africa Geoscience review from 1996 to 1997. In 2001, he was granted the Scientific Award among 2000 Outstanding Scientists of the 20th Century classification by the International Biological Centre –Cambridge- United Kingdom.

Presentation Abstract:

As far as the dissemination of scientific culture is concerned, Science Centres and Museums are provided, through networking, with opportunities to learn from international and national experiences. That’s why they are today joining networks, whether on regional or international level, with the purpose of initiating cooperation actions with counterparts, exchanging and assessing with them methods of science dissemination or creating opportunities for innovation. It is in this context that NAMES (the North Africa and Middle East Science Centres Network) has been set up in order to enable Science Centres and Museums in the Maghreb and in the Middle East areas to align their methods with international standards and to be part of the worldwide network fabric. It is worth noting that Networking Science Centres and Museums is likely to pave the way for a mutual understanding and cooperation, to throw bridges between civilisations and to ensure openness onto the exterior world. Consequently, networking may enhance tolerance, promote respect for cultural diversity and facilitate dialogue between civilisations. It would be easier, therefore, for each nation to get its culture known worldwide and especially its contribution to the universal scientific knowledge. Moreover, debating and exchanging points of views, through networking, on topical issues such as that of global warming and greenhouse effects, and subjects of common interest may contribute to raise peoples’ awareness and get them stand together, regardless of their race and faith, against the dangers threatening their survival. Being convinced of the necessity of a network between Science Centres and Museums, whether belonging to the Arab region or to the Mediterranean basin, the Tunis Science City contributed to the setting up of the “North Africa and Middle East Science Centres Network (NAMES) in 2006, of the “Mediterranean Association for Science Advancement and Dissemination” (MASAD) in 2007. It is also an affiliate member to ECSITE (European Network), an honorary member of “Black Sea and Mediterranean Euro Observatory” and is involved in regional projects such as that of “Leonardo da Vinci Project” (European Union) and the “Universe Awareness Project” (International Astronomical Union). Within the framework of these networks, the Tunis Science City has so far strived to boost whether bilateral or multilateral cooperation actions. Those ties of cooperation aim at supporting constructive engagement and highlighting common heritage in the field of Science and Technology.

Status: Confirmed