The Egyptian Scientific Civil Society: Challenges and Partnerships
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Alexandria — For three days from 20 March 2006 to 22 March 2006, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) held a wide scale scientific meeting entitled Scientific Association Meeting: Scientific Civil Society, Challenges and Partnerships. More than 50 scientific civil society specialized in medicine, engineering, chemistry, management, history, geography, and environment participated in the meeting. Dr. Ismail Serageldin, Director of the Library of Alexandria and Dr. Khaled Azab, Director of the Media Department opened the meeting, where Dr. Serageldin stressed the role of the BA as a beacon for thought and knowledge in Egypt. He mentioned that the ancient Library of Alexandria was one of the pioneer institutions in knowledge and that the new Library of Alexandria is one of the biggest institutions concerned with science, scientific research, and values of science on the local and international levels.
Dr. Serageldin added that the ethics of science in Egypt are deteriorating; and that in order to secure a better future for the coming generations, Egypt need to develop technology rather than import it. He also highlighted the role of civil society as the real momentous to change the society, create a suitable environment for thought and openness to scientific knowledge and adopt sound scientific criteria. Finally, Dr. Serageldin stated that the BA will strongly support the scientific movement in Egypt.
The three day meeting aimed at encouraging the role of the Egyptian society in supporting scientific movement in Egypt, and building relations between the BA and the Egyptian scientific associations. Among the associations participating in the meeting were the Scientific Association for Political Economics, Statistics, and Legislation, the Egyptian Association for Training and Development, Human and Technological Development Association, African Association for Sustainable Development, and the Egyptian Association for Research and Local Society Development. Other associations specialized in engineering also participated in the meeting including the Egyptian Association for Electrical Engineers, the Egyptian Association for Chemistry, the Administrative Engineering Association, the Arab Association for Navigation, the Egyptian Association for Tunnels, the Egyptian Association for Information Technology, and the Science and Technology Forum.