What Happened in the Library on the 14th of August

On 14 August 2013, amidst the unfortunate violence and turmoil that Egypt has witnessed lately, the Library of Alexandria, a neutral cultural institution, was subjected to a number of attacks. The brave and heroic staff of the Library''s Internal Security team, alongside the Egyptian Police Force, protected the building from these irresponsible actions.

Censorship In The 21st Century: New Threats to A2K

- Gotenborg, Sweden

Shakespeare's Henry V: Modern Reflections on a Medieval Hero

Dr. Ismail Serageldin has always liked Shakespeare, finding in him a multi-layered complexity that speaks to us beyond the beauty of words and the power of the poetry...

Egypt’s Ongoing Revolution – Part II: On Violence and the Path Ahead

The Egyptian Revolution is ongoing. It got its second wind and corrected its path on the 30th of June 2013 when millions and millions took to the streets and said “No” to the rule of President Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). Then after the first few days from June 30 to July 3, after President Morsi was toppled and the interim government was installed, vast numbers of the people began to abandon the streets, and were ready to turn the page, and start a new chapter.

Birth Pangs of Egypt’s New Republic

The Egyptian Revolution corrected its path on the 30th of June 2013 when unprecedented numbers of Egyptians, in their tens of millions, signed individual declarations asking President Morsi to step down, and took to the streets and said “No” to the rule of Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). The Morsi supporters were a much smaller minority on the scale of Egypt, and were largely concentrated in two squares in Cairo and the Qaid Ibrahim Mosque Area in Alexandria, with scattered bands elsewhere. In the face of this overwhelming public disavowal of the government and in the absence of a formal procedure...

Egypt’s Ongoing Revolution – Part II: On Violence and the Path Ahead

The Egyptian Revolution is ongoing. It got its second wind and corrected its path on the 30th of June 2013 when millions and millions took to the streets and said “No” to the rule of President Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood (MB). Then after the first few days from June 30 to July 3, after President Morsi was toppled and the interim government was installed, vast numbers of the people began to abandon the streets, and were ready to turn the page, and start a new chapter. But the escalation in the rhetoric of the Islamist supporters of Morsi continued...

The Library of Alexandria and the Ongoing Egyptian Revolution

- Remarks Delivered at the Gulbenkian International Prize Ceremony, Lisbon, Portugal

It is a privilege to be with you here in Portugal, in Lisbon and in the Gulbenkian Foundation. I hope that this occasion will mark the beginning of a more extensive collaboration between the Foundation and the Library of Alexandria, and more generally between Egypt and Portugal, a pioneer in managing a successful transition to democracy.

Gulbenkian Prize Awarded to BA and Serageldin

From among 70 nominations, the international jury of the Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation, presided by Jorge Sampaio, Former President of Portugal, chose the Library of Alexandria and Ismail Serageldin, as its director, to be the winners of the 2013 Calouste Gulbenkian Prize.

Serageldin to Sign MoU between BA and Nizami Ganjavi Center

Ismail Serageldin, on behalf of the Library of Alexandria, and Nazim Ibrahimov, Minister of the State Committee for Diaspora of the Republic of Azerbaijan, on behalf of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC), are to sign a Memorandum of Understanding between the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the NGIC.

Keynote Speech in Panama on the Universities of Tomorrow

Serageldin was keynote speaker at the opening session of the V Meeting of University Networks and Councils of Rectors. His presentation entitled “Tomorrow’s Universities and the Seven Pillars of the Knowledge Revolution” was very well received. The meeting was organized by the International Institute for Higher Education in Latin America and the Caribbean (IESALC), which is a UNESCO organization devoted to the promotion of higher education.

On the Future of Universities: The Challenge and the Response

- Panama

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “On the Future of Universities: The Challenge and the Response” in Panama.

Egypt’s Ongoing Revolution – Part I

Egypt is once more doing things its own unique way. After millions of people went into the streets and in 18 days that shook the world succeeded in toppling the regime of Hosny Mubarak after 30 years of rule, they came back again in their millions into the streets and squares of Egypt and toppled Mohamed Morsi after one year of rule.

STI Building African Capacities in Science, Technology & Innovation

- Alexandria

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “STI Building African Capacities in Science, Technology & Innovation” at the Library of Alexandria.

African Students Graduation Cermony 2013

The Poetry of the Magnificent Sage

The Nizami Ganjavi International Center of Azerbaijan, invited Dr Ismail Serageldin to give a lecture on Nizami Ganjavi, which was delivered on 3 May 2013, in the city of Ganja at the Azerbaijan State Agrarian Academy Auditorium...

Serageldin Welcomed as New Member of Royal Academy of Belgium

Serageldin is invited to the Welcome ceremony of the new Members of the Royal Academy of Belgium for the class of Technology and Society. He was elected, in March 2013, a member of the Académie royale des des sciences, des lettres et des beaux- arts de Belgique, ARB, (The Royal Academy of Science, Letters and Fine Arts of Belgium).

Once Again at the Library of Congress

After the huge success of Serageldin’s lectures at the Library of Congress (LoC) in December 2012 and March 2013, he is once again invited to the prestigious library to give a lecture on "The Arab World and the Future of Egypt". The lecture takes place today at 6:30 in the Members Room of the LoC. It will be attended by Members of Congress.

Egypt, The Arab World, and The Future

- Washington, DC

The Story of the BA at the British Academy

As part of the Lecture Series of the Egyptian Cultural Bureau in London, Serageldin gives a talk at 6:30 pm today, at the British Academy’s central London venue just off Pall Mall (10 Carlton House Terrace). The lecture is entitled "Rebirth and Revolution: The Story of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina".

Flame of Peace Awarded to Serageldin

In a ceremony held at the BA, Herta Margaret Habsburg – Lothringen, President of the Flame of Peace Organization, presented the Flame of Peace 2013 Award to Ismail Serageldin. The event also witnessed the inauguration of the Flame of Peace Monument. Made of wood and mounted on stone, it is a symbol for peace, bravery and perseverance.

Serageldin Opens the First South Caucasus International Forum

As co-chair of the board of the Nizami Ganjavi International Center (NGIC) Serageldin opened the first South Caucasus International Forum on ‘Shared societies’. In his opening address Serageldin said “… the forum will discuss the clash of civilizations, shared values, norms, regulating our societies”. The Forum, which was attended by Azerbaijan President Ilham Aliyev, was co-organized by NGIC and Club de Madrid.

Presentation at APS Annual Meeting: A Great Success

At the annual meeting of the American Philosophical Society (APS) , Serageldin gave a presentation entitled Rebirth and Revolution: the Library of Alexandria in the 21st Century”, which was very well received. Present at the meeting were his peers in the Society, which has 1022 members of eminent scholars from a wide variety of disciplines.

Rebirth & Revolution: The Story Of The Bibliotheca Alexandrina

- London

Rebirth & Revolution The Story Of The Bibliotheca Alexandrina

- Taipei, China

Keynote Speech at NCL in Taipei

To celebrate its 80th anniversary, the National Central Library (NCL) in Taipei held an international conference under the theme “A New Paradigm for Globalized Knowledge and Library Development”. The directors of national libraries throughout the world and scholars and experts from Taiwan were invited to speak at the conference.

Opening Session - Ecrire la Méditerranée: Exiles of the Mediterranean

Think Globally, Model Regionally,Act Locally PART 1

Think Globally, Model Regionally, Act Locally Part 2

On the Resilience of The Delta

- Alexandria

Shakespeare and the Burden of Leadership

Shakespeare and the Burden of Leadership

Dr Ismail Serageldin always liked Shakespeare, finding in him a multi-layered complexity that speaks to us beyond the beauty of words and the power of the poetry...

Reissuing Essays on Islam

Upon the request of many of his friends and former colleagues Dr. Serageldin has been asked to reissue the essays he had written on Islam, 20—30 years back and that are out of print. Their request is based on the fact that the subjects in these essays are STILL VERY RELEVANT TODAY.

Lectures at LoC on the Future of Egypt and the Future of Libraries

Serageldin gave three lectures at the Library of Congress (LoC) this week. On 6 March he spoke before a packed auditorium on “The Arab World and the Future of Egypt”. Large audiences returned to the LoC on 8 March for two more lectures by Serageldin on the topics: “The Loss and Rebirth of the Library of Alexandria” and “The Knowledge Revolution and the Future of Libraries”.

The Knowledge Revolution and the Future of Libraries

- Washington, DC

The Rebirth Of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina

- Washington

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “The Rebirth Of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina” in Washington.

A Talk at the World Bank on Egypt’s Revolution and the BA

Egypt’s revolution and the Library of Alexandria were the subject of a talk given by Serageldin at the World Bank. For the benefit of audiences in different locations, the talk was broadcast to country offices and a great number of questions were addressed to Serageldin through this live connection.

Ismail Serageldin's Interview at Nizami Ganjavi International Center

An interview with Dr. Serageldin held at Nizami Ganjavi International Center.

Rebirth of Bibliotheca Alexandrina

Water: Global to Local

- Alexandria

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “Water: Global to Local” at the Library of Alexandria.

Egyptian Reactions to Sea Level Rise: Reflections from Alexandria

- Alexandria, Egypt

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “Egyptian Reactions to Sea Level Rise: Reflections from Alexandria” at the Library of Alexandria.

Mobilizing Science to Prepare for the Future: Scenarios and Modeling

- Alexandria, Egypt

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “Mobilizing Science to Prepare for the Future: Scenarios and Modeling” at the Library of Alexandria.

Climate Change and Sea Level Rising symposium Part 2

Climate Change and Sea Level Rising symposium Part 1

A Fruitful Meeting at the Austrian National Library

During his short stay in Austria, Serageldin visited the Austrian National Library, where he met with Elisabeth M. Edhofer, Head of Development and International Relations. The meeting discussions revolved around plans for future cooperation and exchange between the two institutions.

World Water Scenarios in Laxenburg

As a world renowned authority on water issues, Serageldin was invited to the launch meeting for the Water Futures and Solutions Scenarios Project held at the International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA). Senior representatives from government and non-government organizations, business and academia gathered at IIASA to discuss this new initiative which was started through a partnership of IIASA, UNESCO, the Ministry of Land, Transport and Maritime Affairs of the Republic of Korea, the World Water Council, and the International Water Association.

Sessions on Culture, History and Politics at Davos

At the Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum, held under the theme “Resilient Dynamism”, Serageldin joined world leaders from politics and business, media and academia, technology pioneers, spiritual and cultural leaders, to share insights on critical issues, and to collaborate on the risks and opportunities that lie ahead of the global community.

A Keynote Lecture at KAUST

Serageldin gives a keynote presentation today at the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Thuwal Saudi Arabia. Entitled “Building a Global Knowledge Society”, the lecture describes the major social and technological forces that are fostering and challenging the creation of a global knowledge society.

Building the Global Knowledge Society: The Challenge and the Response

- King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “Building the Global Knowledge Society: The Challenge and the Response” at King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) in Saudi Arabia.

Europe’s Dark Secret Tired of Democracy, in love with Fascism Part 2

Europe’s Dark Secret Tired of Democracy, in love with Fascism Part 1