The New Library of Alexandria

Building the Global Knowledge Society: The Challenge and the Response

- Vancouver

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “Building the Global Knowledge Society: The Challenge and the Response” in Vancouver.

Building the Global Knowledge Society: The Challenge and the Response

Dr Ismail Serageldin was invited to give a plenary lecture "Building the Global Knowledge Society" at the 2012 AAAS Annual Meeting which was to be held 16--20 February 2012, Vancouver, Canada...

The BA Mourns the Tragic Death of the Football Fans in Port Said

Ismail Serageldin and all the staff of the Library of Alexandria offer their condolences to the families of the young people who lost their lives in the tragic events of the football match in Port Said last week. The BA observes three days mourning and shares in the grief of all of Egypt over all the young lives lost.

Al-Masry Al-Youm Publishes Serageldin’s Thoughts on the New Constitution

The January 6 edition of one of Egypt’s leading daily newspapers, Al-Masry Al-Youm, features an article by Ismail Serageldin titled “Different thinking for the new constitution”. The article covers six issues: Citizenship; Civil Society; Environment; Media; joint management of resources; and nuances in applying concepts. Follow Serageldin’s thoughts on Twitter on these issues.

Building the Global Knowledge Society

 Ismail Serageldin    Download

Short Essay on the Constitution (Arabic)

 Ismail Serageldin    Download

البحث عن الدستور

 إسماعيل سراج الدين    Download

Serageldin Chosen as Vice President of the Institut d’Egypte

At an urgent meeting held at El-Sennary House, Dr. Mohammed El-Sharnoubi, Secretary General of Egypt’s Science Academy, the Institut d’Egypte, announced that Dr. Ibrahim Badran was chosen as the new President of the Academy, and Ismail Seragelin as the Vice President. Serageldin had up to now been a member of the Board of Directors.

Update on Events in Alexandria as of 23 November 2011

The Egyptian elections are progressing extremely well, better than anybody dared to hope for. As I cautiously predicted on my Tweets, despite the violence in the streets last week, there were signs that the incurable optimist in me saw as good signs for the advance of democracy. What were those signs?

Events in Alexandria as of 23 November 2011

As you know, we had strikes and demonstrations that called for my resignation and that of senior managers and that closed down the Library for two weeks (albeit with the Eid Holidays included). Armed with the confidence of the Board of Trustees and a strong statement of support from the Government and of intellectuals inside and outside of Egypt, I re-engaged with the demonstrators.

Ismail Serageldin's Interview at OnTV's Akher Kalam

An interview with Dr. Serageldin about the Library of Alexandria after the 25 January Revolution at OnTV's Akher Kalam.

Serageldin Gives Nexus Lecture 2011

At the Nexus Institute in Tilburg, Serageldin addressed a large audience of intellectuals, artists, diplomats, politicians, and other decision-makers, with a lecture entitled “Knowledge and Memory in Alexandria. A Bridge between Islam and Europe”. The lecture was very well received and was followed by a question and answer session with the audience, moderated by Rob Riemen, Founder of the Nexus Institute.

The BA and Al-Azhar Co-organize a Seminar on Cultural Consensus

The BA and Al-Azhar co-organized today a seminar entitled “Cultural Consensus in Light of Al-Azhar Declaration” at the Al-Azhar International Conference Center, Cairo.

Copyright Infrastructure: Enabling The Exercise Of Rights And Facilitating The Public Interest

- Geneva, Switzerland

Keynote Address at WIPO on Copyright Infrastructure

At the two-day Conference on Copyright Documentation and Infrastructure organized by The World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO), on 13-14 October, Serageldin will deliver a keynote address entitled “Copyright Infrastructure: Enabling the Exercise of Rights and Facilitating the Public Interest”. The meeting is open to the general public and participants will include technology experts, policy developers and legal practitioners.

Arabic Language Technology in Bibliotheca Alexandrina

- Egypt, Alexandria

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “Arabic Language Technology in Bibliotheca Alexandrina” in the Library of Alexandria.

Plenary Speech on Food and Population at STS Forum

At the STS Forum Eighth Annual Meeting, Serageldin gave a plenary session speech on Food and Population, and also lead a discussion on Regional Climate Change Adaptation in Africa. Since the inauguration of the STS Forum in November 2004, an annual meeting is held on the first Sunday of October every year in Kyoto, Japan, gathering top policymakers, business leaders, scientists, researchers, media leaders and Nobel laureates from all over the world, to address science and technology issues in the 21st century.

The Fourth International Symposium of History of Printing and Publishing 2011 Opening Session

The BA in Action: The Rebirth of the Library of Alexandria

- Sweden Book Fair

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “The BA in Action: The Rebirth of the Library of Alexandria” at the Sweden Book Fair.

Modeling A Complex Problem: Egyptian Reactions to Sea Level Rise

- Alexandria

Egyptian Reactions to Sea Level Rise: Reflections from Alexandria

- Venice

Egyptian Reactions to Sea Level Rise: Reflections from Alexandria

- Venice

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “Egyptian Reactions to Sea Level Rise: Reflections from Alexandria” in Venice.

Chirac Foundation Jury Convenes

Serageldin meets tomorrow, 15 September, with the jury committee members of the Chirac Foundation to select a winner for the Chirac Foundation Prize for the Prevention of Conflicts. The selection is to be made after meeting with a committee of experts who propose a list of individuals or institutions that have taken exemplary and urgent action towards prevention of clash in areas of potential conflict.

On Sea Level Rise Adaptation in Alexandria

Serageldin is invited to speak at the international conference “Improving the Capacity to Assess and to Adapt to Climate Change in Urban Coastal Regions”. Organized by the Venice Water Authority through Consorzio Venezia Nuova with the assistance of Thetis and the Sustainability Solution Institute at the University of California at San Diego, the event brings together experts from around the world to exchange knowledge and discuss the best methods to assess the impact of climate change on coastal urban regions and identify suitable adaptation measures for development.

Nelson Mandela Lecture 2011

In the Eye of the Storm: The BA and the Revolution

- Puerto Rico

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “In the Eye of the Storm: The BA and the Revolution” in Puerto Rico.

The Library of Alexandria Greatly Admired by IFLA Delegates

At the World Library and Information congress held by The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) on “How to fix the World: Committee on Free Access to Information and Freedom of Expression”, Serageldin gave a lecture entitled “In the Eye of the Storm: The Library of Alexandria and the Arab Spring”.

Serageldin Now on Twitter

Follow Ismail Serageldin on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/I_serageldin

A Busy Schedule in South Africa

Serageldin followed a very busy schedule in South Africa this week. First on his agenda was a lecture on the morning of 22 July at the University of Johannesburg, “In conversation with Youth. The shape of tomorrow: the seven pillars of knowledge”.

Serageldin Presents Ninth Nelson Mandela Annual Lecture

The Nelson Mandela Foundation invited Serageldin to present their Ninth Annual Lecture in Johannesburg . The aim of the lecture was to stimulate dialogue around a range of critical social justice issues. Previous speakers were Presidents Bill Clinton, Thabo Mbeki and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Nobel Laureates Desmond Tutu, Wangari Maathai, Kofi Anan and Muhammad Yunus.

The Making of Social Justice: Pluralism, Cohesion and Social Participation

- Ninth Annual Nelson Mandela Lecture, Johannesburg

It is a rare privilege to be invited to South Africa, to celebrate the birthday of Nelson Mandela, the man who inspired the world, who liberated his people and perhaps did more than any other man to destroy the venom of racism in the world. Madiba, along with your countless admirers and disciples, I wish you many happy returns.

Serageldin Gives a Remarkable Presentation at IFPRI

Serageldin was invited to be this year’s speaker at the 2nd Annual Malthus Lecture. This is a lecture series organized once a year by the International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) and the U.S. Population Reference Bureau. The name of the series refers to the English scholar Reverend Thomas Robert Malthus, known for his theory published in the early 19th century that sooner or later population gets checked by famine and disease.

A Constitution for Our Times "Independence Day"

France Names Serageldin Commander of the Order of Arts & Letters

For his role in the field of intercultural dialogue, Serageldin will today be decorated by Frédéric Mitterrand, French Minister of Culture and Communication, with the insignia of Commander of the Order of Arts & Letters. The order, created by President De Gaulle, is awarded in recognition of eminent international contributions to the arts and literature, and is not limited to French nationals

A Speech on Poverty Eradication and Biodiversity

Serageldin speaks today at the International Conference “Reconciling poverty eradication and quality of the environment: What are the innovative solutions?” held in Paris under the patronage of the French Ministry for Economy, Finance and Industry.

Upholding the Universal Values of Science

Science Magazine’s issue of 3 June 2011 features an editorial by Ismail Serageldin on the “The Values of Science”. In his article Serageldin writes about the special importance, at this crucial time in the Arab world, of embracing the values of science in the rebuilding of the new Arab Societies.

Towards Enhancing Education and Research in the Life Sciences

Together with Life Science educators from the MENA region, Serageldin is invited to participate in the planning meeting for the project by the National Research Council of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences to design and develop a framework for an international series of faculty development workshops, called “educational institutes”.

In a Lifelong Endeavor to Abolish Hunger

Invited by the College de France to organize the international conference “To Abolish Hunger” to be held on 19-20 May 2011, Serageldin is gathering distinguished experts, scientific and political leaders and decision-makers for an exchange of solutions on how hunger may be abolished, and to discuss a global plan to this end.

For the Future of Egypt

- Cairo

Dr. Serageldin delivered this presentation entitled “For the Future of Egypt” in Cairo.

ONTV Interviews Serageldin Tonight

Egyptian TV channel “ONTV” hosts Ismail Serageldin tonight on their show “Baladna Bilmasry”. The program airs today Tuesday, 10 May, at 9:30 pm local time (7:30 pm GMT).

Ismail Serageldin's Interview at OnTV's Baladna Bel Masry

An interview with Dr. Serageldin about the Library of Alexandria after the 25 January Revolution at OnTV's Baladna Bel Masry.

Serageldin Receives NAS Public Welfare Medal

In January 2011, the National Academy of Sciences (NAS), in Washington DC, selected Ismail Serageldin to be the 2011 recipient of their most prestigious award: the Public Welfare Medal. On Sunday 1 May, the medal was presented to Serageldin in an award ceremony held during the Academy’s 148th annual meeting, where he got a standing ovation after his acceptance speech.

The Values of Science

- On receiving the Public Welfare Medal, Washington DC

It is with profound thanks and great humility that I stand before you today to accept this enormous honor you bestow upon me. I accept it as an invitation to redouble my efforts and to mobilize even more of my colleagues and compatriots in the cause of science. In that latter sense, it is a timely Award indeed.

American Philosophical Society Votes Serageldin as Member

The members of the American Philosophical Society (APS) have voted Ismail Serageldin into membership. This high honor was conferred to Serageldin in recognition of his extraordinary accomplishments in fields of intellectual endeavor and public service. He was nominated and elected by his peers in the Society, which has seven hundred members of eminent scholars from a wide variety of disciplines.

Encyclopedia of Life Meeting at Smithsonian

As a member of the Executive Committee of the Encyclopedia of Life (EOL), Serageldin attends the committee meeting held at the Smithsonian Institution this week. The Committee members, who are senior figures from the cornerstone institutions of the EOL, convene to consider EOL accomplishments thus far, and to discuss future plans and goals.

Politics and Power in Shakespeare

The theme of this year’s Shakespeare Conference at the Library of Alexandria was “The Politics of Power in Shakespeare’s History Plays”. The event was attended by a great number of students and lovers of literature, who sat in rapt attention as Serageldin gave his annual presentation on this universally celebrated occasion.

Opening Speech of Youth : A Revolution of Change

To all Our Friends Around the World: 18 Days that Shook the World

Thank you for your many messages of solidarity and support throughout these last two weeks. And a salute to Egypt’s wonderful youth, who changed the course of history through peaceful demonstrations. The moral power of non-violence was never more ably deployed for the cause of more freedom, more justice and to lay the foundations of better tomorrows. By the moral force of their solidarity, and the nobility of their cause, they challenged all expectations and triumphed.

A Salute to the Great Youth of Egypt

To the great youth of Egypt, the leaders of the Egyptian revolution of 25 January 2011, I salute you.