Nile University (NU) showcased its latest research, ranging from genetics to nanotechnology to information mining, by hosting the “Celebration of Innovation” event on 12 December, in an effort to highlight the impact the university can have on science research in Egypt.
The star of the exhibition was the young NU researcher Haytham Desouky, who recently won first place in the largest science competition in the Arab world, the “Stars of Science” show in Doha, which is sponsored by Qatar Foundation. Desouky beat 7,000 other researchers to win first place in the competition, receiving the grand prize of US$300,000. His invention is a sticker that can be attached to the back of any surface to transform it into a touchscreen to interact with.
“There are thousands of applications for this. For example, you can browse the menu at a restaurant and just touch your order and it will be sent directly to the kitchen without the need for waiters. You can have sliders to choose how spicy the food is or even options to rate your meal after you eat,” says Desouky. “It can replace buttons for light control in the bathroom to eliminate the danger of electric shock if water touches the electric buttons we currently have in bathrooms and that’s just the start.”
Other researchers in the exhibition area also presented posters and actual models of their research and innovations.
Tarek Khalil, the president of NU, presented Haytham Desouky with the NU Award for his invention and contribution to research in Egypt.
“This is our way of saying that, even though we had a revolution in Egypt and are going through a tough transitional stage, we are still working and producing. We are not standing by idle – we have already started moving forward,” said Hatem Doweidar, CEO of Vodafone Egypt who was one of the main sponsors of the event.
“This is not just an application, this is a new technology that is making it’s way out of the Arab world to the rest of the world,” added Desouky.
Following the 25 January revolution in Egypt, the future of NU has been in turmoil. The close ties of past prime minister Ahmed Nazif to the project threw allegations of corruption. The government has allocated the university’s new campus, which students were supposed to move into this year, to another major project, the Zewail City of Science and Technology.
The uncertain future of the university has nearly brought its funding to a drizzle and the professors and management are now fighting to secure more funding. They are hopeful that showcasing the science research taking place in the university could help secure its future, especially since the students enrolled now are uncertain what will happen to them should the university close down.
The event attracted several high profile people, ranging from politicians running for parliament to presidency, along with the newly appointed minister of scientific research.