Nature Middle East | House of Wisdom

In memory of the 80’s greatest Arab science communicator

Mostafa Mahmoud.jpg

Exactly one year ago, arguably the greatest science communicator in the modern Arab world passed away.

Moustafa Mahmoud, passed away on 31 October, 2009. His 88-year long journey from a rebellious child to a philosophical writer has taken him across the world, always in search of the elusive “truth”.

While Mahmoud is a prolific writer, he is best remembered for the TV series “Science and Belief” (Al-Elm wa Al-Eman). The show produced 400 episodes throughout the 1980’s and 1990’s. Those who grew up in the 1980’s will always remember the show fondly. For many of us, this was our first encounter with science communication.

The premises of the show was quite simple, yet it captivated audiences in every home across the region every Monday night. We would gather around the TV in the living room as the Mahmoud presented captivating science stories, coupled with documentary videos. The topics were quite diverse, ranging from how ants can form fantastic cooperating communities to touring the wide Milky Way.

Unfortunately, since the show stopped airing, there hasn’t been a similar science TV show. Most young teenagers now do not even know there was once such a successful science show airing weekly.

Interestingly enough, this TV show was the inspiration for many, if not most, of the 1980’s generation to be fascinated about science. It was a far call from the boring science curriculum in schools, it was actually interesting, fascinating science that captured the imagination of the children watching. That generation had the largest percentage of high school children who wanted to go into science careers.

Nowadays, the number of school children in Egypt who want to pursue a science career is dwindling rapidly. There is no interest anymore in science. Curriculum science courses are still uninspiring, but there is no outside influence to get children to love science.

Mahmoud’s journey in science was driven by a hunger to learn more. This hunger led him down many diverse paths, exploring his spirituality as much as his science. This journey created a man with a vision and a distinct belif in science that was electrifying.

Here’s to wishing that the upcoming second decade of the 2000’s gives children a similar science communicator that would reignite the love if science in them again, in this much needed time.

Comments

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    Ola Al-Ghazawy said:

    I am one of the biggest fans of Mostafa Mahmoud, I watched him as a kid and I loved science just because of him.

    I still remember the ants episode you talked about and how I spent months after it protecting ants.

    I once talked with a professor’s assistant in science college and he told me he is fond of spiders since he watched its episode on Mostafa Mahmoud show and decided since then to study zoology and that is what he went on to do.

    I am so grateful for Mostafa Mahmoud as I studied pharmaceutical sciences and now I am working as a science journalist and I wish one day I can deliver science to the community in the same way he did.

    May you rest in peace Mostafa Mahmoud.