Petrochemical Engineering’s Master’s Theses Defended

As part of its ongoing commitment to advancing scientific research and enhancing the quality of postgraduate studies, the Petrochemical Engineering Department at PUA’s Faculty of Engineering has recently hosted the defense of five master’s theses addressing advanced research topics in the fields of sustainability and energy. This initiative reflects the department’s continuous efforts to support scientific innovation and prepare specialized professionals capable of tackling emerging challenges in the petrochemical sector both locally and globally.

The theses presented were distinguished by their originality and focus on practical, industry-applicable solutions—underscoring the department’s high standards in scientific inquiry. The following is a summary of the theses and the members of each examination committee:

1. T. A. Taqi Salama Mohamed Salama

Thesis Title: Fabrication of New Polymeric Composites for Use in 3D Printing Applications

Examination Committee:
• Prof. Dr. Nabil Abdel Moneim (Examiner and Supervisor)
• Prof. Dr. Taghreed Zewail (Examiner)
• Prof. Dr. Badawi Kamoun (Examiner)
• Prof. Dr. Ihsan Nasef (Examiner and Supervisor)

2. Eng. Lina Moataz Khamis El-Biyar

Thesis Title: Preparation of a Low Dielectric Constant Polymer Nanocomposite Using In-Situ Polycondensation

Examination Committee:
• Prof. Dr. Ahmed Amin Abdel-Azim Zaatout (Examiner)
• Prof. Dr. Wagih Abdel-Alim Sayed Ahmed Siddiq (Examiner)
• Prof. Dr. Abbas Anwar Ezzat (Examiner and Supervisor)
• Prof. Dr. Shaaban Ali Attia Nasser (Examiner and Supervisor)
• Dr. Fathi Shukry (Supervisor)

3. T. A. Ahmed Wahba El-Sayed Gabr

Thesis Title: Modeling and Simulation of Carbon Dioxide Removal from Natural Gas Using Membranes

Examination Committee:
• Prof. Dr. Shaaban Ali Attia Nasser (Examiner)
• Prof. Dr. Mona Darwish (Examiner)
• Prof. Dr. Ahmed El Shazly (Examiner and Supervisor)
• Prof. Dr. Noha Saeed (Examiner and Supervisor)

4. T. A. Mohamed Khater Hassan Abdel Aati

Thesis Title: Production of Biojet Fuel Using a Hydrodynamic Reactor

Examination Committee:
• Prof. Dr. Ahmed Amin Abdel-Azim Zaatout (Examiner)
• Prof. Dr. Abbas Anwar Ezzat (Examiner and Supervisor)
• Prof. Dr. Ahmed Hassan El Shazly (Examiner)
• Prof. Dr. Nour Shafiq Imam El Gendy (Examiner and Supervisor)

5. T. A. Donia Ehab Khairy

Thesis Title: Evaluation of the Performance of Natural Antioxidants in Improving the Stability of Biodiesel During Storage

Examination Committee:
• Prof. Dr. Abbas Anwar Ezzat (Examiner and Supervisor)
• Prof. Dr. Ahmed Hassan El Shazly (Examiner)
• Prof. Dr. Taghreed Zewail (Examiner and Supervisor)
• Prof. Dr. Nour Shafiq Imam El-Gendy (Examiner)
• Dr. Aya Soliman (Supervisor)

This dynamic research activity reflects not only the department’s but also the university’s shared dedication to fostering pioneering scientific output that contributes to industrial advancement and community development, while affirming the college’s central academic role in preparing highly skilled researchers in the field of petrochemicals.

Hult Prize 2025 Social Venture Competition Concluded

In collaboration with the Innovators Support Fund of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, Pharos University in Alexandria (PUA) hosted the final rounds and awards ceremony for the Hult Prize 2025 Egypt Social Venture Summit, in partnership with Hult Prize Pharos.

The internal competition featured 18 teams from various faculties at PUA, securing the university eighth place among Egyptian universities in terms of participation. Teams competed for the top three spots to qualify for the regional rounds, where they were evaluated by a distinguished jury:

• Prof. Dr. Amr El-Masry, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research, Matrouh University (Chairman)
• Dr. Nabil Rashwan, Executive Director of the Innovators and Talents Center, PUA (Member)
• Prof. Dr. Wael Mostafa, Faculty of Financial and Administrative Science, PUA (Member)
• Prof. Dr. Enas Masoud, Faculty of Pharmacy, PUA (Member)
• Prof. Dr. Alaa Khalil, Executive Director of the Entrepreneurship Club, PUA (Member)
• Dr. Sara Tarek, Lecturer, Faculty of Mass Communication, PUA (Member)
• Dr. Marwa Emara, CEO of Technospace, Alexandria (Member)

After a highly competitive final round featuring 15 teams, the 1^st prize went to Mumguard Team, while the Second Prize went to Motion X Team, and the third prize to Journey Team.

During the closing ceremony, the jury honored all participating teams for their innovation and dedication in developing entrepreneurial solutions. The winning teams will advance to the regional qualifiers among Egyptian universities in May 2025, aiming for a spot in the international competition in September 2025.

This achievement highlights PUA’s commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and supporting students in their journey toward global impact.

PUA Participates in Launching the National Policy for Sustainable Innovation

Pharos University in Alexandria (PUA) took part in the launch ceremony of the National Policy for Sustainable Innovation and the competitive call for the presidential initiative “Alliance and Development,” held in Cairo.
During the event, H. E. Prof. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, emphasized the importance of fostering alliances to drive innovation and entrepreneurship through strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors. He also highlighted the role of scientific research as a cornerstone of the Ministry’s national strategy, aligning with the Egyptian government’s 2024-2026 work plan and the broader objectives of Egypt’s Vision 2030. The ceremony also featured dialogue sessions exploring the mechanisms for implementing and activating the initiative.
Reaffirming its commitment to advancing scientific research and innovation, PUA, through its Postgraduate Studies and Research Sector, has introduced new strategies aimed at internationalizing research and enhancing its societal impact. These strategies focus on scientific research and international publishing, promoting an integrated approach that incorporates entrepreneurship into research and innovation, in alignment with Egypt’s Vision 2030.
PUA seeks to bridge research and industry by identifying high-value research opportunities, transforming them into emerging projects with potential industrial collaborations, and channeling them into investment and entrepreneurship. Additionally, PUA is committed to integrating entrepreneurship and sustainability in scientific research to expand applicable and market-driven innovations. This includes developing eco-friendly smart medicines, waste reuse technologies, and green technology solutions, ensuring that research outcomes meet environmental, academic, and social standards.
By merging entrepreneurship with sustainability in scientific research, PUA contributes to a holistic development model—advancing research, economy, and societal well-being, while reinforcing the role of scientific research as a key driver of sustainable development.

 Professional Workshops for Postgraduate Students

As part of its commitment to building a robust research infrastructure and promoting international publishing, Pharos University in Alexandria (PUA) organized a series of training workshops for faculty members and postgraduate students within the professional training program (UIP). These workshops aimed to equip participants with advanced skills in international publishing and professional scientific research, aligning with the university’s focus on sustainable innovation and global advancements in scientific research.

For the first time this semester (Spring 2025), PUA offered specialized training courses for postgraduate students. Led by Prof. Dr. Yousra El-Naggar, Director of the International Research and Publishing Department, the workshops focused on international publishing skills and the fundamentals of professional scientific research. Students learned how to prepare research papers in line with international standards, select appropriate scientific journals, and improve the quality of their work to increase publication opportunities.

The workshops featured interactive group activities, during which students demonstrated high levels of engagement, reflecting the practical value of the training. The second cycle of the training series for postgraduate students is scheduled to take place in the next week of February.  Further, an additional group of students will be trained in April 2025, ensuring that as many postgraduate students as possible can benefit from these programs.

These workshops are part of the collaborative efforts between the Department of Research and International Publishing and the Department of Postgraduate Studies, both under PUA’s Postgraduate Studies and Research Sector. They aim to strengthen PUA’s position as a leading research institution and support its growing number of graduate students, who are drawn to PUA’s high-quality graduate programs.

 Electronic Resources at Bibliotheca Alexandrina and How to Search Them

PUA’s Postgraduate Studies Department, in cooperation with the Library Sector at Bibliotheca Alexandrina, organized a lecture entitled “Electronic Resources at Bibliotheca Alexandrina and How to Search Them”. The lecture was delivered by Dr. Shahinaz Ibrahim Abdel Aziz, Head of the Electronic Resources Unit at Bibliotheca Alexandrina’s Libraries Sector.

The event began with a welcome speech by Prof. Dr. Mohamed Gaber Abu Ali, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research, who emphasized PUA’s commitment to strengthening collaboration with the Bibliotheca to support researchers and graduate students. He also highlighted the importance of developing a robust research infrastructure for faculty members and assistants, contributing to advancements in scientific research and enhancing the university’s international ranking.

The lecture was attended by a diverse audience, including faculty members, teaching assistants, postgraduate students, and undergraduate students from various PUA faculties. Key topics covered during the lecture included an introduction to the electronic collections available at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and guidance on accessing these holdings. It also included A detailed overview of databases such as Academic Search Complete, Taylor & Francis, Al Manhal, and the Elsevier databases with remote access options, and provided information on a wide range of open-access databases.

The session was marked by active participation from attendees, with numerous questions and interventions enriching the discussion. At the conclusion of the event, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Gaber awarded Dr. Shahinaz Ibrahim Abdel Aziz a certificate of appreciation. Commemorative photos were taken to celebrate the occasion.

This lecture reflects PUA’s dedication to equipping its academic community with the tools and resources necessary for effective research and academic excellence.

On Monday, July 15, 2024, Pharos University in Alexandria (PUA) will host the Startup Olympics Finals in collaboration with the Innovators Support Fund of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research. This event will feature competitions in both student and researcher tracks, showcasing talent from PUA, the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), and the Egyptian-Japanese University in Borg El Arab (E-Just).

Startup Olympics Finals

The finals will take place in the Faculty of Engineering building from 9 AM to 12 PM, with PUA’s vice presidents, deans, faculty members, administrators, and students in attendance. The closing ceremony and awards announcement will be held between 1:30 PM and 2:00 PM. PUA aims also to qualify the winning teams for subsequent regional, local, and international competitions.

This year’s Startup Olympics featured 21 teams, each presenting innovative ideas throughout the competition. The qualifiers have resulted in 8 teams from the student track and 2 teams from the researcher track reaching the final stage, along with 8 guest teams. PUA extends its best wishes to all competing teams for success in their endeavors.

Startup Olympics

Pharos University in Alexandria (PUA) has started the training camp for the Startup Olympics, which will last for two weeks. Within this framework, PUA prepared a training program for its qualified competing teams, which number 14 teams from various faculties, in addition to 9 teams from the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport (AASTMT), and one team from the Egyptian-Japanese University (E-Just).

The final stage of this competition will be held on July 15, 2024, where all these teams will compete in the field of innovation and entrepreneurship to choose the top three places at the level of Alexandria universities. This event takes place under the auspices of the Innovators Support Fund of the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research.

In addition, a comprehensive training program was developed in cooperation with Technospace, a leading innovation company, and an elite group of experts in the field of entrepreneurship. It is worth noting that Dr. Nabil Rashwan, PUA’s coordinator for the Innovators Support Fund and the executive director of PUA’s Innovators Support Center, personally supervises these events.

Startup Olympics

Pharos University in Alexandria (PUA) has inaugurated the Startup Olympiad, a prominent innovation competition supported by the Innovators Support Fund of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research. The opening ceremony featured speeches from PUA’s Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research, PUA’s Vice President for the Innovators Support Center, and the Executive Director of PUA’s Innovators Support Center, each extending a warm welcome on this special occasion.

The event was attended by numerous coordinators from the Innovators Support Center, showcasing the innovations and startup projects developed through PUA’s innovation support programs. The competition included 15 teams, with three in the researchers’ track and twelve in the student teams track. The Startup Olympiad aims to foster intellectual competition and encourage innovation and entrepreneurship among university students, providing a platform for talented young individuals to present their innovative projects and ideas to a specialized jury.

The Vice President expressed his delight at the students’ participation in the Startup Olympiad, emphasizing the importance of supporting innovation and entrepreneurship among young people and creating an environment conducive to developing their ideas and projects.

The ceremony concluded with a presentation of the competition’s timeline, with qualifiers scheduled for mid-July 2024, and a brief overview of the participating teams’ ideas. The event was marked by a collective hope for a successful start in fostering innovation and excellence at PUA, further enhancing its role in societal and economic development.

PUA Honored in the 1^st Arab University Ranking

A delegation from Pharos University in Alexandria (PUA) participated in the Honoring Ceremony for Arab Universities Listed on the First Arab Ranking of Universities 2023. PUA’s honoring certificate was received by Prof. Dr. Mohamed Gaber Abu Ali, Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research. In addition, Prof. Dr. Mohamed Ayman Ashour, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, has attended the ceremony and praised the universities’ key contributions in improving the outcomes of higher education. He also stressed that the Arab ranking of universities serves as a tool to enable universities to measure their performance, identify areas of improvement, and pave a path towards greater success and influence.

This ceremony, however, was held on the sidelines of the Higher Education and International Training Forum “Edu-Gate”, in which only 28 Egyptian universities were honored, along with the Arab universities that met the standards of the Arab classification of universities, including PUA. On the other hand, Dr. Amr Ezzat Salama, Secretary General of the Association of Arab Universities, said that this classification aims to enhance the quality of education and scientific research, and encourage global competition among Arab universities.

The ceremony was also attended by Ambassador Dr. Haifa Abu Ghazaleh, Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States and Head of the Social Affairs Sector, and Dr. Abdel Majeed Ben Amara, Secretary General of the Federation of Arab Scientific Research Councils (FASRC). In addition to Dr. Mostafa Refaat, Secretary General of the Supreme Council of Universities, Dr. Abdel Wahab Ezzat, Secretary of the Private Universities Council, Dr. Maher Mesbah, Secretary of the Council of Private Universities, along with numerous university presidents, vice-presidents, cultural attachés, and public figures.

Honoring PUA in this event indicates the success of its ongoing efforts to develop higher education and contribute to achieving the goals of the fourth generation of universities. It also underscores its keenness to provide its students with the best possible educational experiences, and to support them with the knowledge and skills needed to succeed. It also proves PUA’s commitment to providing high-quality education that complies with international standards, and contributes to the development of Arab societies.

Nanotechnology Seminar

PUA’s Postgraduate Studies and Research Department held a scientific seminar on interdisciplinary nanotechnology research. Numerous PUA senior and junior researchers, whether students, graduates or field experts totaling 75 researchers, eagerly participated in the event. During the seminar, an overview on the field was given through general and specialized presentations. In addition, the gathering of PUA’s junior and senior researchers has served as a hub where they could enhance knowledge, exchange experiences, and increase scientific cooperation in this field.

EUMMAS A2S Conference on Global Social and Technological Development and Sustainability, Bucharest 2024, Romania

We are pleased to announce that our institution, as a member of the EUMMAS Academic Consortium, is organizing the EUMMAS A2S Conference on Global Social and Technological Development and Sustainability in Bucharest, 22-24 May 2024. The event is going to be organized as an Academe2Society (A2S) EUMMAS Concept Conference formulating a unique and innovative approach to cooperation between Academia and Society. EUMMAS Bucharest 2024 Conference theme is “Navigating the New Frontier: Responsible Innovation, Circular Economy, and Digitalization of Business and Public Administration Sectors in the Era of AI and Big Data”.

 Host institutions

• Valahia University from Targoviste
• Petroleum-Gas University of Ploiești
• Romanian Academy
• RebResNet Association
• Prahova Chamber of Commerce

Conference organizer – EUMMAS Academic Consortium Institutions

Conference webpage: https://conference.eummas.net/bucharest2024

Nanotechnology and its Applications

Pharos University in Alexandria is holding a seminar on “Nanotechnology and its Applications.” The seminar will take place on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 from 10:30 am to 3:30 pm. It aims to gather PUA’s academics and experts in nanotechnology and give them an overview of this field through general and specialized presentations.
In addition, it will serve as a hub where PUA’s junior and senior researchers can meet to enhance knowledge, exchange experiences, and increase scientific cooperation in this field.

PUA’s Scholars among World’s Most Cited Scientists

In October 2023, Stanford University released the sixth edition of the list of the top 2% of the world’s most cited scientists in their fields of specialization. This list contained 816 Egyptian scientists from various universities and research centers. Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Mohi El-Din, PUA’s President, said that this list included two of PUA’s staff members. He also expressed his appreciation and pride of this achievement, and took this opportunity to emphasize PUA’s keenness on supporting researchers to achieve scientific excellence.

In addition, Prof. Dr. Mohammad Gaber Abo Ali, PUA’s Vice President for Postgraduate Studies and Research, said that the appearance of two PUA scientists in this international report reflects the extent of the staff members’ interest in promoting scientific research, and working to increase the number of research published in internationally recognized scientific journals. In return, this would have a positive outcome on PUA’s international classification.

Furthermore, PUA’s family congratulates its two scientists whose names were included in the list, namely:

–           Prof. Dr. Yosra Shaaban Rabie Al-Najjar, Faculty of Pharmacy

–           Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Farag Zarouh, Director of the Research Projects Center

The Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), in cooperation with the Egyptian Knowledge Bank and Nature Research Academies that affiliates to SpringerNature Publishing, announces the opening of registration for training workshops for faculty members and their assistants in Egypt to help Egyptian researchers write research project proposals, publish their research results in distinguished scientific journals, and enhance their research skills.

Higher Education and Scientific Research: The Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) announces the opening of applications for the first call for the “Research Environments Grants”

• Support for accepted projects with funding of up to £50,000 per project

The Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), in collaboration with the British Council, has announced the opening of applications for the first call for the ” Research Environments Grants”, as part of the ‘International Cooperation Grants’ program, and accepted projects will continue to be supported for no more than a year, with funding of up to £50,000 per project.

The grant aims to support research and academic environments through international cooperation, knowledge exchange, and enhancing cooperation between Egyptian and British research teams in priority research projects of common interest such as production, storage and management of renewable energy, health, water resources management and treatment, agriculture, food security, environmental protection, and ecosystem sustainability.

The deadline for receiving research proposals is scheduled to be on October 6, 2023 at ten o’clock in the evening.

To view all the detailed rules and conditions of the call on the Authority’s website:

https://stdf.eg/web/grants/open

Or through the official Facebook page of the Authority: http://www.facebook.com/stdf.eg

General Directorate of the Media Office and Spokesperson of the Ministry

STDF – Science, Technology & Innovation Funding Authority

Prof. Dr. Mahmoud Abdel Aty, President of the Conference “Arab Impact Factor in its eighth session, which will be held from August 29-31, 2023 in Amman – Jordan”, and Head of the Arab Impact Factor, invites all colleagues to participate in the conference via the Zoom application link.

With sincere thanks and appreciation to the conference family and our wishes for a successful conference, God willing.

• Conference Agenda

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86376380163?pwd=MXgrK2dLcU9WUG9uSElESExQUng3Zz09

Within the framework of Egyptian-American cooperation, the Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF) announces the opening of applications for the “Technology Transfer” program with the aim of training on technology transfer mechanisms and strategies and how to apply them in practice, implemented by the Association of University Technology Managers (AUTM).

It is a leading American organization in this field, through the best international experts through a joint program between the Authority and the National Academy of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine in the United States

The Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), in cooperation with the Japan Association for the Promotion of Science (JSPS), announces the opening of applications for scientific cooperation programs between Egypt and Japan as follows:

The Science, Technology and Innovation Funding Authority (STDF), in cooperation with the Egyptian Knowledge Bank and Nature’s Nature Research Academies, announces the opening of registration for training workshops for faculty members and their assistants in Egypt to help Egyptian researchers write research project proposals, publish their research results in distinguished scientific journals, and enhance their research skills.

The program is divided into three main interactive workshops: