During the Opening of EMME 2017, the first winner of the Mijbil Award, Mohamed Elsonbaty Ramadan—Science Communication Development Officer, the American University in Cairo, Egypt—whose award was a full grant to participate in the Summer School, was presented to the attendees and awarded a certificate and a trophy commemorating his win.
The Mijbil Almutawa Award 2017 was founded by:
- Al Nayzak Organization for Supportive Education and Scientific Innovation
- The Children's Museum Jordan
- Mishkat Interactive Center for Atomic & Renewable Energy
- BA Planetarium Science Center
The Winner’s participation fees were covered by a Universciences Partenaires grant.
The Winner of the Mijbil Almutawa Award 2017
Mohamed has a Bachelor degree of Pharmaceutical Sciences; his first experience with science communication was participating in the first FameLab Egypt science communication competition in 2010.
As a Science Communication Specialist at the American University in Cairo, throughout 18 months, he delivered 300 science shows to promote science among 6000 school students in different cities in Egypt. He, then, supported his practical experience with academic knowledge, obtaining a Master degree in Science Communication and Public Engagement from the University of Edinburgh, becoming the first Egyptian to have an academic degree in science communication.
Currently Science Communication Development Officer at the American University in Cairo, his responsibilities involve all aspects of science communication; he is also responsible for designing and delivering training sessions to different stakeholders in science communication. Moreover, he is a Freelance Science Journalist, who published more than 320 pieces in many reputable outlets.
He is currently working on developing the first academic module in science communication in Egypt and the Arab countries, as well as establishing the first national network for science communicators and science journalists in cooperation with the Egyptian government. He also plans to pursue a PhD in Science communication, to be able to combine both professional experience in communicating science and teaching science communication at University level.
About the Mijbil Almutawa Award Program
A Pioneer of Science Communication in the NAMES region, Mijbil Almutawa was an integral part in the conception of The Scientific Center of Kuwait (TSCK) since its inception in 1994, through its opening as the first Science Center in the region in 2000, and until his passing in July 2016.
He was a Founding Member of the North Africa and the Middle East Science centers network (NAMES) in 2006, and presided over its Board of Directors from 2010 to 2014. During his presidency, NAMES was recognized as the co-host of the 6th Science Centers World Congress in South Africa in 2011. He continued to represent NAMES on the Science Centers World Summit International Program Committee until his passing, contributing immensely to the science center community worldwide. Thanks to his ardent efforts, together with our partners from Ecsite, in 2012, the Euro-Mediterranean and Middle East Summer School for Science Communication (EMME) was launched into action.
Not only did he constantly work towards the formation and development of dynamic educational environments to enrich scientific awareness in children and young adults, he was renowned for supporting, inspiring, and empowering youth and young leaders. He had vision, conviction in what he did, and faith in the people with whom he worked; his leadership nurtured the young field of science communication in the NAMES region from infancy to maturity. We are extremely fortunate to have had him amongst us and it is up to us now to follow in his footsteps and carry on from where he left off.
In honor of Mr. Almutawa’s tremendous legacy, not only as one of the founders of science communication in the NAMES region, but more importantly his advocacy of youth empowerment and young leadership, NAMES launched the Mijbil Almutawa Award Program (MAAP), to encourage and support young science communication professionals in the NAMES region.
For more details, click here.