NAMES 2018 is hosted by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (BA) Planetarium Science Center (PSC). The PSC is one of the founding members of NAMES network and the BA is the host of NAMES Secretariat Office.

Planetarium Science Center

The PSC aims to be a leading institution in informal science and technology communication in Egypt. It is dedicated to stimulate and cultivate awareness, interest, and understanding of science, through excellent and exciting educational programs and exhibits; it also aspires to be a regional resource and a national model for science education. It has, thus, been fostering an experienced team, each in his/her technical field, making best use of local resources. The PSC simplifies and communicates the principles of science to a wider public, with emphasis on school children and university students, through the following sections and activities

• The Planetarium, offering a diversity of fascinating scientific shows that are both entertaining and informative; the shows also cover a wide range of age groups.
• The History of Science Museum, covering the highlights of the historical aspect of science in Egypt during the Pharaonic and Hellenistic eras, as well as during the golden age of the Arab Islamic world.
• The ALEXploratorium, offering hands-on experiences dedicated to making science accessible and interesting to the public, through innovative and interactive activities that explain scientific facts and demonstrate their presence in everything we see, hear, or touch in our daily life.
• In addition to interactive exhibits and workshop areas, the ALEXploratorium also features a 12D Theater and a “Listen & Discover” Auditorium.
• Ongoing Programs, including the Science Clubs Initiative, School Year and Summer Programs, Intel-BASEF annual competition, among others;
• Annual Events, including the Science Festivity, Environment Day, Eratosthenes, Science Olympiad, among others;
• Outreach Activities.

Bibliotheca Alexandrina

The New Library of Alexandria is much more than a library; it is dedicated to recapture the spirit of openness and scholarship of the original Bibliotheca Alexandrina. Other than the Planetarium Science Center, the BA comprises:

• The Main Library and its affiliated libraries—the Francophone Library, the Depository Library, and the Maps Library;
• Six specialized libraries;
• Four museums;
• Thirteen academic research centers;
• A copy of the Internet Archive;
• The Culturama—a cultural panorama projected over nine screens. It is the first ever patented nine-projector interactive system;
• VISTA (The Virtual Immersive Science and Technology Applications system)—an interactive virtual reality environment that allows researchers to transform two-dimensional data sets into 3D simulations and step inside them;
• Fifteen permanent exhibitions;
• Permanent contemporary Egyptian art exhibitions;
• Four art galleries for temporary exhibitions;
• The Conference Center;

The new Bibliotheca Alexandrina also hosts a number of institutions, including NAMES Secretariat Office. The BA’s vast complex receives about 1.5 million visitors a year.