Announcements

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.

SAVE the DATE! NAMES 6th Biennial Conference and General Assembly Meeting (GAM), NAMES 2018, will take place 24-26 October 2018, back at the Library of Alexandria, Egypt, where it will be hosted by Founding Member, the Planetarium Science Center (PSC), in celebration of the 10th Anniversary of NAMES 1st conference and GAM, NAMES 2008, which was also organized at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, home of NAMES Secretariat Office.

The 3rd edition of the Euro-Mediterranean and Middle East Summer School for Science Communication, EMME 2017, was hosted by Citta della Scienza in Naples, Italy, 10 15 September 2017. It was a HUGE SUCCESS! EMME 2017 attracted 30 participants from 11 countries; Cyprus (1), Egypt (2), Italy (5), Iran (4), Jordan (4),KSA (1), Kuwait (4), Libya (4), Palestine (2), Portugal (2), and Tunisia (1). As usual, the rich program, aiming to foster future leaders of science centers and museums, featured theoretical talks, followed by practical case studies and workshops, tackling the diverse aspects of managing science centers and museums. Daily topics covered Planning for Growth—Philosophy, Strategy, and Budgets; the People in Your Ecosystem—HR and Public Programs; Channeling Science Centers through Marketing, Communication, and Fundraising; Your Building and Exhibits—Management and Maintenance; Explainers, Volunteers, and Educational Programs.

NAMES is pleased to announce the launch of the Mijbil Almutawa Award Program (MAAP). The Award is granted on annual basis and covers the expenses of one individual to attend either NAMES Biennial Conference or the EMME Summer School, depending on the year.

On 23 May 2017, the Children’s Museum Jordan hosted the 12th Meeting of NAMES Board of Directors (BoD) upon the request of NAMES newly elected Executive Director, Ms. Maissa Azab. Ms. Azab had proposed the re-initiation of standalone annual BoD Meetings to discuss the progress and development of the network in full depth. During the meeting, the Executive Director advocated for the necessity of launching, coordinating, and maintaining collaborative projects and initiatives among members, to be able to maintain and acquire memberships.

NAMES Biennial Conferences are a most valuable opportunity for members of the budding science communication community within the North Africa and Middle East region to come together to share experiences, challenges, and solutions; to network and mingle with members of the greater and more diversified global science communication community with its decades-worth of collective experience and knowledge.

We are delighted to announce the election of Mr. Abdulaziz AlHegelan, Executive Director of Mishkat Interactive Center, Saudi Arabia, to become Member of NAMES Board of Directors.

Having served as NAMES Secretary since the Network’s inception in January 2006, Ms. Maissa Azab has been named NAMES Executive Director by NAMES Board of Directors effective 1 March 2017.

On the occasion of our 10 Years Anniversary, which was celebrated during the NAMES 5th Biennial Conference (NAMES 2016) in Amman, Jordan, NAMES produced and shared a comprehensive 10 Years Anniversary Report [2006-2016], to document and promote its achievements throughout its first decade of existence, celebrate all the milestones, and lay the groundwork for the next phase. We invite you to read the report, which is available in both English and Arabic.

Ten years have passed since the establishment of NAMES, during which great strides have been taken towards reinforcing the Network’s position internationally, expanding its reach across the region, and establishing valuable collaborations.