During the Opening Ceremony of the EMME 2017 Summer School, the first winner of the Mijbil Almutawa Award, Mr. 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 funded by:
- Al Nayzak Organization for Supportive Education and Scientific Innovation, Palestine
- The Children's Museum Jordan
- Mishkat Interactive Center for Atomic & Renewable Energy, KSA
- The Planetarium Science Center, Egypt
The Winner’s participation fees were covered by a Universciences Partenaires grant.
About 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.
As a 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.
*The information corresponds to the time of the award.