American University in Cairo
New Cairo Campus
Mansour Group Lecture Hall
Sun 16, 1-2pm: "Demystifying Positive Psychology" talk explores what positive psychology is, its main intent, who are its target populations, how it differs from mainstream psychology, and contexts in which it is currently used. Join Louise Lambert, director of happiness programming and policy design at HappinessMatters.org in this intriguing talk.
Mon 17, 1-2pm: "Looking for the Positive: The Courageous Choice" you might be studying health, economics or even education itself, but positive psychology might be of greater relevance than you think. Looking for exceptions to problems, rather than investigating problems themselves might be the key to broadening research options and life options alike. In this talk Lambert, introduces the field of positive psychology, challenging common misconceptions and highlighting its relevance across a few professional domains. With so many reasons to be unhappy these days, looking for the good, adopting optimism and using courage in our work as much as personal lives might be the way forward.
Middle East Studies Programme Meeting Room
Mon 17, 1-2pm: "Syria: Revolution, Justice and Reconstruction"
two months after the toppling of Bashar El-Assad, Syria remains at a critical juncture. Ahmed El Shar’ has been appointed President, but where does the country go from here? Challenges abound; are developments in Syria cause for celebration or concern?
Join a talk by Hani Sayed, Associate Professor in the Law Department, as he unpacks the challenges and possibilities ahead.
Italian Cultural Institute
3 El-Sheikh El Marsafy St, Zamalek, Tel 02 2735 5423/2735 8791
Tues 18, 1pm: "Archaeological Missions and New Regional Museums : Contributions to Cultural Heritage and Community Development" conference is curated by Prof. Ali Abdel Halim, Director of the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, and Prof. Cristina Mondin, Director of the Archaeological Mission at Kom Wasit and Co-Director of the Archaeological Mission at Rosetta.
(The lecture is in English and available in both presence and online,
Event is open for public within the limits of possible places
Zoom link: https://us06web.zoom.us/j/86161179372
Picasso East
Villa No 39 Al Narges 35th settlement, 90's St, in front of Lake View Compound, New Cairo, Tel 0122 0000035
Sat 15, 5pm: Join an inspiring conversation with renowned artist Essmat Dawestashy whose vibrant and thought-provoking artwork has left a lasting mark on the Egyptian contemporary art scene. Known for his bold symbolism and deep cultural narratives, Dawestashy's art bridges history, identity, and imagination. Mohamed Baghdady will lead an engaging discussion with Dawestashy, delving into his creative process, inspirations, and artistic journey.
Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology Cairo (PCMA)
Tues 18, 6pm: "Calligraphers and Patrons in Mamluk Cairo ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Ṣāyigh and the Arts of the Book" is the 10th session of the seminar series 'Exploring Egypt: Histories and Historiographies'. It is a joint collaboration between the Ifao (Institute français d’archéologie orientale), the DAIK (German Archaeological Institute in Cairo), joined in 2025 by the CAI (Italian Archaeological Centre), PCMA (Polish Centre of Mediterranean Archaeology Cairo), and the NVIC (Netherlands-Flemish Institute in Cairo). This session features Noha Abou-Khatwa, assistant professor of Islamic art and architecture at the AUC's Department of Arab and Islamic Civilizations. It will tackle the age of the Mamluk Sultans of Egypt and Syria as known for the flowering of the arts of building and the arts of the book. One of the most calligraphers of the period was the master ʿAbd al-Raḥmān ibn al-Ṣāyigh (770/1368 - 845/1441). This calligrapher, however, did not only practice his art but also composed a treatise on calligraphy and laid the foundation of a calligraphic school. It is thus the aim of this paper to present this master and his works in a way to enable the reconstruction of his tradition of learning. (The lecture is in English and is open to the public in the limit of available places).
Tahrir Cultural Centre (TCC)
AUC’s Tahrir Campus, Al-Sheikh Rihan St, off Tahrir Square, Tel 02 2615 2694/01280009077
Oriental Hall
Sat 15, 6-8pm: The Arab Cultural Season presents "While Heritage
Is Disappearing: The Importance of Digitizing Cultural Production"
symposium that will discuss the importance of solidarity to implement heritage digitization projects in a time full of ongoing risks and threats to material heritage, and at the same time characterized by modern technological development that allows the use of digital technologies for the purpose of recording and documenting buildings, museum pieces, in addition, manuscripts. In addition to creating the necessary databases to preserve and disseminate information. To discuss these issues, all those interested in the cultural and civilizational heritage and its preservation are invited to attend this important symposium featuring a group of archaeologists and heritage scholars from Egypt, the Arab and Islamic region.
The symposium introduces Yasmine El-Shazly, Deputy Director of the American Research Center for Scientific Research and Programmes,
Mohamed Ismail, Lecturer of Archaeological and Heritage Information Systems at Ain Shams University, and Mohamed Abdel-Salam, professor of Archaeology and Museum Sciences at Ain Shams University.
The symposium is moderated by Yasser El-Shaib, Professor of
Engineering at the AUC and Deputy Director of the Center for
Archaeological and Environmental Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering, Cairo University.
Ewart Memorial Hall
Sun 16, 7-8pm: Join this insightful lecture as Professor Aidan Dodson explores his new 2025 release Thutmose III and Hatshepsut, Pharaohs of Egypt: Their Lives and Afterlives. Discover the legacies of two of ancient Egypt’s most fascinating and influential rulers, and explore their rediscovery in modern scholarship. Dodson is an honorary Professor of Egyptology and Senior Associate Teacher in the Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, School of Arts, University of Bristol. With an illustrious career and extensive publications, he is a leading authority on ancient Egyptian history and archaeology. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A session with Dodson, allowing the audience to ask the author questions directly. There will be a book signing session, where you can have your copy personalized. The event will also be streamed live on the AUC Press Facebook page (Attendance is free and open to the public with no pre-registration required).
* A version of this article appears in print in the 13 February, 2025 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly
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