Beni Suef University Establishes Nanotechnology Faculty

Source: Egypt Independent (28 Jan 2013)

Author(s): Rana Khaled

The first specialized university in Egypt for nanotechnology and biotechnology has been established by a group of professors from Beni Suef University. The professors hope the new department, called the Faculty of Post-Graduate Studies for Advanced Sciences, will improve the quality of scientific research while also finding solutions to environmental and industrial problems from which Egypt suffers. Mohamed Hamdy Khedr, dean of the faculty, said, “This faculty is the first of its kind not only in Egypt, but also in Africa and in the whole Arab world. In fact, it will enable ambitious researchers to study different branches of advanced sciences that traditional faculties don’t pay much attention to.” Ahmed Farghaly, a nanotechnology professor, said nanotechnology is the magic wand that could change the environmental and industrial face of Egypt. “It is very important to provide students with courses about nanometric materials and their modern applications in the fields of alternative energy and developed industries,” he said. “Also, nanotechnology can help reduce the costs of many industries, as it decreases the amounts of catalysts needed to complete chemical reactions.” Khedr said students would be asked to work on a prototype that could solve one of the problems Egypt faces to get their master’s or Ph.D., instead of just submitting a research paper.

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