Theme: Alloy

From the watches on our wrists or the coins that we deal to the airplanes that we board, alloys are the underlying constituents of most everyday objects. An alloy is a compound mixture or union of distinct parties that exchange characteristics to optimize a desired outcome. For example, iron is strong as a stand-alone metal, yet it can be quite brittle and will easily rust. However, when carbon is added to iron, steel is formed with much harder rustproof properties, enabling its use in various fields such as architecture and construction work.

Much like the aforementioned metal mixtures, communities are comprised of different alloys aiming to not only co-exist but also have a sense of mutuality. Such mutuality can be achieved in two manners. In the "Salad Bowl" theory, people keep their own basic beliefs and ways of life while adapting to the general characteristics of the culture. On the other hand, in the "Melting Pot" theory, individuals conform to the mainstream culture.

Both the "Salad Bowl" and "Melting Pot" theories could be considered as cultural alloys. Over the years, sociologists have been trying to determine which is the better approach.

Contrary to popular belief, alloys are not necessarily manufactured; some alloys occur naturally. Electrum is a natural alloy that consists of gold and silver. The individual elements are exposed to circumstances, triggering the formation of an alloy. Such can also occur on a personal level, where people face circumstances that dictate an alloy of morals, principles, and emotions. When you travel, you create your own alloy of memories. When you buy a new book you've wanted to read for a long time, you are about to create an alloy of knowledge.

Whenever alloys are made, impurities are undesirable and a lot of effort is exerted to keep them at a minimum.
In the figurative sense, how are we dealing with the alloys that exist within us?

"You who won’t allow one percent of impurity into an alloy of metal—what have you allowed into your moral code?”

AUC Bassily Hall
74 التسعين الجنوبي،
Cairo, Al Qāhirah, 11835
Egypt

Caroline Mitry

Manager of Pedagogy and Internal Assessment at the Center for Learning and Teaching in the American University in Cairo

Caroline Mitry has been working in the field of Pedagogy and assessment for the past eight years. As a member of the Center for Learning and Teaching in the American University in Cairo, Ms. Mitry participates in developing and facilitating various faculty development workshops that aim at enhancing the teaching and learning processes in higher education. She also contributes to CLT’s “New Chalk Talk” newsletter via publishing articles specifically related to Classroom Action Research. She got her BA in Business Administration and Marketing from AUC in 2003 and worked as a Teaching Assistant for Marketing Research, Global Marketing and Scientific Thinking courses for a few years at AUC. Being interested in diversified learning, she decided to pursue an MA degree in Journalism and Mass Communication (JRMC) and earned it also from AUC in 2017. She will be talking about the "Mental illness representation in Egyptian movies."

Nada El Shanawany

Environmental Management Specialist at Environment and Development Group

Graduated from AUC in 2011 with a major in biology and a minor in chemistry and business administration. After graduation, she was a research intern at HEPCA in Hurghada, Egypt. She obtained her Masters degree in marine biodiversity and conservation from the university of Bremen ,Germany. In 2015, she worked as a teaching assistant at the American University in Cairo. Currently she is an environmental management specialist at Environment and Development Group.

Omar Sabaa

Founder of Antakh and ScubaDive Egypt

Omar Sabaa is an entrepreneur, philanthropist and scuba diver. He is the founder of two startups Antakh and ScubaDive Egypt. He is also the co-founder of South Red Sea Development Project a sustainable development initiative dedicated to bettering the lives of rural communities in the south of the Red Sea.

Rasha Hanafi

Associate Professor of Pharmaceutical and Biomedical Analysis at the Faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology of the German University in Cairo

Asc. Prof. Dr. Rasha Hanafi is associate professor of pharmaceutical and Biomedical analysis at the faculty of Pharmacy and Biotechnology of the German University in Cairo.She obtained her bachelor and masters degrees from the faculty of Pharmacy of Cairo University and was the first to obtain a PhD degree from the German University in Cairo in pharmaceutical sciences in 2009. She is currently teaching instrumental analysis and analytical chemistry for pharmacy students and is responsible of the central research laboratory of the faculty. She has more than 20 publications in international journals and has represented the faculty in more than 20 national an international conferences. She has more than 15 masters and PhD students from the GUC and other universities. She is also a Scientific Consultant for the Egyptian pharmaceutical industry and a Free Lance Trainer in the field of analytical Method development.

Rasha Maaty

Executive Director of Fard Foundation

Rasha Maaty was born to an Egyptian father and Syrian mother in Kuwait where she was raised until she finished her high school. Today, Rasha works as the Executive Director of Fard Foundation and she works with Syrian refugees and Egyptians in three main programs; education, livelihood and community services.

Reem Hashem

Drama Therapist

Reem is a certified drama therapist with a master degree in the Creative Arts Therapies department at Concordia University in Montreal, Canada. Drama Therapy is the intentional use of theatrical techniques such as role play, story telling, embodiment for therapeutic purposes.She currently offers individual and group drama therapy sessions for children at The Wellness Hub, Solace Wellbeing, and Almashfa psychiatric hospital. She also offers drama therapy informed workshops at Place Des Arts.

Salsabil Amin

Product Designer

Salsabeel Amin, Originally from Cairo, Egypt, but have recently moved to London, UK to complete my Masters of Design Degree at Kingston University. Her unstoppable passion for design in whatever form it comes in: Architecture, Interior Design, Photography, Product Design, Making... She enjoys exposing herself and working across different design fields. Her background in Architecture has planted her in a strong urge to continuously hunt for inspiration in multi–disciplinary design areas; and use it to manage my way into creating my own discipline. Ideally, she seeks to blend and overlap different design disciplines to create unconventional innovative outcomes. She is particularly interested in designs that are driven by the context and reflect or serve the everyday lives, personally or socially.

Sara Abdel-Aziz

Lecturer of obstetric and gynecology

Dr Sara Abdelaziz Ebada is a lecturer of obstetric and gynecology department mansoura faculty of medicine. She obtained her bachelor degree from Mansoura university class 2004 grade excellent with honor then obtained master degree in obstetric and gynecology from mansoura faculty of medicine.She worked as a resident of obstetric and gynecology in mansoura university hospitals from 2006-2009 then as an assistant lecturer 2010-2016.She honored a joint supervision mission in USA Jan 2014- Jan2016 at Augusta university Georgia USA.She was the first OBGYN in Egypt to work on cord blood stem cells and interested in cord blood banking and she is now one of the board members of the first public cord blood bank in Egypt and middle east funded by the STDF.She is currently teaching undergraduates and postgraduates students in Mansoura faculty of medicine conventional and manchester program.

Yaser Ayoub

Sports Journalist

Dr. Yasser Ayoub received his Medical degree in 1986 from Al Zakazik University and went on to pursue a career in journalism and media specially sports journalism. The current official media representative in Al Ahly SC, was the official director of the newspaper "7 ayam" and worked at very prestigious media outlets in Egypt such as : Al Ahly media channel, Al Ahram sporting magazine, Al Masry Al youm, Al youm el sabe' and many more. In terms of sports he has been an advocate to all kinds of athletes in all sports utilizing his media outlets and his official titles.

Yehia Abugabal

Clinical Onclogist

Dr. Yehia Abugabal has practiced clinical Oncology at Ain Shams University's Faculty of Medicine for 6 years. During this time, Abugabal has also coordinated the yearly Breast Gynecological International Cancer Conference held in Egypt. In 2012, he Co-founded the Breast Gynecological International Cancer Society. The following year, he began his residency at the Nasser Cancer Institute Center (NICC). In 2014, he founded the Cairo-based International Cancer Research Center (ICRC), working to raise cancer awareness, prolonging patients’ survival and restrict its spread across the Middle East. In 2016, Dr. Abugabal was selected by Forbes Magazine, figuring in its list of “30 Under 30“ achievers in the Healthcare sector.

Youssef Farag

Co-CEO of Qubix

Graduated from AUC in 2014 with a major in finance and a minor in economics and sociology. After graduation I worked in the field of accounting and auditing for a year. In January 2016 I founded Qubix and have been working there full time ever since as Co-CEO, responsible for sales, operational management, financing and accounting. I have participated as a speaker in a social entrepreneurship panel organized by the British council as well as a conference on Urban Development solutions organized by N-Gage consultancy group.