Dr. Serageldin receives an Honorary Doctorate from Beirut Arab University
Ismail Serageldin
Thursday June 25, 2009
Abstract:
Beirut Arab University Grants Serageldin Honorary Doctoral Degree
Beirut, 25 June 2009 -- Beirut Arab University (BAU) awarded Serageldin an honorary doctoral degree, honoris causa, in Arts, at the commencement ceremony held at the Debbieh campus on Thursday, 25 June 2009.
In a highly motivating acceptance “speech”, entitled “ Our Arab Culture and the Culture of Knowledge”, Serageldin stressed that, in order for the Arab world to take part in shaping present-day civilization, it is vitally important that it joins the rapid race of scientific progress; and he went on to highlight the crucial role of Arab youth in today’s global knowledge revolution. He pointed out that it was the Arab and Muslim scholars, of more than a thousand years ago, who forged the frontiers of science and knowledge, by questioning the inherited truths of the time, and establishing the principles of the modern scientific method which is based on empirical and measurable evidence; and, moreover, did so in an atmosphere of openness and tolerance.
This is the second honorary degree granted by the BAU; the first one was granted to late Prime-minister of Lebanon, Rafiq El-Hariry in 1994. It is worth mentioning that Serageldin holds 22 honorary doctoral degrees, the last one was granted to him by Université Laval in Quebec, Canada, in August 2008
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Biography:
Ismail Serageldin, Director, Library of Alexandria, also chairs the Boards of Directors for each of the BA's affiliated research institutes and museums. He serves as Chair and Member of a number of advisory committees for academic, research, scientific and international institutions and civil society efforts which includes the Institut d'Egypte (Egyptian Academy of Science), TWAS (Third World Academy of Sciences), the Indian National Academy of Agricultural Sciences and the European Academy of Sciences and Arts. He is former Chairman, Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR, 1994-2000), Founder and former Chairman, the Global Water Partnership (GWP, 1996-2000) and the Consultative Group to Assist the Poorest (CGAP), a microfinance program (1995-2000) and was Distinguished Professor at Wageningen University in the Netherlands. Serageldin has also served in a number of capacities at the World Bank, including as Vice President for Environmentally and Socially Sustainable Development (1992-1998), and for Special Programs (1998-2000). He has published over 50 books and monographs and over 200 papers on a variety of topics including biotechnology, rural development, sustainability, and the value of science to society. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering from Cairo University and Masters' degree and a PhD from Harvard University and has received 22 honorary doctorates.
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