Research and Initiatives
Check out different research and activities taking place at AUC, reflecting AUC’s extensive work in the different areas of focus that are aligned with national and regional climate change and sustainability priorities. These key areas focus on water scarcity, urban development, green finance, energy transition and public health.
100 PhDs in Africa Awardee Shimaa Heikal (MSc '22) Pilots Data Project on Dementia in Egypt
Pioneering a research registry on novel biomarkers found in early stages of dementia within the Egyptian population, Shimaa Heikal (MSc '22), PhD candidate at AUC’s Institute of Global Health and Human Ecology (I-GHHE), is among the first 10 awardees for the 100 PhDs in Africa program.
Gender and Climate: The Importance of Intersectionality
As climate change continues to degrade the environment, disrupt people’s livelihoods and threaten social stability, it has become increasingly important to analyze its impacts and solutions through an intersectional lens.
AUC, University of Sheffield Students Collaborate to Boost Egypt's First Bike Share Program
Downtown Cairo is many things: a hub for Egyptian history, a home of historic and modern restaurants and shops, and the heart of a massive transportation network that extends all the way to the city’s desert suburbs. It is not, however, a haven for cyclists.
The Future of “Greening” Real Estate in Egypt; AUC Hosts Futures Lab to Explore Climate-Adaptive Development
Ahead of Egypt hosting COP27, the AUC Innovation Hub and New Silk Roads convened a Futures Lab in September exploring the question: “What if real estate accelerates a green transition?”
Waste Not, Want Not
“Go to waste” has never been on Salah El Haggar’s agenda. A mechanical engineering professor at AUC since 1987, El Haggar is a guru when it comes to waste management, renewable energy applications and recycling.
Following in Our Footprints
Carbon is a major indicator of climate change. In the last century, the amount of carbon in our air has exponentially risen to a record high of over 400 particles per million — a level reached on Earth only millions of years ago.
Balancing the Scales
As major flooding wracks Pakistan, droughts choke much of East Africa and wildfires raze Australia, it is becoming clear that the consequences of climate change are not distributed equally across the globe. Industrialized countries in the Global North, particularly those with strong colonial histories, have the worst carbon emission records.
Sea-curity for Reefs
Stimulated by a desire to safeguard marine ecosystems and coral reefs, MBA student Aly Mohamed introduced Egypt’s first electric water scooter that uses only 3 kilowatts of electricity for a full one-hour charge, saving 8 tons of carbon dioxide emissions for every 100 hours.
Closing the GAP-P
Large global issues such as climate change are difficult to tackle across sectors. Scientists, politicians, local governments and corporate industries often get isolated in their efforts to address environmental challenges, coming up with solutions that are narrower or smaller in scale.
It's Just One Bag, Isn't It? Upcoming AUC "Invisible" Performance at COP27
“All the world’s a stage,”- Shakespeare (As You Like It) What is the world, but a stage? Jillian Campana, professor of theatre and associate dean for undergraduate studies at the School of Humanities and Social Sciences, will explore the relationship between art and life during “invisible theatre” performances at COP27.
Forging Futures: PhD Students' Eco-Friendly Research on Concrete and Green Hydrogen
Whether in the lab synthesizing new formulas for concrete, tackling the challenges of renewable energy or igniting a passion for learning in their students, PhD students Heba Zaky and Rawnaa Yassin are fostering the values of AUC’s academic mission.
The Earth Turns: Upcoming Play Featuring Families in Climate Crises
Art connects human experience with climate crisis realities through The Earth Turns, a feature play from Adam Marple, assistant professor of directing, to be performed at COP27 and Falaki Theater at AUC Tahrir Square.
Shining a Light on Water Pollutants
Did you know that every type of bacteria has a unique light signature? Mohamed Swillam, professor and chair of the Department of Physics, is using this fact to identify different types of pathogens in Egypt’s water supply with new remote sensors designed by the professor and his team.
So, What is COP?
COP is a UN initiative that encourages international cooperation to mitigate the impacts of climate change by stabilizing greenhouse gas emissions and making ecosystems around the world more resilient. The 27th session will be held this year in Egypt.
AUC Joins Race to Zero Campaign, Pledges to Achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2050
AUC has joined the Race to Zero campaign, a UN-backed global initiative aimed at achieving a zero-carbon world. The University has pledged to halve its emissions by 2030 and achieve net zero emissions by 2050 at the latest.
