Dr. Ahmed Zewail giving a certificate to an AUC girl student wearing the cap and gown

The Ahmed Zewail Prize

Ahmed H. Zewail, the winner of the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry, established this prize at AUC to recognize honors graduates whose academic achievements reflect a strong commitment to scientific inquiry and the affirmation of human values.

The prize embodies Zewail’s belief that Egypt’s future development depends on progress in the physical, biological, and social sciences, the development of world-class technologies, and a deeper understanding of the relationship between science, technology, and society. It was first awarded in February 2001, and winners are recognized at each AUC commencement.

Application

Participants should submit the essay, along with their CV as Google or Word documents by filling this form by May 5, 2025, at midnight (11:59 pm) Cairo Local Time.

Eligibility

The applicant must be an AUC student in the final semester of undergraduate study
The applicant must achieve an overall grade point average at the honors level (GPA must be 3.4 or above), as determined in the term preceding the semester graduation
It is preferable that the applicant’s CV show their involvement in extracurriculars at AUC or beyond

Selection Criteria

A faculty committee from across the disciplines evaluates applicant submissions on the basis of the following:

Participants must write an original 1,500 to 2,000-word essay written especially for the prize on a science and humanities topic. Applicants must write on one of the following two topics:
- An original essay on any science and humanities topic that transcends the rigid boundaries of traditional academic disciplines and reflects a multidisciplinary perspective on the chosen topic
- An original essay on a topic drawn from within the student’s own area of specialization that explores new ideas and possibilities and reflects the applicant’s own work and intellectual interest.

The panel will judge the essay on:

Quality of thought, development and expression,
Originality of ideas,
Multidisciplinary sophistication, and
Appropriate personal connection and reflection

It is both appropriate and essential that the candidate reflects the breadth and depth of AUC’s academic reach and rich diversity of perspectives, by including personal stories or reflections on their experience as students at AUC that influenced their choice of topic.

AI Statement

The expectation is that the ideas in students’ essays will be original, the student’s own, but students may use AI tools to check grammar and help with outlining. Applicants are expected to include a reference list at the end of their paper and attribute their sources accordingly, and will be asked to upload their papers to Turnitin.com eventually. Applicants will also be asked to include an AI statement after their reference list, showing where and how they have used AI in their paper.

Interview for shortlisted applicants

Applicants whose essays are shortlisted will be invited to participate in an interview for the applicant to share their ideas with a panel of faculty members to and respond to questions about the essay.

Terms of the Award

The prize will be awarded at each commencement. Recipients will be given a Commendation for Excellence certificate, a cash award of EGP 5,000, and a medal. Winning essays will be published on the prize page on the AUC website.

Corporate Social Responsibility: In What Ways Has the Concept of CSR Contributed to the Development of the Egyptian Economy?

Karen Beshay, Fall 2010

For further information, send an to [email protected].

The Ahmed Zewail Prize

Application

Eligibility

Selection Criteria

Terms of the Award

Award-Winning Essays from Previous Years