Held in Egypt for the first time, AUC is hosting the UN-Habitat’s biennial World Urban Campaign Assembly on November 6, featuring researchers, academics, students, urban planners, policymakers and NGOs who will engage in discussions on the future of urban planning. Watch the event’s livestream. 

“AUC’s selection to host this event signifies an acknowledgement of the role and weight of our institution as an anchor point to lead future sustainable urbanization in Egypt and the region,” said Momen El-Husseiny, assistant professor of architecture and co-organizer of the World Urban Campaign Assembly at AUC. “This selection came after the outstanding efforts of our faculty, researchers and students in tackling urban issues during the Egypt Urban Campaign over the past year.” 

El-Husseiny will moderate and present panels on a range of topics such as AUC’s role as a catalyst for urban transformation in New Cairo and downtown, micromobility infrastructures, the impact of gated communities and how proximity can help alleviate social inequalities by ensuring that services are accessible to all residents in urban areas.

The event will include as well as a conference held in collaboration with Sorbonne University in Paris, featuring faculty from AUC and 13 other universities worldwide to discuss the Global Observatory of Sustainable Proximities. French mayor Jean-Michel-Perret will be among the conference attendees. 

“AUC’s selection to host this event signifies an acknowledgement of the role and weight of our institution as an anchor point to lead future sustainable urbanization in Egypt and the region.”

The day will culminate in a public talk by Carlos Moreno, associate professor at the Sorbonne and author of The 15-Minute City, a people-first approach that is being implemented in global cities such as Paris, Milan and Buenos Aires. 

The World Urban Campaign Assembly is held in tandem with the World Urban Forum, where AUC faculty from various disciplines, including architecture and graphic design, will present talks. AUC alumni will also participate in panel discussions. These include Egypt’s Minister of Finance Ahmed Kouchouk ’99; Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Rania Al-Mashat ’95; journalist Shahira Amin ’78 and Yuriko Koike (ALU ’71), Tokyo’s first female governor.

Bahia Shehab (MA ’09), professor of practice in graphic design, will present a talk at the panel titled, A Space for All, “I will explore the significance of digital and physical public spaces as centers of cultural expression, emphasizing how art and culture can bring communities together,” said Shehab. “I will also discuss my public art installations Pyramids of Garbage (2020) and Heaven and Hell in the Anthropocene (2022) exhibited at COP27, as well as my ongoing street art project At the Corner of a Dream, where I have painted verses by Palestinian poet Mahmoud Darwish in 16 cities around the world, from Hawaii to Tokyo.”

In addition, as part of the World Urban Forum, AUC architecture students actively participated in the Habitat UNI Booth held on November 5, where select universities from around the globe showcased their work in urban sustainability, presenting their research and solutions to address urban issues and challenges. At the booth, AUC students and faculty presented videos, posters and research projects covering issues related to sustainable urban development and climate crisis in education. The students highlighted their Cairo Bike project in downtown Cairo, design-and-build sustainable earth construction in Siwa, and the use of AI and spatial simulation in urban design studios.

“I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to be part of the World Urban Forum 12, representing my department and all the initiatives that we’ve been part of over the years!” 

Here’s what three architecture seniors had to say about the Habitat UNI Booth: 

“Presenting at the UNI Booth at the World Urban Forum was an intense ride — challenging yet electrifying! However, the boost of confidence that suddenly came into the three of us as we were presenting turned every hurdle into a confidence boost and propelled our work into the spotlight on a global stage."

Mariam Bechir
Architecture Senior, President, AUC's student-led Architecture Association

"I’m extremely grateful for the opportunity to be part of the World Urban Forum 12, representing my department and all the initiatives that we’ve been part of over the years."

Jana Gaafar
Architecture Senior, Vice President, AUC's student-led Architecture Association

“Showcasing the multiple initiatives of our department in an event as big as the World Urban Forum was an honor! It’s finally getting the attention and exposure it deserves.”

Rita Gabriel 
Architecture Senior

The one-year program offers candidates the chance to gain professional experience across various functions within AUC, and develop their technical and soft skills. The University will assist participants who complete the program in preparing resumes and will provide references to potential employers in Egypt. Some may have the opportunity to stay at AUC if there are suitable vacancies. 

 "This program reflects AUC’s commitment to fostering diverse, inclusive and accessible learning communities. It is our responsibility to lead by example, and we hope to create a model for others in Egypt and the region.” 

AUC will also establish partnerships with Egyptian ministries and NGOs to upskill and offer on-the-job training for people with disabilities in areas such as English-language proficiency, IT development, communication and soft skills to effectively contribute to the local workforce.

“This program reflects AUC’s commitment to fostering diverse, inclusive and accessible learning communities,” said AUC President Ahmad Dallal. “By offering professional development for people with disabilities, we are enriching our campus and doing our part in creating access and opportunities for a diverse talent pool. It is our responsibility to lead by example, and we hope to create a model for others in Egypt and the region.” 

“We value the unique contributions of each individual, and this program diversifies our talent pool and breaks barriers to create a strong workforce that reflects the richness of Egyptian society.” 

Candidates will be selected through various channels and must meet the program's selection criteria. Enrolled participants will be assigned to different jobs at the University based on their academic qualifications and professional experience. 

“This program gives people with disabilities the chance to develop their professional skills at AUC, preparing them for success in the career they pursue through a structured training program and on-the-job training,” said Sarah Refaat, senior associate vice president for human resources. “We value the unique contributions of each individual, and this program diversifies our talent pool and breaks barriers to create a strong workforce that reflects the richness of Egyptian society.” 

Find out more about the program details and requirements and how to apply.

A research team led by Distinguished University Professor Hassan Azzazy in the Department of Chemistry developed a novel long-term dual disinfectant formula dubbed NanoGuard. The long-lasting disinfectant, which is now patented in the United States, can be sprayed on common surfaces such as doorknobs, stair rails and elevator buttons to protect them against microbial contamination and prevent the spread of microbes to individuals.

The NanoGuard team consisted of graduate students Saif El-Din Al-Mofty in the chemistry program as well as Obaydah Abd Alkader Alabrahim (MSc ’24) and Jude Majed Lababidi, a nanotechnology master’s student at AUC. “Our success was tied to our synergy. Every objective was lined up, and we worked together to overcome obstacles,” said Al-Mofty.

The team’s disinfectant is unlike others, keeping surfaces clean in the long term without requiring special application procedures. “We designed a new disinfectant that can be easily applied to surfaces and remain active against microbes for at least two weeks,” said Azzazy. 

“We designed a new disinfectant that can be easily applied to surfaces and remain active against microbes for at least two weeks.”

The product fills a niche in the world of disinfectant formulas: “Most commercial disinfectants are short term and require repeated application, while current existing long-term disinfectants are expensive and require facility evacuation as well as specialists to apply them,” Azzazy explained.

The team developed a prototype of the disinfectant over the course of one year, first selecting the short-term chemical that would kill germs upon contact and later choosing the long-term chemical. Next, they sought a method to encapsulate the two selected chemicals within nanovesicles and tested the shelf life and stability of the formula during storage. Al-Mofty said, “Once we found the formulation that was stable, clean and easy to apply on surfaces, we proceeded to the next phase of making the product user-friendly.”

The researchers obtained a patent from the United States Patent & Trade Office to protect their intellectual property, and they are currently looking to connect with international manufacturers for possible licensing agreements to produce and later market NanoGuard. “My hope is for NanoGuard to become trusted, well-recognized and capable of protecting homes, universities and families from future pandemics,” said Al-Mofty.

The NanoGuard team was selected as a finalist for the 2024 Johns Hopkins International Healthcare Design Competition. The results of the NanoGuard research were initially published in Nanoscale Advances under the title “A novel long-acting antimicrobial nanomicelle spray.”