Principal Investigators:
George A. Brook, University of Georgia and Nabil S. Embabi, Ain Shams University
Campus Coordinators:
George A. Brook, University of Georgia and Mahmoud M. Ashour, Ain Shams University
In January, 1998 the presidents of the University of Georgia and Ain Shams University in Cairo, Egypt, signed a five-year International Cooperative Agreement. The two institutions agreed to engage in cooperative educational and research activities, for the mutual benefit of both institutions. The addendum to the agreement specified that the initial focus of the cooperation would be within the field of Geography and that George A. Brook of the University of Georgia, and Nabil S. Embabi of Ain Shams University, would coordinate the development and implementation of the cooperation. As a result of the efforts of Brook and Embabi, the cooperation led to a Binational Fulbright Commission grant of $50,000 for faculty exchanges between the Departments of Geography at the University of Georgia and Ain Shams University. The first Egyptian faculty visited Georgia in fall 2000, and the first Georgia faculty visited Egypt in spring 2001. Further exchanges are planned for fall 2001, spring 2002 and fall 2002.
Involved Faculty:
| University of Georgia | Ain Shams University |
| George A. Brook (spring, 2001, spring, 2002) | Mahmoud M. Ashour (fall, 2000) |
| E. Lynn Usery (spring, 2001) | Mahmoud Khidr (fall, 2000) |
| Chor-Pang Lo (fall, 2001) | Nabil S. Embabi (spring, 2001) |
| Thomas W. Hodler (fall, 2001) | Magdy Abu El-Nasr (spring, 2001) |
| Omar El-Farouk (fall, 2001) | |
| Mohammed Taha (spring, 2002) |
The main aim of the proposed Fulbright partnership program is to upgrade and internationalize offerings in environmental science and in geographic techniques at Ain Shams and at the University of Georgia. A main focus for the Ain Shams participants is to enhance instructional offerings in remote sensing, geographic information systems (GIS), and computer cartography. UGA faculty will collaborate particularly on the development of laboratory exercises for classes using satellite imagery of different parts of Egypt. Some of these exercises will also be incorporated into parallel courses in the Georgia geography curriculum. In addition, there will be an exchange of ideas about the teaching of courses dealing with environmental change, both of natural and human origin. A key aspect of the program will be the development of a study abroad course in Egypt for University of Georgia undergraduate and graduate students. This course will allow from 25-35 Georgia students each year to visit Egypt, see its historical monuments and desert landscape, and absorb some of its culture.
Talks at the University of Georgia by visiting Egyptian faculty