Welcome to the statue of Ahmed Zewail, a tribute to one of the most eminent figures in the field of chemistry. Dr. Ahmed Zewail was born on February 26, 1946, in Damanhur, Egypt, and was raised in Desouk. He embarked on an illustrious journey in science, which began with his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in chemistry from Alexandria University. Seeking further knowledge, he traveled to the United States to complete his PhD at the University of Pennsylvania.
In 1976, he joined the faculty at the California Institute of Technology (Caltech), where he became the first Linus Pauling Chair in Chemical Physics. His groundbreaking work on femtochemistry, which studies chemical reactions on the scale of femtoseconds, earned him the 1999 Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Dr. Zewail’s achievement marked him as the first Egyptian and Arab to win a Nobel Prize in a scientific field.
Beyond his scientific contributions, Ahmed Zewail played a significant role in fostering international scientific collaboration. He was part of President Barack Obama’s Presidential Council of Advisors on Science and Technology and served as a U.S. Science Envoy to the Muslim world in 2010.
This statue stands not only as a monument to his scientific achievements but also as a symbol of his commitment to bridging cultures through science. Dr. Zewail’s legacy continues to inspire generations of scientists in Egypt and around the world.
