The conference was announced by Dr. Rania Mumtaz, the head of the conference organizing committee, and it included a constellation of scientists and attendees from various countries, including Egypt, Switzerland, Italy, Japan, France, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
Throughout the sessions, Professor Frank Roli, a Swiss scientist, gave a lecture on biomedical examinations of certain mummies and Egyptian structures. Additionally, Professor Yahia Jad presented his lecture on the analysis of ancient DNA in some ancient Egyptian remains. Professor Mohsen Saleh, the Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology at Cairo University, explained his scientific paper on bioremediation using certain types of bacteria for some limestone. Dr. Khaled Abu Al-Hamd, the General Director of Alexandria Antiquities, presented the most important archaeological discoveries in Alexandria under the supervision of the Supreme Council of Antiquities.
Dr. Hussein Abdel Basir, the director of the Library of Alexandria Museum, discussed the importance of using biotechnology in the latest museum display methods. The attendees also listened to a comprehensive explanation from Professor Akiko Nishizaki of the Nigashi Nippon University in Japan about the lecture she presented, along with Dr. Issa Zidan, the Director of Restoration Affairs at the Grand Egyptian Museum, about the restoration work of a mural in the tomb of Amenhotep III in its third phase. Furthermore, the international lecturer Bassem Al-Shamaa shed light on the genius of ancient Egyptians in his lecture.
The conference concluded its scientific sessions with a lecture by Dr. Taha Ismail, the director of the Laboratory of Biomedical Antiquities at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, entitled "Beyond the Bones: Anthropological Studies."
In addition to these academic activities, Professor Khairy El-Malt and the team of the National Project for the Revival of Pharaonic Music gave a lecture in which they presented, for the first time in the world, a musical dialogue between the ancient Egyptian instrument and the modern instrument, performed by the artist Yasmin El-Harby playing the harp and the artist Ahmed El-Sayed playing the oud. The lecture was commented on by Professor Sherif Hamdi from the Faculty of Music Education at Helwan University.
This session also included the exhibition of the museum of ancient musical instruments, presenting 12 diverse Egyptian instruments belonging to the National Project for the Revival of Pharaonic Music.
On the sidelines of the conference, there was an art exhibition by the artist Dalia Najeh and a special exhibition of heritage crafts by the artist Mavi Shaarawi. Additionally, some conference participants visited the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, where they were received by Professor Ali Abdel Halim, the museum's director. He was presented with the university's shield in appreciation for his efforts in the success of the conference. Moreover, the participants were also welcomed by Mr. Ahmed Fathi, the director of the Egyptian Antiquities Union, who gave them a comprehensive explanation of the rare artifacts in the museum.
Thus, the activities of the second international conference entitled "Deciphering Civilizations" organized by the College of Biotechnology at October University for Modern Sciences and Arts have concluded.