The University President and the Deputy Minister of Higher Education Inspect the International Center for Heritage Research and Conservation and the Center of Excellence for Advanced Agricultural Sciences Research

Professor Dr. Hemdan Rabie El-Metwally, President of Damietta University, and Professor Dr. Hossam Othman, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Innovation Affairs, inspected the International Center for Heritage Research and Conservation at the Faculty of Archaeology on Tuesday, May 12, 2026. The visit came within the framework of supporting the scientific research and innovation system and enhancing the role of specialized research centers in serving the community and sustainable development.

The visit was attended by Professor Dr. El-Metwally Mostafa Selim, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs; Professor Dr. Mohamed Abdo Ammasha, Vice President for Education and Student Affairs; Professor Dr. Mohamed Abdel Hamid Shehab, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research; and Professor Dr. Yosr Ezz El-Regal, Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology.

During the tour, the attendees reviewed the scientific and research capabilities of the center, which includes 10 specialized laboratories for examining, analyzing, studying, and imaging various types of archaeological and non-archaeological samples using the latest scientific equipment. The center also provides the devices and tools necessary for preparing samples and experimental models, as well as producing nano-compounds to support researchers and postgraduate students, particularly in the fields of archaeological restoration and conservation.

The center also offers services for measuring the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of archaeological and modern materials, in addition to carrying out restoration work, participating in local and international research projects, and providing specialized scientific and technical consultations in archaeology and conservation.

In the same context, the University President, the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, and the Vice Presidents also inspected the “Center for Excellence in Research of Advanced Agricultural Sciences” (CERAAS), in the presence of Professor Dr. Ahmed El-Sheikha, Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture, and Dr. Khaled Abdel Fattah, Director of the Center.

The attendees listened to a detailed presentation on the center’s research capabilities and advanced scientific facilities. The center consists of two main phases. The first phase includes the Electron Microscope Laboratory, the Chromatographic Analysis Laboratory, and the Central Laboratory.

The Transmission Electron Microscope is considered one of the center’s most prominent scientific instruments, as it is among the latest specialized devices available at Egyptian universities and research centers. It supports research and scientific activities for undergraduate and postgraduate students at the Faculty of Agriculture, in addition to serving medical faculties such as Medicine and Nursing, as well as the Faculties of Science, Applied Arts, Engineering, and Archaeology.

The Electron Microscope Unit also aims to serve the surrounding industrial community, particularly the industrial zone in New Damietta, the Damietta Free Zone, and the Damietta Port Authority, by conducting precise analyses and examinations that support various industrial and production sectors.

The second phase of the center includes several specialized research laboratories, such as the Water Sustainability and Agricultural Systems Research Laboratory, the Food and Feed Analysis and Quality Laboratory, the Agricultural Biotechnology Research Laboratory, the Molecular Biology Research Laboratory, and the Spectral Analysis Laboratory.

The center provides advanced scientific and research services in multiple fields, including the examination and diagnosis of animal and plant tissues, detection of viral infections, diagnosis of cells and cancerous tumors, analysis of pharmaceutical compounds and emulsions, detection of pesticide residues in food, feed, and water, as well as analysis of active compounds in plant extracts and measurement of the purity of medicines and pharmaceutical substances.

The center also contributes to the separation and estimation of amino acids, proteins, and nucleic acids, in addition to analyzing pesticides, antibiotics, and stimulants, as well as estimating aflatoxins, which are among the most dangerous toxins found in food and feed. It also measures concentrations of heavy metals in water, liquid waste, food products, petroleum materials, and oils.

Furthermore, the center supports quality control systems in food and feed factories, fish farms, and poultry farms, in addition to monitoring quality in dairy factories and analyzing milk according to precise standards, with the ability to detect adulteration within minutes. This contributes to enhancing food safety and serving the local community and industrial sector in Damietta.

Professor Dr. Hossam Othman, Deputy Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research for Innovation Affairs, praised the advanced scientific and technological capabilities of the Center for Excellence in Research of Advanced Agricultural Sciences, emphasizing that the center represents a strong addition to the scientific research and innovation system in Egyptian universities due to its modern equipment and laboratories that support researchers and students and connect scientific research with the needs of society and industry.

He also affirmed the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research’s commitment to supporting specialized research centers that contribute to finding scientific and practical solutions to developmental challenges and enhancing the role of universities in achieving sustainable development and serving the national economy.