This paper presents energy opportunities, particular areas of high potential and reflections on energy challenges in Egypt by the year 2040. Energy foresight significantly contributes in the effective review and formulation of national energy policies and strategies. In this work, 350 experts participated in real-time Delphi survey and responded to a set of structured and cross-linked questionnaires that aim to assess and provide future dimension to the energy sector in Egypt. Priorities are presented across 14 energy cluster-areas with 180 identified topics. The two-round Delphi study with an iterative process was performed to determine and measure the expectations of the different stakeholders with specific emphasis on the prospects of renewable energy and energy efficiency. The designed cross-linkages between survey components allowed the systematic pooling and convergence of knowledge in addition to the technical insights and different perspectives. About 50% of Egypt's energy demand was foresighted to be met by renewable energies around 2030. The results showed that all types of energy would not only provide economic and environmental benefits but also improve living standards. This work demonstrates that involving large diversity of expertise and different stakeholders, comprising heterogeneous groups, in foresight studies would potentiate the forecasting power, reduce the polarization effect, and enhance the reliability of the foresight exercise.

This study was conducted with an aim to know the extent to which artefacts displayed in a museum could be affected due to raised levels of indoor air pollutants. The other objective of this work was to identify whether the quality of air in the residential homes is acceptable for the residents or not. In order to fulfil these objectives, the levels of air quality parameters were recorded at various locations of the museum and residential homes. The determined values of these parameters were compared with the permitted values defined in international standards/guidelines. Results showed that the levels of nitrogen dioxide, relative humidity and temperature in the museum were within the allowable limits while that of ozone, sulphur dioxide and total particulate matters were above the thresholds, which could cause damage to the exhibits in the museum. Furthermore, the results obtained from the residential homes indicated that the elevated levels of carbon dioxide, total volatile organic compounds and temperature in the indoor environment of these homes could cause unhealthy effects to the residents.

The Coronavirus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic caused a global substantial effect whilst affecting local healthcare systems and productive sectors among many others. It was a "wake up call" for the economy (investors), policymakers (governments) and the entire society. Progressively, it became widely obvious there is no "going back to normal" and a new normal will gradually be in place. Many questions were raised in this uncertainty situation including how this new normal will affect productive sectors? How can countries leverage the new realities forced on them by COVID-19 to shape better future plans or to achieve their pre-identified goals efficiently? In the middle of this global chaos, are their opportunities for developing economies? This paper tries to answer these questions with specific emphasis on Egypt using foresighting tools while highlighting the best-case and worst-case scenarios for Egypt in the post-COVID-19 world.

This paper focuses on investigating students’ reasons for their reluctance to attend faculty members’ office hours. Study participants included 500 male and female students from the Colleges of Engineering (n = 248) and Arts and Social Sciences (CASS) (n = 252) at Sultan Qaboos University (SQU). The study followed a descriptive-analytical approach, and a questionnaire was utilized to collect people’s views. The results of the study indicate that the rates of SQU students’ attendance to office hours were low, and some students (11.2%) do not attend at all as they consider these office hours a waste of time. The main reasons behind the students’ lack of interest in office hours were busy student timetables, conflicts between faculty office hours and students’ timetables, and easier and faster ways of getting information than visiting faculty members. Additional reasons were related to faculty members’ personalities and their discouraging attitudes toward attending office hours. The researchers recommend that SQU adopt a new strategy for encouraging faculty members to hold office hours, familiarizing students with the importance of office hours and assigning part of a course’s grades to meeting with faculty members’ office hours.

The women representation in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields in Egypt is spanning hundreds and even thousands of years back. Yet, there is efforts needed to show women's contributions in recent history and current time. This paper highlights the role of women in STEM and their role as main partners in the science, technology and innovation system, participation of women in science for both decision-making and the scientific community. The survey has been designed to look at and support the participation and progression of women in STEM professionals and to encourage more girls and women to continue their studies and practical life in the STEM Fields. Literature, and particularly analytical literature, available around women in STEM in Egypt is limited; it is often tackled within the scope of women's employment, women's economic empowerment, or education. The paper reviews many challenges faced by women in science, technology and engineering and mathematics but from a practical point of view, where the questions are designed to reflect the scientific and leadership background as well as entrepreneurship and the relationship with the industry and to identify the obstacles that women face in being a business leader and the obstacles that women face in dealing with industry. Through the case study we unpack and examine the multiple thresholds of women and girls in higher education and employment in STEM fields in Egypt. The case study sample shows that while women are engaging in STEM at the tertiary education level, it is the integration into the labor force which makes it difficult for there to be a more equitable distribution of women across all STEM-related sectors. Egypt has a strong tradition of female empowerment and development but remains patriarchal in many aspects of progress and opportunity; the number of women in STEM education does not translate to those in the work force.