Navigating the Future through Research Cooperation
AGYA 2025 Annual Spring Conference in Aachen/Jülich
The AGYA 2025 Annual Conference in Aachen & Jülich was a significant gathering bringing together leading scholars from the Arab world and Germany from 11 to 16 May 2025. A key highlight of the conference was the strategic collaboration with Forschungszentrum Jülich, one of Germany's premier interdisciplinary research centres. Participants had the opportunity to explore state-of-the-art facilities through guided tours, including the Agricultural Climate Simulator "AgraSim" at the Institute of Bio- and Geoscience and the Living Lab Energy Campus featuring the new Hydrogen Reactor. A networking lunch with fellows of the Palestinian-German Science Bridge (PGSB) offered an outstanding opportunity for discussions on how to advance research cooperation and innovation through Arab-German scientific partnerships. This collaboration underscored AGYA's commitment to fostering sustainable academic networks with Germany's leading research institutions.
It was thrilling to show all AGYA members the structural transformation that we experienced in our region in North Rhine-Westphalia and to reflect on it in an Arab–German context, highlighting the shared relevance of transformation processes also in many Arab countries.
Carsten Montzka, AGYA alumnus
The conference featured a public evening event on 14 May at La Fabrik Aachen, titled 'Navigating the Future through Research Cooperation.' Opening with words of welcome by Prof. Dr. Claus-Peter Haase, Former Director of the Museum of Islamic Art at the Staatliche Museen zu Berlin, Professor of Islamic Art and Archeology at Freie Universität Berlin, and Representative of the AGYA Advisory Board. The session welcomed the broader academic community and public for a keynote lecture by Prof. Dr. Hussein M. Elmehdi, Dean of Academic Support Services and Associate Professor of Biomedical Physics at the College of Sciences, University of Sharjah. A distinguished panel discussion followed, bringing together Prof. Dr. Elmehdi, Prof. Dr. Rüdiger Klingeler, experimental physicist at the Kirchhoff Institute for Physics at the University of Heidelberg, Dipl.-Ing. Helmut Reichelt, Deputy CEO and Director of Education Affairs at the German-Emirati Institute (GEI), and AGYA Alumna, Prof. Dr. Maha Nasr from Ain Shams University, Egypt. Moderated by AGYA Co-Presidents Prof. Dr. Faouzia Zeraoulia and Dr. Dawud Ansari, the event provided a vibrant platform for thought-provoking discussions on the future of Arab-German research cooperation, followed by a networking reception.
In the internal conference sessions, members convened for General Assembly meetings to present achievements, discuss and decide on future plans of the academy, and engage in task force workshops focused on a range of contemporary topics. AGYA's working groups met to advance their collaborative research agendas, covering diverse areas including Arab and German Education, Innovation, Energy, Water and Environment, Dynamics of Transformation, Common Heritage and Common Challenges, and Health and Society. Special sessions addressed 'Research in Times of Crisis,' while preparations for the AGYA Idea Competition 2025 with a focus on Participatory Research provided a framework for developing new research initiatives. An alumni meeting further strengthened the academy's growing network of former members.
The program was complemented by cultural excursions that provided insights into the rich heritage and contemporary dynamics of the border region. A visit to the Inden Mine viewing platform offered perspectives on Germany's energy transition, while a cross-cultural culinary event, 'Millet & More: A Cross-Cultural Culinary Cook-In,' led by AGYA member Prof. Dr. Tilal Abdelhalim, celebrated shared culinary traditions. Guided tours of Aachen city centre provide a comprehensive introduction to the cultural heritage of this historic city, while an excursion to the Dreiländereck (Three-Country Point) and Maastricht explored themes of 'Living Together Apart – Intercultural and Interregional Exchange,' offering participants direct experience of cross-border cooperation in the heart of Europe. Through its combination of cutting-edge scientific exchange, strategic institutional partnerships, and meaningful cultural engagement, the conference exemplified AGYA's mission to build bridges between Arab and German academia while addressing the pressing challenges of our time.
Cooperation Partner
