Sustainability and Climate Resilience in the Red Sea

The DAAD Regional Office Cairo, in collaboration with Galala University and the University of Kassel, organized the Winter School on “Sustainability and Climate Resilience in the Red Sea” from October 26 to November 1, 2024, under the COSIMENA project. The program aimed to strengthen participants’ skills in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), climate resilience, sustainability, and environmental analysis through both online preparatory sessions and intensive on-site workshops. 

The winter school brought together 18 participants from diverse academic and professional backgrounds to explore climate resilience challenges in the Red Sea region. Activities included GIS training, climate modeling, machine learning applications, field studies, environmental mapping, flood risk assessment, biodiversity analysis, and sustainable urban planning. Participants conducted hands-on research in areas such as ecosystem resilience, rainfall and flood management, local climate zones, water harvesting, and climate-resilient urban communities. 

The program also included site visits to Galala City, Ain Sokhna, and the Monastery of Saint Anthony, where participants examined examples of sustainable and climate-responsive architecture. Workshops focused on research development, academic publishing, presentation skills, and interdisciplinary collaboration, supported by experts from Galala University, the University of Kassel, DAAD, the German Embassy in Cairo, and other institutions. 

At the closing ceremony, participants presented innovative research projects addressing environmental and urban resilience challenges in Egypt and the Red Sea region. Topics included habitat suitability for the Nubian Ibex, rainwater harvesting in Halayeb and Shalateen, flood resilience in Attaka, and local climate zone mapping in Galala City. The event concluded with discussions on future collaborations, publication plans in international journals, and ongoing research partnerships between participating institutions. 

Workshop team

• Prof. Dr. Maged Zagow (Galala University),  
• Dr.-Ing. Mohamed ElGamal – Kassel  University 
• Mohammed Alfiky Kassel  University 
• Prof. Affaf Aloufy, Dean of the Faculty of Architecture and Engineering – Galala University 
• Dr. Bahaa Elboshy, Associate Professor in the Architectural Engineering Department at Tanta University 

Links

https://www.daad-egypt.org/en/about-us/cosimena/our-activities/cosimena-funded-events/cosimena-funded-winter-school-on-sustainability-and-climate-resilience-in-the-red-sea/