Future of Egyptian science hub in question following Nobel laureate’s death

Nature : Ahmed Zewail, an Egyptian-born American, was the first Arab to win a Nobel Prize in the sciences. In 1999 he proposed establishing a university and science hub near Cairo as a flagship project for Egypt’s domestic research efforts. After delays stemming from the country’s political instability and bureaucracy, the Zewail City of Science and Technology finally opened in 2011. In the five years since, the project’s leaders have had trouble funding campus construction and providing scholarships to students. Last week, Zewail passed away at the age of 70. His influence was widely considered a driving force for the hub’s ability to gain private funding. However, Egyptian president Abdel Fattah el-Sisi has spoken out in support of the institute, saying that construction by military engineers will be completed regardless of funding. Researchers and administrators at the institute expect that they will have to rely on the government for funding, but they are concerned that state support could reduce the institute’s unusual level of autonomy in hiring and research focuses.