Egypt’s Minister of Communication- Amr Talaat-and Minister of Social Solidarity- Nevine El-Qabbaj- discussed digitizing the Egyptian Geographic Society. Their inspection visit’s objective is to equip it for the forthcoming International Geographic Conference slated for 2025.
Co-organized by the International Geographical Union and the Society, this event will commemorate the centennial of the twelfth International Union conference, the international geographic conference, which took place at Cairo in 1925.
In this regard, The ministers deliberated on supporting the society’s role in the geospatial sector. Intending to reestablish its core mission, they also addressed need to revamp the society’s building, empower its workforce, and implement digital and IT solutions to document the society’s scientific and geographic legacy.
El-Qabbaj emphasized the ministry’s responsibility to support scientific, artistic, and heritage societies. This commitment plays a vital role in preserving Egypt’s soft power and reinforcing the country’s cultural and historical heritage.
As Egypt will be the host country of the upcoming conference, a comprehensive inventory of the society’s collection will be conducted to determine the most effective digitization method. The digitized materials will then be accessible on Egypt’s digital heritage portal, to preserve Egypt’s cultural leadership, heritage, and rich traditions.
Encompassing four main sections, the ethnographic museum features four halls that house significant heritage artifacts. The library boasts numerous valuable heritage books and encyclopedias, such as the Description of Egypt. This is along with over 12,500 rare maps and 600 atlases.
Established and chaired by Khedive Ismail in 1875, the Egyptian Geographic Society received support for its scientific significance as the ninth geographical society globally and the first outside Europe and Americas.
