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| Dr. Ahmed Mostagir |
The Honor of Dr. Ahmed Mostagir: A Remarkable Figure in Science and Literature:
This year, the Supreme Committee for the Book Fair has chosen Dr. Ahmed Mostagir to be the main figure for the 56th edition, due to his many contributions to scientific and literary life. He managed to combine the precision of science with the beauty of poetry, becoming a model of excellence in two very different fields, leaving a clear mark in the history of Arabic science translation. Let’s learn together about this distinguished scholar.
Who is Ahmed Mostagir?
Dr. Ahmed Mostagir, a pioneer in genetic engineering, was selected to be the personality of the 2025 Book Fair in its 56th session, in recognition of his significant contributions in the fields of science and literature. He was chosen this year to honor the unique contributions he made to enrich scientific and literary culture in Egypt, seeking to inform new generations about his leading role. According to a previous statement from the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, Ahmed Mostagir is a unique figure who brought together science and literature, as he was able to provide us with a rich scientific legacy alongside literary works, including: "Genetic Improvement of Animals," "Introduction to Animal Breeding," "Study in Genetic Selection in Dairy Cattle," "Genetic Improvement of Farm Animals," and "Practical Aspects of Animal and Poultry Improvement." In the field of poetry, he wrote: "Digital Evidence of Arabic Poetry," "Do Ducks Return? (A Poetry Collection)," "In the Seas of Science (Two Parts)," and "A Science Named Happiness." In addition to this, he translated many works in science and philosophy, including: "The Double Helix," "The Age of Genes and Electronics," "Engineering Life," "The Exciting Story of Quantum," "The Silent Spring," "The Nature of Life," "The Great Extinction," "A New Mind for a New World," "The Road to Dolly," "The Philosophical Problems of Nuclear Science," "The Conflict of Science and Society," "The Industry of Life," "The Genetic Code of Humans," "Genes, Peoples, and Languages," "The Road to Superman," and "Genetics and Genetic Engineering in Cartoons." His insightful vision of biotechnology and its potential to solve global problems inspired many. He was more than just a scientist or a poet; he is a role model for excellence and creativity, as he left us a rich legacy in science and literature and contributed to agricultural development and the spread of culture and knowledge.
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| Dr. Ahmed Mostagir |
The Life of Dr. Ahmed Mostagir:
Dr. Ahmed Mostagir was born in Mansoura in 1934 and died in 2006. He served as the Dean of the Faculty of Agriculture at Cairo University and played a prominent role in developing scientific research. Mostagir received numerous prestigious awards, including the Medal of Science and Arts of the first class in 1974, the Best Scientific Translation Award in 1993, the Scientific Creativity Award in 1995, as well as the Best Scientific Book Award in 1996, and the Medal of Science and Arts for the second time in the same year, as well as the Best Cultural Work Award and the State Prize for Appreciation, and the Mubarak Prize in Advanced Science and Technology. There was a secret in Dr. Ahmed Mostagir's life that drove his research, his translations, and his ideas concerning the economy of the poor. Mostagir excelled and was able to qualify for top faculties but chose the Faculty of Agriculture because of his interest in biology and his connection to his teacher "Khalil Effendi," who graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture. Mostagir chose this faculty to resemble and be inspired by his teacher. However, the situation that deeply affected him came after he graduated from the Faculty of Agriculture and was appointed as an agricultural engineer. While supervising the cotton harvest, he saw a small, active child diligently working, and he gave him a couple of coins. Then the agricultural inspector scolded him for this act and advised him to be harsh with the farmers so that they would not slack off! Mostagir wrote in his memoirs, questioning: "Does my job require me to kill humanity within me? Do they hate it when one person pats another on the shoulder?" Mostagir left his job with bitterness in his heart and a lump in his throat, dedicating his knowledge and work to the benefit of people. He dreamed of transforming science into a means for the welfare of the poor and changing their lives toward wealth and abundance. He always repeated: "In our world today, there are children born to misery, and a night with no end! In the treasure of science, there is so much, there is food and smiles for every mouth."
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| Dr. Ahmed Mostagir |
Dr. Ahmed Mostagir’s Scientific and Literary Contributions:
Dr. Ahmed Mostagir is one of the most prominent scientists and thinkers in the fields of genetic engineering and genetic improvement of animals. He was ahead of everyone with radical solutions to our current economic problems because he focused on the possibility of using genetic engineering to achieve what he called "the Economy of the Poor" through a research project he started in 1989 with a team of leading experts and specialists to develop strains of wheat and rice that can withstand salinity and drought. This means that if we cultivate these strains, we can use seawater to turn our desert into rice and wheat farms that can sustain us and several other countries around us.
Dr. Mostagir’s research did not stop there; he also made several other scientific contributions in the fields of milk, meat, poultry production, and animal genetics. He hybridized cows with foreign breeds using imported artificial insemination technology, which leads to increased milk and meat productivity. Among his scientific and practical contributions are the development of agriculture in Egypt and the Arab world, conducting numerous research studies in biotechnology, and establishing a scientific school in the field of genetics and genetic improvement of animals. He was a distinguished biologist, specializing in biotechnology, and a prominent university professor. Dr. Ahmed Mostagir's legacy is a valuable treasure for future generations, representing a model of an educated scientist and a responsible citizen, and he has left us all a legacy of science, knowledge, and literature.
Dr. Ahmed Mostagir was also one of the developers of the science of Arabic prosody, and he has a remarkable book in this field! Some even said he is "the writer disguised as a scientist." His interest in literature, poetry, and the arts of language began with his early writings. The poet Salah Abd al-Sabour was one of his friends and a classmate at Zagazig Secondary School. Mostagir wrote his first poem titled "Tomorrow We Meet," then one of his friends encouraged him to read it to Salah Abd al-Sabour, who said, "It was written by a professional poet." This made him happy, and he decided at that moment that he wanted to contribute to poetry and literature. He wrote two poetry collections and then soon turned to scientific research in literature, as is the case with scientists. He authored a book worthy of further study and research, titled "A Mathematical Introduction to the Prosody of Arabic Poetry." The book offers a new, unconventional theory for handling the language of poetry and prosody in a scientific and mathematical way, so that the rhythms can be transferred into a format that can be calculated and standardized, as if it were a magical blend between mathematics and language! This is a concept worth researching and adding to, and this literary experience benefited him in shaping his scientific works and translations, all of which have a simple, flexible, and attractive literary language. That is why people loved reading the translated books he crafted in his unique way, which emphasizes the strong connection between the art of translation and the arts of literature and language. Translation is not just a routine task done by any bilingual person; it must involve a scientific background that understands how to choose the best works to translate, and a literary background that can effectively shape the translation and make it more accessible to readers. Dr. Mostagir was a creative poet; he wrote many poetry collections that express his deep thoughts and feelings of responsibility towards his country. His poetry was marked by intellectual depth and linguistic beauty, which made him very popular among readers.