American University in Cairo
New Cairo Campus
Conference and Visitor Center - Lecture Hall P007
Thurs 16, 1-2pm: “Mental Health in Lebanon after the Beirut Blast: The Story of Embrace” lecture will feature Pia Zeinoun, Clinical Psychologist and Co-Founder and Vice President of the NGO Embrace. Like many Arab countries, Lebanon has been shaken by a history of traumatic events that have impacted people’s mental health. Embrace – a Lebanese non-profit organization dedicated to mental health – has been at the forefront of raising awareness, preventing suicide, and providing free and quality mental health services. This talk discusses what it takes to offer free mental health care in a troubled country.
Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Hall
Wed 22, 1-3pm: “In Defense and Devotion: Affective Practices in Early Modern Islamic Manuscript Paintings” a lecture by Christiane Gruber, Professor at University of Michigan. Gruber’s primary field of research is Islamic book arts, paintings of the Prophet Mohamed, and Islamic ascension texts and images, about which she has written two books and edited a volume of articles.
Tim Sullivan Lounge, Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Hall
Thurs 23, 1-2pm: “Multiple Beginnings” Literary Award Ceremony talk in Arabic by ambassadress Laila Bahaaeddin.

Tahrir Cultural Centre (TCC)
AUC’s Tahrir Campus, Al-Sheikh Rihan St, off Tahrir Square, Tel 02 2615 2694/01280009077
Ewart Memorial Hall
Thurs 23, 6pm (Free and open to the public): “Dust: Egypt’s Forgotten Architecture” a book signing and talk, in partnership with AUC Press and Bookstores. Photographer Xenia Nikolskaya will discuss the revised and expanded edition of the AUC Press publication, Dust: Egypt’s Forgotten Architecture, a stunning photographic compilation of Egypt’s abandoned palaces and grand buildings, moderated by professor Rodrigo Brum.  

ALEXANDRIA

French Cultural Institute
30 Al-Nabi Danial St, Mahatet Misr, Alexandria, Tel 03 3913435/3918952
Sun 19, 7pm: “Animals in the History and Culture of Ancient Egyptians” a lecture by researcher and novelist Walid Fekry.
Wed 22, 7pm: A seminar with the Sorbonne University professor Jacques Dürrenmatt on his book Chronology of the History of the French Language. The book traces the history of the French language, from the first languages spoken to modern French which is today practiced in 51 countries around the world. He mixes the language’s political, cultural, and social developments and events formed it. He specializes in French Language and Literature in the 19th century.

* A version of this article appears in print in the 16 February, 2023 edition of Al-Ahram Weekly