The BA International Award Jointly Won by a British National of Egyptian Origin and a Filipino
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Under the gracious patronage of His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi, President of Egypt, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina announces the winners of the “Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award 2025” in its first edition after being approved by the Judging Committee and the Higher Committee of the Award. Prof. Ahmed A. Zayed, Director of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, announced that the joint winners are Prof. Hassan Shafik Abdullah (a British national of Egyptian origin) and Mr. Glenn Banaguas (Philippines). The Award carries a monetary value of one million Egyptian pounds, in addition to a gold medal and an official certificate of excellence. The Award is granted each year in a single field determined by the Higher Committee of the Award. The field of the first edition is under the title “Green Technology Applications for Achieving Well-Being and Happiness for Humanity”.
Prof. Zayed stated that His Excellency President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s gracious patronage of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award lends it greater importance and recognition at both the local and international levels, noting that this reflects the President’s commitment to enabling the Bibliotheca Alexandrina to fulfill its important mission and continue its enlightening role, thereby supporting creativity and innovation, especially in areas that achieve the well-being of humanity. The winners will be honored at a major cultural celebration currently being prepared to reflect the stature of the first international award bearing the name of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina since its revival and reopening in 2002.
Prof. Hassan Shafik Abdullah has earned the Award in recognition of his outstanding global contributions to green technology, the circular economy, and sustainable innovation to enhance human well-being and happiness, as well as his distinguished career combining leadership, real-world development, and continued commitment to sustainability.
Prof. Shafik has developed smart and sustainable cities that enhance urban resilience; innovated low-carbon transport solutions; established smart, sustainable universities that embed environmental values in education; and developed green data centers that reduce energy consumption and carbon emissions. Through his work as Chair of the Research and Development Committee for Circular Economy and Innovation in the United Kingdom, and as Vice-President of the University of East London, he has driven a transformation in institutional culture toward green innovation, integrated sustainability technologies into education, led research on disaster resilience, and advanced green architecture education. He has published more than 200 influential research papers and books and has received international awards from Japan, Europe, and the United Kingdom. Prof. Hassan Shafik holds several senior leadership and advisory positions in Egypt, the United Kingdom, and Qatar, combining academic research with policymaking and industrial impact, and achieving tangible global influence. Accordingly, the nomination affirms that his work embodies the vision of the Award in employing green technology to build communities.
Mr. Glenn Banaguas (Philippines) has sought to harness science in service of impoverished and marginalized groups, dedicating his life to serving disadvantaged communities, such as farmers, fishers, and indigenous peoples affected by climate change. He has provided practical solutions including biofuels, flood and drought forecasting devices, disaster-prediction systems, and sustainable energy and health systems. Mr. Banaguas’ impact has extended globally through the development of net-zero emissions roadmaps for multiple sectors, such as the development of sustainable aviation fuel, and through leading initiatives like the “Climate-Smart Philippines” initiative, which has fortified entire regions against natural disasters, while employing science diplomacy to bring together decision-makers worldwide. His achievements are not limited to innovation and policy; through his research, he has sought to integrate science with compassion, effecting real change that touches the lives of millions.
According to the statute, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina International Award is granted to a distinguished figure in the fundamental or applied sciences, or in literature, arts, social sciences, and the humanities, provided that the recipient has made an outstanding scientific contribution in service of humanity. The Award may also be granted to an institution that has made a distinguished contribution in the subject of the Award.
Prof. Zayed stated that the Judging Committee established a set of rigorous criteria to ensure that the most deserving candidate receives the Award. These criteria include: the relevance of the work to the Award’s theme and objectives; scientific rigor, methodological accuracy, and depth of analysis; innovative treatment and environmental impact in the field of green technology; incorporation of modern technologies; reliability of results and feasibility of application; the number of beneficiaries; and adherence to sustainability principles.
The applied criteria also included the extent to which the outputs align with global trends and the Sustainable Development Goals; the amount of time, effort, and cost invested in preparing the works; reliance on local sources; quality of presentation; compliance with formal submission standards; and the magnitude of the qualitative contribution made by the works toward achieving human well-being and happiness.