Within the activities of the presidential initiative (A New Beginning for Human Development), and under the auspices of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zein El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, Prof. Ghada Farouk, Vice President for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, and Prof. Hossam Tantawy, Dean of the Faculty of Archaeology, the Environmental Projects and Community Development Unit at the Faculty hosted, on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, Dr. Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Director of the Historic Cairo Development Project and Chairman and Managing Director of the Sound and Light Company.

In his speech, Dr. Basem Mohamed, Acting Vice Dean of the Faculty for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, stressed that preserving archaeological sites and heritage areas is a national and societal responsibility that requires concerted efforts among all, noting that the lecture comes within the framework of the Faculty of Archaeology's support for Egypt's Vision 2030, which aims to enhance awareness of the importance of cultural heritage, and encourage scientific research and practical application in this important field.

During the meeting, Dr. Mohamed Abdel Aziz gave a comprehensive lecture on archaeological sites and heritage areas, in which he discussed how to deal with these sites during restoration and rehabilitation operations, with a focus on achieving sustainability and preserving them. He also reviewed the technical and engineering challenges associated with the rehabilitation of archaeological buildings, especially those suffering from surface water problems, and methods of identifying the different needs when planning to restore these buildings after several visits to a single site, and determining its social dimension and taking it into account.

The lecture was widely attended by faculty staff and students, who praised the prominent role played by the Faculty of Archaeology in raising awareness of the importance of preserving cultural and historical heritage.