In a new achievement that reflects the academic and research excellence of the Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design (IUSD) Program at Ain Shams University, under the patronage of Prof. Mohamed Diaa Zain El-Abedeen, President of Ain Shams University, researcher Ahmed Badr El-Din achieved a global achievement by winning second place in the DAIDA Foundation International Award for Urban Theses, which witnessed strong competition with the participation of 40 theses from 22 academic institutions in 11 countries, under the title “Urbanism and Nature: Addressing the Contradiction.”

The award was given for his outstanding thesis, “Evaluating Water-Scarcity-Aware Urban Design Interventions in Historic Sites: The Khalifa District of Historic Cairo as a Case Study,” which highlighted innovative strategies for water conservation in the heritage urban fabric.

Ahmed Badr El-Din also received an additional grant to fund the implementation of the applied aspect of his thesis, which will allow him to implement his pioneering ideas on the ground in Cairo, enhancing the impact of his research in the field of sustainable urban design.

This achievement reflects the researcher’s tireless efforts, in addition to the scientific support and guidance he received from his supervising professors: Prof. Ahmed Sami, Prof. Leonie Fisher, and Dr. Samia Saad.

It also reflects the keenness of the IUSD program team, led by Prof. Mohamed Salehin and coordinators Dr. Mirham Qalaj and Engy Samir, to support the program students not only to complete their academic degree requirements but also to gain recognition on the international stage.