Gihan Kamel facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Gihan Kamel
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| Born | 1976 |
| Nationality | Egyptian |
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| Known for | Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East |
| Scientific career | |
| Fields | Physics |
Gihan Kamel is an Egyptian physicist. She is famous for her work as a scientist on a special project called SESAME. This project uses very bright light to study tiny things. Gihan Kamel lives in Jordan.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Growing Up and School
Gihan Kamel's mother is a doctor. Her father is a teacher. When she was young, some people thought science and engineering were only for boys. This idea made Gihan even more determined. It became her biggest reason to work in science.
Studying Physics
Gihan studied physics at Helwan University in Cairo, Egypt. She earned her first two degrees there. These were a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) and a Master of Science (MSc). Her master's degree focused on solid-state physics. This is the study of how solid materials behave.
After that, she moved to Italy. In 2011, she earned her Ph.D. (Doctor of Philosophy) from the Sapienza University of Rome. Her Ph.D. was in biophysics. This field combines physics with biology to understand living things.
Career and Research
Teaching and SESAME Project
Gihan Kamel is a teacher at Helwan University. She teaches Biophysics there. Since the mid-2000s, she has been very interested in the SESAME project.
What is SESAME?
SESAME stands for "Synchrotron-light for Experimental Science and Applications in the Middle East." It is a big science project. Nine different countries work together on it. These countries are Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Jordan, Pakistan, Turkey, Palestine, Iran, and Israel. SESAME is a special laboratory. It uses powerful light to help scientists study many things. They can look at ancient objects or new medicines. Gihan Kamel is currently the only woman scientist working on this important project.
Public Recognition
In 2015, Gihan Kamel gave a presentation at a TED conference. She spoke about "Breaking the Rules." Her talk was well-received.
In 2023, the science magazine Nature chose her. She was one of six women asked to share their thoughts. This was for International Women's Day. Other scientists included Sandra Diaz and Jess Wade.
In 2025, Gihan received a special honor. She was given the John Wheatley Award. She shared this award with two other scientists. Their names are Simon Connell and Sekazi Mtingwa.
