Sciences and Humanities are two complementary halves of a whole. Siblings from a historical and systematical perspective, they are both – each in its own way - indispensable for the making of the modern world. Their objectives and approaches differ fundamentally, but they contribute both to our knowledge of nature, society and culture. How can we exactly describe the differences between them, and what results from it? What is their mission and how can we specify their impact? Do they enjoy the amount of public support that is necessary to perform successfully and competitively? Do they dispose of sufficient means and what are the adequate structures to sustain research and innovation? Two experts from sciences and humanities will discuss the potentials and challenges characteristic of their fields.

Prof. Mahmoud Sakr has been appointed President of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology (SART) in 2014 following his position as the Executive Director of the Science and Technology Development Fund (STDF) from 2012-2014. Prof. Sakr received a Ph.D. in Plant Biotechnology in 1995 and the National Research Centre Price for Scientific superiority in biotechnology in 2009. He has held various leading academic positions and received national prices distinguishing his academic career.

Prof. Dr. Stefan Leder, philologist and historian, is Professor of Arabic and Islamic Studies at Halle University, Germany, and since 2007 director of the Orient-Institut Beirut. Prior to this engagement, he was chairman of an interdisciplinary research centre funded by the German Research Foundation (DFG) at his home university. His academic experience combines quality management, the organization of research agendas, academic teaching and publishing, fund-raising.

The debate will be chaired by Dr. Jan Claudius Völkel, Visiting Professor and long-term lecturer of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) at the Faculty of Economics and Political Science, Cairo University.

The Dialogue on Social Innovation is jointly organized by the Cairo offices of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), Freie Universität Berlin, and the Orient-Institut Beirut (OIB).