The project brings together a team of researchers and practitioners in the UK and Egypt including:
Dr. Karina Rodriguez Echavarria, University of Brighton
She is a Reader at the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering, University of Brighton and academic lead for the Research Centre for Secure, Intelligent and Usable Systems which focuses on both theoretical and practical research in computer science challenges related to software systems; and the digitisation and Virtual Reality (VR) laboratory. She brings to the project her interdisciplinary expertise in the development of digital tools and methods for the documentation and dissemination of historic artefacts within galleries, museums and archives. In addition, she has an academic background in computing and manufacturing focusing on digital transformations in the design and manufacturing of products as well as collaborative product development processes. Her PhD research focused on the development of technologies to support documenting intangible knowledge for the design and fabrication of products and how this can support product development processes across the world; while her more recent research has explored the deployment of digital fabrication methods, including Computer-Aided Machinery and 3D printing. She has led research for addressing global development challenges in collaboration with international research institutions including projects funded by the University of Brighton Global Challenges Development Fund to engage with researchers in Egypt, Brazil and Mexico.
Dr. Omniya Abdel-Barr, Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation
Dr Omniya Abdel Barr is an architect with a multidisciplinary experience in urban conservation, monument restoration and cultural heritage documentation and digitisation. She holds a PhD in history from Aix-Marseille University (2015), an MSc in Conservation from Raymond Lemaire Center in KUL (2004) and a BSc in Architecture from the Fine Arts of Helwan University (2000). Her work is concentrated on Islamic art and architecture with a focus on the Mamluk period (1250-1517) in Egypt and Syria. Since 2012, she has been documenting the looting and destruction in Egypt and has actively campaigned to save Historic Cairo’s architectural and cultural heritage. Omniya has initiated partnerships with respectable international institutions and has set up the structure and funding of her projects. Currently, she is the Barakat Trust Fellow at the Victoria and Albert Museum, leading the digitisation project on K.A.C. Creswell’s photographic collections, in partnership with the American University in Cairo, the Ashmolean Museum and Harvard University. She is also directing projects to rescue Mamluk heritage with the Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation, in which she is trying to set up a structure to preserve the know-how in traditional craftsmanship and create a specialised center in design to promote Historic Cairo’s arts and crafts.
Prof. Tim Weyrich, University College London
Professor of Visual Computing at the Department of Computer Science at University College London (UCL), which emerged as the top computer science department in the UK in the most recent REF2014 (category research strength) and is known for its strength in computer graphics and virtual environments. Prof. Weyrich is part of the VECG group (Virtual Environments and Computer Graphics) that routinely pursues foundational research in an applied and user-centric context. He is also co-founder (2010) of the UCL Centre for Digital Humanities (UCLDH), which attracts people from a wide range of disciplines to develop research and teaching in a multidisciplinary field. UCLDH capitalises on UCL’s world-leading strength in information studies, computer science, and the arts and humanities. It brings together many different departments and centres, including the university’s library services, museums and collections and external partners, such as the British Museum, the British Library and London Metropolitan Archives. From the centre’s creation, Prof. Weyrich served as an Associate Director, and later as its Deputy Director (2014-2021). For the proposed work, his background provides him with invaluable skills and expertise to image, model, document and convey the legacy of Egypt’s historic craftsmanship and manufacture.
Dr. Myrsini Samaroudi, University of Brighton
Dr Myrsini Samaroudi holds a degree in History and Archaeology from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, a MSc in Cultural Informatics and Communication from the University of the Aegean and a PhD from the School of Architecture, Technology and Engineering of the University of Brighton. Myrsini is a member of the Centre for Secure, Intelligent and Usable Systems of the University 0f Brighton. Myrsini has worked as an archaeologist in Greece, as a researcher in academia and as a cultural informatics professional for the integration of IT in the cultural heritage domain. Myrsini has delivered talks, CPDs and seminars about digital documentation and dissemination of cultural heritage information by deploying advanced IT methods. Myrsini’s PhD, held in collaboration with the Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust, examined digitally fabricated replicas of museum artefacts as interpretative “devices” and proposed a framework for their integration and evaluation within experiences for different audience groups. Over the last couple of years Myrsini has worked in various research projects, investigating creative and technology facilitated methods to improve children’s wellbeing; the impact of Covid-19 on heritage institutions; the use of 3D printed replicas and digital 3D-games to enhance museum interpretation; and digital technologies for documenting and accessing intangible heritage knowledge, skills and practices of heritage craft in collaboration with the UCL, the Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation and the V&A.
Nesreen Sharara, Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation
Nesreen is an Egyptian traditional artist and designer with a background in human resource management. She holds a bachelor degree in business administration from Cairo University (2003) and a diploma in human resources management from the AUC (2009). Her passion for art made her join the two-year program at Jameel House for Traditional Arts and Crafts from which she graduated in 2018, majoring in arabesque and woodwork. She has also studied various types of Kufic calligraphy at al-Qalam foundation as an integral part of her interest in Islamic Arts. Nesreen has worked as project manager and facilitator to projects focused on community empowerment and intercultural education for children and youth.
Noha Ali, Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation
Noha is a Swiss-Egyptian architect & product designer & entrepreneur living in Cairo. Born & raised in Geneva, she moved to Cairo at the age of 14, where she continued her studies. Passionate about islamic arts & architecture, After 10 years of full-time job as a principal architect in multinational companies & beside her teaching experience at the French university of Egypt, she decided to study traditional arts & crafts at “The Prince Charles’ foundation of traditional arts” in Cairo & finally got her diploma in 2020 with a major in woodworking. In 2020, Noha launched her own brand for home accessories named “Naïa design house”. It is a design studio creating high-end handmade products inspired by the Egyptian and Middle-Eastern heritage. She creates unique pieces that revive traditional arts by incorporating a modern perspective. Her products integrate different techniques & curated materials such as inlay & woodcarving on natural wood and brass. She always seeks perfection into the smallest detail and the use of environmentally friendly materials to create functional designs that respond to client desires and needs. In 2021, she decided to give different kinds of workshops about woodworking techniques, these workshops are specially designed for helping women & households to learn new handcrafted skills and empower them to work from home & have a better source of income to raise their own families.
Abdelrahman Aboulfadl, Egyptian Heritage Rescue Foundation
Abdelrahman is an Egyptian Woodworker, Islamic Art Specialist and Home Accessory Designer. He graduated from workers university and after graduation He started learning crafts for a two-year at “Jameel House for Traditional Arts and Crafts” majoring in woodwork and arabesque. While studying at Jameel House he joined “Najjar Woodworking” as an Assistant Then, he participated in the “Executive Calligrapher Program” which he learned four types of Kufi Calligraphy. Currently He is teaching Geometric and Floral Ornamental Motifs and Woodworking. His aim is to spreading the teachings related to crafts and Islamic ornaments in a methodological and practical way to avoid their disappearance.
