Founder of Bibliotheca Alexandria Dr. Ismail Serageldin to deliver an opening lecture in reinstated lecture series “Readings by World Leaders” at the UL

“I am gratified that the lecture series “Readings by World Leaders” will be reinstated in the UL with open lectures by the leading professionals of different fields. Meeting remarkable people and the opportunity to listen to their opinions and gaining experience makes us more knowledgeable, broadens our horizons and allows the Latvian society to view important matters in a global dimension, thereby strengthening our country,” – the importance of the series is accentuated by the President of Latvia, Raimonds Vējonis. Dr. Ismail Serageldin is the founder and longstanding director of the largest library in Egypt – the new Library of Alexandria. He has protected the identity and mission of the library during crisis of the state power. He has published more than 100 books and monographs and over 500 scientific papers on a variety of topics, including biotechnology, rural development, sustainability, and the value of science to society. “Serageldin to this day retains his position as an excellent example of an academic universalist, who addresses the most significant topics to society in a profound and understanding manner from the developmental context of the world. Whether these are the problems related to democracy or genetically modified organisms, he has the ability to notice and define the connections and progressive directions of the problems,” underlines the Rector of the UL Indriķis Muižnieks. Dr. I. Serageldin’s contribution to the advancement of the education and science in Egypt is immense. “The Bibliotheca Alexandrina includes more than 11 research centres, publishes books, organizes conferences and events, offers lectures about science and culture, and establishes education centres for children in the most remote parts of Egypt. It is like a bright lighthouse of knowledge and culture at both national and international level,” says the former President of Latvia (1999–2007) Prof. Dr. Vaira Vīķe-Freiberga. “Dr. Serageldin is an excellent orator and admirably diverse and erudite person, who is enjoyable to listen to not only because of the elegance of the performance but also the richness of the content.” The former Rector of the UL and Presidential Lecture Series Co-founder Prof. Mārcis Auziņš also highlights Dr. I. Serageldin’s skill to call attention to the topics important to society. “In today's world of information the ability to comprehend what is the truth and what is not is crucial and, at the same time, a special talent. Information in the media, especially social media, increasingly often is purposefully directed and created with an intention. We have met this situation only lately, and it is vital for the society to understand how to avoid being taken in and how to distinguish false information from the truth,” indicates M. Auziņš. Media and other social representatives are kindly invited to participate at the first gathering of the reinstated “Readings by World Leaders” on September 28, at 16:00 at the Small Hall of the UL, where the opening lecture about fake news will be presented by the Founding Director of the Library of Alexandria, Dr. Ismail Serageldin. The lecture will be held in English. The Presidential Lecture Series “Readings by World Leaders” commenced at the same year as the 90^th anniversary of the University of Latvia, following the encouragement of the President of Latvia at that time, Valdis Zatlers. Until today, the lecture series have included speeches by such globally recognised leaders as the founder of the World Economic Forum Klaus Schwab; philanthropist and entrepreneur, the vice chairman of the U.S. President's Barack Obama Advisory Council on Financial Capability John Hope Bryant; the UK BBC News main programme anchor Nik Gowing; former President of Croatia Ivo Josipovic and many more. Presidential Lecture Series are being reinstated following the initiative of the President of Latvia Raimonds Vējonis and the Rector of the UL. The objective of these events is to provide academic, intelligence and media representatives with an opportunity to attend lectures delivered by people who have gained worldwide recognition in various fields, presenting a broader perspective on global, economic, political and social questions, and to to promote targeted development in diverse fields.   “The central idea of these reading sessions is to create an academic quality,  , at the same time, also emphasize the political importance. To provide academic argumentation regarding various initiatives by the President, to display the good principle that the public administration’s progressive ideas are not accidental and democracy is based on the understanding and opinions of experts,” the Presidential Lectures Series “Readings by World Leaders” objectives are explained by the UL Rector Prof. I. Muižnieks. He also underlines that, while helping to create the lecture series, the University aims to emphasise the role of science and education in development of society. The readings will take place three to four times per year, and the next lecture is scheduled in November this year.