The Faculty of Media and Communication Arts at 6th of October University witnessed the launch of the activities of the “Day Without Screens” initiative under the patronage of Prof. Dr. Mamdouh Mustafa Ghorab, President of 6th of October University, and Prof. Dr. Hesham Tamraz, Vice President of the University for Community Service and Environmental Development Affairs, and under the supervision and attendance of Prof. Dr. Dina Farouk Abu Zeid, Dean of the Faculty of Media and Communication Arts.
The event comes within the framework of the Faculty of Media joining the initiative “A Day Without Screens” launched by Professor Dr. Mona Al-Hadidi, Professor of Media at Cairo University and member of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, with the aim of spreading awareness about the dangers of excessive use of modern technology and the necessity of rationalizing dealing with digital screens to maintain psychological, social and health balance.
The event began with a symposium in which Professor Dr. Dina Farouk Abu Zeid welcomed the attendees, and Professor Dr. Mona Al-Hadidi moderated the symposium In which prominent academic and media figures participated, including Professor Dr. Magdy Badran, member of the Egyptian Society for Allergy and Immunology, Professor Alaa Thabet, Undersecretary of the National Press Authority and Chairman of the Committee for Evaluation and Development of Economic Performance, Professor Dr. Nevin Makram Labib, Vice President of the Egyptian University for Information Systems and Computer Technology, and Professor Hussein El-Zanati, journalist at Al-Ahram and Undersecretary of the Journalists Syndicate, Professor Dr. Imad El-Din Mahmoud Mounir, member of the Egyptian Society for International Law, the Society for Political Economy, Statistics, Legislation and Media, and DrDina Esmat Wali, Professor Dr. Wael Badawi, member of the Communications and Information Technology Council at the Academy of Scientific Research, Professor Nevin Shehata, editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram newspaper, and artist Mohamed El-Sawy, composer and singer.
The symposium addressed the challenges posed by modern technology to contemporary lifestyles, in addition to spreading awareness about rationalizing the use of technological innovations so that we do not reach the stage of addiction. The symposium stressed the need to achieve a balance between benefiting from technological development, avoiding its risks, and maintaining the quality of life.
The event included showing videos of the initiative “A Day Without Screens”, then a musical segment presented by students of the college's music club, in which Maryam Muhammad, Shahad Sayed, Judy Adel, and Ilaria Refaat participated.
After the symposium ended, the attendees listened to interventions from college students about their participation in the initiative and their experiences .