Research and Creativity Convention (RCC) 2026

Research and Creativity Convention
March 29 – April 2, AUC New Cairo

The RCC provides a platform for researchers, both AUC faculty and students, to promote their work and communicate with their peers. The event enhances knowledge-sharing, encourages interdisciplinary research collaboration and supports projects that help local communities or generate economic value.

Opening Ceremony
Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 4 – 6 pm | Moataz Al Alfi Hall
Keynote: “DNA Testing for Well-Being and Sports Enhancement” Hisham Issa, managing director of Cell Safe Cord Blood Bank and founder of Apex Laboratories Egypt, will discuss how advances in DNA analysis and diagnostic technologies are shaping new approaches to performance, nutrition, recovery and long-term health.

Faculty Research Pitch
First Rounds: Tuesday, March 24, 2026 | 12 – 3:30 pm | Alwaleed Hall P071
Faculty members present their research clearly and engagingly to a non-specialist audience in just three minutes. Participants explain their study’s goal, the problem it addresses and the knowledge it advances—without slides or notes. The competition highlights effective communication and showcases the breadth and real-world impact of research across The American University in Cairo.

EURECA
March 29 – April 2, 2026 | CVC P019 and P022 (all day, check schedule for detailed timings)
AUC's annual gathering of undergraduate students who share with an academic, multidisciplinary audience their best scholarly and innovative research and creative work. Undergraduates from all disciplines, from the first year to capstone, are invited to participate.

Science Slam
Sunday, March 29, 2026 | 12 – 2 pm | Moataz Al Alfi Hall
Young researchers showcase their innovative ideas in a creative and concise presentation to a non-specialized audience. The Science Slam aims to share the ideas of young participants with the general public. This will enhance the contestants’ communication skills and inform the audience of the latest scientific developments.

Graduate Poster Competition
Monday, March 30, 2026 | 1 – 3 pm | Moataz Al Alfi Hall
Graduate students present their research using posters. Research posters are a common presentation medium that engages a walking audience through text and attractive visuals. The presented idea should be complete and self-explanatory so that a viewer can understand the poster, even without a presenter.

Music Performance by Nesma Mahgoub ’13
Monday, March 30, 2026 | 4 pm | Bassily Auditorium
Singer and alumna Nesma Mahgoub will give a special performance at RCC 2026. Known for her versatile voice, she performs in multiple languages and musical styles. She is also known for voicing Queen Elsa in the Arabic version of Disney’s Frozen.

Design Thinking Long Day Sprint
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 9 am – 5 pm | CP 16 and CP 17, School of Sciences and Engineering
The RCC Design Thinking Sprint is an introductory experience, designed to immerse participants in the design thinking process and mindset, applied to a real-world project, in collaboration with a challenge partner. This day-long experience is facilitated by the Center for Learning and Teaching and offers participants a first-hand experience of design thinking to solve complex innovation problems with a creative mindset in diverse teams.

Liberal Arts Symposium
Tuesday, March 31, 2026 | 9 am – 5 pm | Moataz Al Alfi Hall
The Liberal Arts Symposium is a multidisciplinary platform where faculty and graduate students from various disciplines come together to share their current research and teaching innovations and engage in critical discussions about their professional practices.

The AI Spotlight: Advancing Research and Creative Horizons
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 1 – 2 pm | Moataz Al Alfi Hall
An activity focused on exploring the use of AI tools in academic research. This initiative invites all full-time faculty members at AUC to share their experiences with AI technologies that have enhanced their scholarly work.

Master's in Television and Digital Journalism Capstone Screening Session
Wednesday, April 1, 2026 | 1 – 2 pm | Mary Cross Hall
Session: “Exploring Society Through Storytelling: A Showcase of Student Documentaries.” Television and digital journalism master's students screen their award-winning capstone documentaries.

Closing Ceremony
Thursday, April 2, 2026 | 1 – 2 pm | Moataz Al Alfi Hall
Faculty Research Pitch, second round. Associate Provost for Research closing remarks and winners announced.

To register your attendance, please click here: https://forms.gle/T2jeLa9vtueogfp39

For the detailed schedule, please click here: https://www.aucegypt.edu/research/convention/schedule

For more information about the RCC, please click here: https://www.aucegypt.edu/research/convention