The Joint Fund Research Symposium took place on June 5, 2024 at the Ain Shams University Innovation Hub in Cairo, Egypt. With over 100 attendees from the United States and Egypt, the research symposium aims to explore how science-based cooperation can advance innovation and diplomacy between the U.S. and Egypt. 

Professor Gough, along with her colleague Dr. Abeer El Shaway of Suez Canal University presented their collaborative research findings from a project entitled Rethinking Wastewater Treatment: At the Convergence of Water Pollution Prevention, Agricultural Water Reuse and BioEnergy Recovery. Gough’s research team included SEFS postdoc Dr. Indrajit Chakraborty (now faculty at IITB) and SEFS undergraduate students Jaminfaye N Reduque, Kavin Tran, Kelsey Mosqueda, and Isha Mandavilli. 

Gough, a PI on the research project, said of the symposium, “This was a fantastic opportunity to interact face-to-face with the joint research project’s Egyptian team members, meet the staff of the sponsoring organization (USAID and NASEM), and learn from the other US and Egyptian research teams. It is an honor to be a part of a program that promotes both scientific discovery and diplomacy. Besides the wonderful science, an additional highlight was a group outing to Royal Mummy Hall at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization.”