A scientific visit by Dr. Douglas Rainey to Beni Suef University to implement a research program for extracting oils from medicinal plants

Dr. Tarek Ali, Acting President of Beni Suef University, announced that the university will host a distinguished scientific visit by Professor Douglas Rainey, Professor of Chemistry from South Dakota State University, for three weeks. Professor Rainey will conduct a specialized research program on extracting oils from medicinal and aromatic plants, in close collaboration with the Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research and several faculties within the university

The university president emphasized that the American expert's visit reflects the university's alignment with the national strategy of strengthening international cooperation. This initiative is part of Beni Suef University's commitment to implementing the Fulbright Program, which directly supports the Egyptian government's vision of fostering international partnerships, transferring global expertise, and enhancing the efficiency of the scientific research system

He added that the visit directly benefits the academic and research work at the university, noting that Dr. Douglas participated in a research project and completed scientific and research tasks at the Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, in addition to visiting a number of the university’s colleges, including the College of Science, the College of Pharmacy, the College of Graduate Studies for Advanced Sciences, the College of Agriculture, the Laser Institute and the National University, during which he held fruitful lectures and scientific meetings with faculty members and researchers, and contributed to opening new horizons for scientific and research cooperation

The university president noted that what the visiting professor witnessed at the university—advanced research capabilities, well-equipped laboratories, and robust scientific collaboration—reflects the significant progress the university has made in recent years

He emphasized that exchanging such international expertise contributes to opening new research horizons related to extraction and industrial applications, which supports the university's focus on scientific research aimed at serving industry and society

The university president noted that through Dr. Douglas's research, South Dakota State University became one of the first signatories of the "Green Chemistry Commitment," where he serves as a member of the advisory board and received the American Chemical Society's Environmental Improvement Committee Award for integrating sustainability into chemistry education

Dr. Adel Gouda, Dean of the Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, explained that the visit came at a crucial time to support the institute's development plans. Dr. Douglas had previously collaborated with the institute, contributing to the organization of the first international scientific conference of the Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Research, titled "Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: From Production to Consumption," held at the Nile Corniche Conference Center. This collaboration also included field visits and communication with factories specializing in extracting oils from medicinal and aromatic plants. Dr. Gouda emphasized that the exchange of expertise with Professor Douglas significantly enhanced the research project