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It is with deep regret that we inform the scientific community of the passing of Dr. Ahmed Abdel Hady, Professor Emeritus of Astrophysics, Cairo University. Dr. Hady was also co-Vice Chair of the African Future Earth Committee (AFEC) when it was established in 2015 and has been the Chair of the same Committee since November 2017. Professor Hady was Vice-Chair of IAGA Interdivisional Commission on Developing Countries (2015-2018) until the time of his death and he previously chaired IAGA History of Science Group (2005 -2012). He also organized and chaired SOC&LOC of International Unions Conferences (IAU233 Symposium 2006 in Cairo, and Initiated IAU, MERAIM (The 1st Middle East and Africa Regional IAU Congress 2008)). He organized the International Symposiums IAGA I-2009, IAGA II - 2010, IAGA III - 2012, and IAGA - IV in March 2016 with French colleagues, as well as a NATO/ARW workshop in Reykjavik, Iceland, in 2010 with American colleagues.

He attended more than 90 international scientific conferences all over the world. Despite being in a very advanced stage of his illness, he still managed to attend the Future Earth Seedbeds Conference in Port Elizabeth, South Africa in May this year, making the arduous trip from Cairo and listening and partaking in the meeting. He was delighted to be able to introduce himself to the wider community at the official dinner.

Professor Hady worked tirelessly to try and establish a vibrant Future Earth community in Africa, building strong links with main players in other parts of the globe. In other spheres, he made several notable contributions to Solar Physics and Space Science. He published more than 100 scientific publications (papers/articles), including many peer-reviewed journal articles and more than 20 books (in Arabic) for Simplification (popularization) of Science. He was awarded the Egyptian State Prize in popular science publications (2004, 2012). Professor Hady was a member of the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics (IUGG) and Egyptian IUGG coordinator, International Solar Energy Society (ISES) and more than 20 other national and international scientific societies. 

At home in his own country, Professor Hady also made many significant contributions. He was Secretary-General of the Egyptian Council of Space and Remote Sensing (2008 – 2016). He was Secretary-General of the Standing Committee of the promotion of professors, Supreme Council of Universities (2012- 2016).

We as the Future Earth community and the African Future Earth Committee valued our brief time spent with Professor Hady. We extend our sincere and heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.