Department of Entomology

On my own behalf and on behalf of my colleagues, the faculty members of the Department of Entomology, I am pleased to welcome you to the department’s webpage, and I am delighted to present a brief overview of the department.

When the Faculty of Science at Cairo University was established in 1925 at Zafaran Palace in Abbassia, it was only natural that the zoology program would include one or more courses in entomology. This was indeed implemented in 1928, when the subject was taught by **Prof. Dr. Hassan Shaker Aflatoon**, who had been appointed at that time as an assistant professor in the Department of Zoology. Prior to that, he had served as Director of the Entomology Department at the Ministry of Agriculture.

In 1930, a chair of General Entomology was established at the Faculty of Science—the first of its kind at Cairo University—marking the beginning of the development of entomology studies within the faculty. Soon thereafter, teaching expanded to include second- and third-year students. In 1937, the Department of Entomology was granted an independent budget separate from the Department of Zoology, which provided appropriate resources for both teaching and research. Consequently, an entomology division was established within the zoology program, offering a variety of specialized courses in different branches of entomology. A considerable number of students graduated from this division, some of whom pursued postgraduate studies leading to master’s and doctoral degrees in entomology.

In 1948, an independent Department of Entomology was established, equipped with all the necessary resources to advance toward broader horizons of development and progress. In the same year, the first bachelor’s degree in entomology was introduced in two forms: the special degree and the general degree (Entomology–Chemistry). In 1952, a new building for the Department of Entomology was constructed in Giza, fully equipped with laboratories, lecture halls, advanced facilities, a large museum hall, an insect collection, a library, and a separate building for insect rearing, in addition to other educational, scientific, and research facilities. With this preparation, it became the largest university department of entomology in Egypt. In that same year, the first cohort of students graduated with both general and special bachelor’s degrees in entomology.

The Department of Entomology at the Faculty of Science, Cairo University, has played an important role in supporting entomology across universities and research centers. It contributed to the establishment of the Department of Entomology at the Faculty of Science, Ain Shams University, assisted in developing applied and research insect collections at Assiut University, and contributed to the establishment of the Department of Entomology in Benha (Zagazig University). The department also played a role in establishing the Entomology Research Unit at the National Research Centre and a similar unit at the Atomic Energy Authority. Its contributions to these institutions included setting scientific policies, curricula, theoretical and practical courses, and preparing qualified academic staff.

Moreover, the Department of Entomology established a unique field laboratory—the Insect Research Station in Wadi El-Natrun—where numerous laboratory and field studies have been conducted on various insect pests.

Accordingly, the Department of Entomology seeks to be a leading center of scientific excellence and innovation in the field of entomology. It strives to actively contribute to achieving national goals, particularly in the areas of food security and public health, by providing sustainable solutions to protect food from insect pests, control insect-borne diseases, and enhance environmental awareness. This is achieved by preparing a new generation of graduates and specialists capable of addressing future challenges with advanced research and applied skills.

With best wishes for success.