Professor Mohamed Hussein, President of Tanta University, announced a new scientific achievement that further strengthens the international standing of Egyptian research. Prof. Yehia Ahmed Shaaban El-Naggar, Professor of Honey Bee Biology at the Faculty of Science, participated in an international research team comprising scientists from China, the United States, and Germany. The team made a groundbreaking discovery published in the prestigious journal Nature, reshaping the conventional understanding of the mechanisms underlying honey bee queen development.

   The study demonstrated that queen development is not determined solely by royal jelly, as had been widely believed for decades. Rather, it also depends on the sophisticated bioengineering role of worker bees in constructing queen cells with highly specific physical and chemical properties that genetically direct larval development. This achievement stands as a testament to the leadership and excellence of Egyptian scientists and their ability to contribute to and lead international research collaborations aimed at solving some of the most complex biological mysteries.

   The University President congratulated Prof. El-Naggar on his distinguished research accomplishments and his subsequent international recognition through the award of a Gold Medal by the Republic of Slovenia during an official ceremony attended by the President of Slovenia and the Slovenian Minister of Agriculture. The award was received on his behalf by the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Slovenia. He affirmed that Tanta University will continue to provide a fertile environment for supporting innovation and excellence while raising Egypt’s profile in international academic and scientific forums.

   For his part, Professor Hatem Amin, Vice President for Graduate Studies and Research, stated that publishing this study in one of the world’s most prestigious scientific journals reflects the success of the university’s strategy of internationalizing research and fostering partnerships with leading global research institutions. He noted that the study introduced a new conceptual framework demonstrating that the environments created by social organisms are active forces influencing evolutionary processes, rather than merely passive settings for development. He further emphasized that the university’s research sector remains committed to supporting innovative studies that contribute directly to enhancing the university’s international ranking.

   It is worth noting that Prof. Yehia El-Naggar is ranked among the top 2% of scientists worldwide and has an impressive record of 88 international publications. The research team included distinguished institutions such as the Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, the University of Tübingen in Germany, and the University of California in the United States, making this collaboration a notable example of transcontinental research excellence.