"AFTER a certain high level of technical skill is achieved, science and art tend to coalesce in aesthetics, plasticity and form. The greatest scientists are always artists as well." Einstein Archive 33-257. Applying this quotation, the German University in Cairo (GUC) is introducing the newest scientific technology in an artistic way. The idea of mixing art and science two disciplines which obviously require creative thinking is presented in the ‘Aesthetics of Chipdesign' exhibition. On the occasion of its golden jubilee in Egypt, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has donated a number of artworks to GUC. These artworks, which are adorning the walls of the new GUC conference hall until tomorrow, are like a landscape viewed from an aeroplane. You notice the colours but not the details, although you are aware of the contrast in the colours. The artworks are mainly pictures showing the central processing unit or the core of the computer, the microprocessor or chips, through a microscope, allowing the designer to impose his or her personality on them. "Though people think of the devices related to technology as very tedious and coarse and of their production as a very scientific and standard process, this exhibition, surprisingly, shows just how many aspects of technology can be overlooked as we don't notice them or think about them," said Ashraf Mansour, the prime founder of GUC. "This exhibition merges science and art, two fields which need creative thinking," he told the gathering at the conference on Sunday. These paintings, donated by the DAAD and Research Institute for Discrete Mathematics at the University of Bonn and the Arithmeum, the mathematics museum owned by it, are a tool for promoting the transfer of German technology and know-how. GUC has three faculties of engineering (Information Engineering & Technology, Media Engineering & Technology and Engineering & Material Sciences), as well as a faculty of Applied Arts & Design. "The students of both branches, engineering and arts, can learn a lot from this new, clear merger of in fact three disciplines: mathematics, technology and art," he told the gathering. According to Mansour, mathematics, especially discrete mathematics, plays a direct role in the technology of chip design, which is really new and is a fantastic proof and a compelling example that we should all convey to the younger generation, "to fascinate and to attract them to study basic sciences and engineering, because they would mostly like become managers rather than scientists or engineers". The designing of these electronic chips, resulting from complicated calculations which are made by the fastest computers, may take weeks. "The chip designs are named after famous people. One is called 'Ashraf' after GUC's prime founder, in tribute to his pioneering role in enriching the scientific communication with Germans and enhancing the applied scientific research in Egypt," said Korte Bernhard, Professor and Director, Research Institute for Discrete Mathematics, University of Bonn. The Research Institute for Discrete Mathematics has more than 20 years of experience in applying discrete mathematical methods to chip design. The algorithms, effective methods for solving a problem expressed as a finite sequence of instructions and methods developed at this institute, known as ‘BonnTools', are widely used in industry. Today, leading IT companies, such as IBM, Motorola, TI, Toshiba, Cisco, Apple etc., all use BonnTools, which have designed more than 1,500 highly complex chips. "Chip design is a fascinating and highly important area of applied mathematics. The knowledge of mathematics of chip design is still somewhat limited," added Bernhard, who is also the Designer of Highly Complex (VLSI) Logic Chips and Microprocessors with Methods of Discrete Mathematics. Ina Prinz, the Director of the Arithmeum and the artist who produced these artworks, said that chip designing is wonderful for everyone. She even colours the chips to highlight their beauty. "We capture the chip design to see the similarities between the artistic work and reality. I want to include the details not just the general shape," she said, pointing out at one of her chip designs. "This is a wonderful event, a blend of science and beauty. It also reflects the good co-operation between DAAD and GUC," Christian Bode, the Secretary-General of DAAD, told The Egyptian Gazette. Bode, who has been in this job since 1990, eyes more cooperation between his organisation and GUC. "We would like to develop joint diploma courses. We will also work together with Egypt to develop Sub-Saharan Africa. I think Africa needs this cooperation," he stressed. "This event is another chapter in the 50-year success story of the DAAD in the field of international co-operation and promoting mutual understanding globally," concluded German Ambassador in Egypt Michael Bock.
