EIMAN ELGEWELY

Assistant Professor of Interior Design,

Director of the Visualization and Virtual Reality Lab(VVL)

School of Design, AAD,

Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University.

https://archdesign.caus.vt.edu/faculty/elgewely-ph-d-eiman/

http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Elgewely_Eiman

https://scholar.google.com/citations user=O88JDlIAAAAJ&hl=en

https://vvrlab.tech/

2022 - Present

Building Performance Simulation of Traditional Dwellings in the Arab World: The Educational Virtual Model of Sheikh Isa House, Muharraq, Bahrain.

2021 - Present

Return to the Tomb: Re-contextualizing an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus at the cemetery of Saqqara in Virtual Reality.

2014 - Present

Reviving Karanis in 3D

https://www.revivingkaranis3d.com/

2008 - 2011

3D Laser Scanning & Virtual Simulation of Luxor City (Level 1, 2)

Worked as the Modeling Team Leader of the project at the Informatics Research Institute, City of Scientific Research & Technological Applications, Borg El Arab, Alexandria.

2009 - 2010

3D Laser Scanning & Virtual Simulation of The Giza Pyramid Plateau

Worked as the Modeling Team Leader of the project at the Informatics Research Institute, City of Scientific Research & Technological Applications, Borg El Arab, Alexandria.

Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology, Major SEAD Grant Award 2024

Proposal: “Breathing Life into Meketre's Tomb Models in VR: A Spatial Storytelling Immersive Experience."

Institute for Creativity, Arts, and Technology, Major SEAD Grant Award 2023
Proposal: “Building A Sustainable Future by learning from the past: Reinterpreting Passive Sustainable Design through Immersive Virtual Heritage Environments.”

Faculty Initiated Research Grant (SEED Grant Award) 2022
Proposal: “Building Performance Simulation of Traditional Dwellings in the Arab World: The Educational Virtual Model of Sheikh Isa House, Bahrain.”

Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning Teaching Group Grant 2022
Group members from the College of Architecture, Art and Design (AAD) explored strategies for developing interdisciplinary media collaborations for curricular and co-curricular activities in the newly formed College of Architecture, Arts, and Design.

New Faculty Mentoring Grant, Virginia Tech 2022

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Instructional Innovation Grant 2021

Prince Clause Mobility Fund 2017
Host Institution: Cotsen Institute of Archaeology, UCLA

Fulbright Outreach Lecturing Fund 2014
Host Institution: African Studies Center, Michigan State University (MSU), East Lansing, Michigan

Fulbright Visiting Scholar Research Grant 2013
Host Institution: Experiential Technologies Center, School of Art & Architecture, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)

Virtual Heritage School on Digital Cultural Heritage Fellowship 2013
Organized by the Cyprus Institute and V-MUST (Virtual Museum Transitional Network) – Nicosia, Cyprus

Ford Foundation Travel Grant 2007
Funded travel expenses for the Generative Art Conference, Milan, 2007

Institute of Creativity, Art and Technology Day People Choice Award  2024

Exhibition Title: Bringing AI to the Interior Design Studio

Date of exhibition: April 29, 2024

AAD Certificate of Excellence in Research and Creative Scholarship 2024

College of Architecture, Art and Design Certificate of Excellence and Creative Scholarship, Virginia Tech

Best Paper Award at the Cultural Heritage and New Technologies (CHNT) Conference, 28th in Vienna, Austria. 2023
Paper Title: Sustainable Traditional Arab Dwellings in VR: The Educational Virtual Model of Sheikh Isa House, Bahrain.
Date of Presentation: November 16, 2023.

School of Design Excellence in Scholarship Award, Virginia Tech. 2023
Recognition at the 2023 School of Design Awards for excellence in scholarship.

 
Best Poster Presentation Award 2023
Best Poster Presentation Award at the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) Conference, Vancouver, Canada, 2023.
Poster Paper: Bringing VR to the Classroom: Integrating Virtual Heritage Projects as Part of the History of Interiors Curriculum.

Best Teaching Practice Award 2019
Best Teaching Practice Award 2019, 3rd Sharing the Good Teaching Practices Forum organized by the Applied Science University of Bahrain.

Distinguished Arab Researcher Award 2016
Nominated for the Distinguished Arab Researcher Award 2016 in the field of Arts by the Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University. Sponsored by the Arab Universities Union.

Digital Heritage Congress 2013
Best Poster Paper Award for: Authenticity and Jurisdiction
Poster Paper: Virtual Cultural Gates: Exploring Cyberspace Potentials for Creative Cultural Heritage, Marseille, France.
http://www.digitalheritage2013.org/awards/

Egypt Design + Industry Competition 2012
Furniture Collection under the name "Khamsa" (Evil Eye Hand), inspired from the ancient Egyptian heritage.
Sponsor: Egyptian Furniture Export Council (EFEC), Chamber of Woodworking and Furniture Industry (CWWFI).
Silver Award.

Alexandria University Innovation & Entrepreneurship Day 2011
Sponsor: Alexandria University in cooperation with United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
Second Prize.

Conference Papers

• Elgewely E. & Whitney B. (2024): Bridging Human Creativity and Technology: AI in Interior Design Education. In Interior Design Educators Council Annual Conference (IDEC 2024). New York, USA.

• Elgewely, E., Tucker, T., Hicks, D., & Ogle, T. (2023, November 15). Sustainable Traditional Arab Dwellings in VR: The Educational Virtual Model of Sheikh Isa House, Bahrain. In Cultural Heritage and New Technology (CHNT 28), Vienna. Vienna, Austria.

• Elgewely, E., Sullivan, E., Lucarelli, R., & Lang, M. (2023, January 18). Virtual Reality as "Virtual Traveling": Re-imagining the Sarcophagi of Psamtek and Padinese. In Ancient Egypt – New Technology Conference, University of Naples 2023.

• Elgewely, E. (2023, March 8). Bringing VR to the Classroom: Integrating Virtual Heritage Projects as Part of the History of Interiors Curriculum. In The Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC), 2023. Vancouver, Canada. https://idec.org/annual-conference/

• Elgewely, E. (2022). Accumulated Layers of Historical Information Visualized in a 3D Immersive Environment. In Future Bodies 2022 New Media Caucus Symposium.

• Sullivan, Lucarelli & Elgewely, E. (2022). From the Museum Back to the Tomb: Re-contextualizing an Ancient Egyptian Sarcophagus at the Cemetery of Saqqara in Virtual Reality. In ARCE's 2022 Annual Meeting, Irvine, California.

• Elgewely, E. (2021). From PowerPoint Presentations to Digital Storytelling: An Educational Approach Based on the "Reviving Karanis in 3D" Project Case Study. In International Conference of Terra Mosana: Sustainable Digital Heritage, Maastricht, Netherlands. https://www.maastrichtuniversity.nl/

• Elgewely, E. (2021). Virtual Heritage as a Spatial Storyteller: The "Reviving Karanis in 3D" Project Case Study. A paper submitted to the ARCE's 2021 Annual Meeting, April 23-25, 2021.

• Elgewely, E. & Wendrich, W. (2015). “Reviving Karanis in 4D: Reconstruction of Space through Time,” Ebook Proceeding of Cultural Heritage & New Technologies (CHNT). https://www.chnt.at/chnt-20-2015-proceedings/

• Elgewely, E. & Wendrich, W. (2015). “Virtually United in Real Time: Museum Collections and Archaeological Context Explored,” Digital Heritage International Congress, IEEE, Granada. (IEEE Explore, Scopus) https://digitalheritage2015.sched.com/list/descriptions/

• Elgewely, E. (2015). “From Museum to Virtual Environments: Reuniting Photogrammetric 3D Models of Karanis Archaeological Objects in their Original Settings,” Polish-Egyptian Seminar on Protection of Cultural Heritage, Bibliotheca Alexandrina. https://www.bibalex.org/en/News/Details?DocumentID=13029&Keywords=

• Elgewely, E. (2014). “Reviving Karanis: The Re-contextualization of Archaeological Objects in 3D,” Theoretical Archaeological Group (TAG) Conference, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.

• Elgewely, E., Sheta, W., & Metawalli, M. (2013). “Virtual Cultural Gates: Exploring Cyberspace Potentials for Creative Cultural Heritage: An Experimental Design Approach for the Online 3D Virtual Environments,” Digital Heritage International Congress, IEEE, Marseille. (IEEE Explore, Scopus) https://digitalheritage2013.sched.com/event/16drMbS/t6-p-2-posters-session-2

• Elgewely, E. (2007). “Developing Cyberspace as a Digital Extension to Future Interior Spaces,” 10th Generative Art Conference (GA2007), Milan.

Journal Papers

• Elgewely E. & Ali M. (2024). Sustainable Traditional Arab Dwellings in VR: The Educational Virtual Model of Sheikh Isa House, Bahrain. Heritage Journal, (Cultural Heritage and New Technologies: From NextGen Approaches to Paradigm Shifts).(In Review).

• Elgewely, E. (2017). “3D Reconstruction of Furniture Fragments from the Ancient Town of Karanis,” Studies in Digital Heritage, 1(2), pp. 409-427. (Directory of Open Access Journals - DOAJ) https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/sdh/article/view/23340

• Wendrich, W., Simpson, B., & Elgewely, E. (2014). “Karanis in 3D: Recording, Monitoring, Re-contextualizing and the Representation of Knowledge and Conjecture,” Near Eastern Archaeology Journal, 77(3), pp. 233-237. (JSTOR, Scopus) https://scholarworks.iu.edu/journals/index.php/sdh/article/view/23340

• Elgewely, E. (2023). The Future of Our Past: Cultural Heritage and Digital Technology. In International Conference on Cities' Identity Through Architecture & Arts (CITAA) - 7th Edition. Virtual.

• Elgewely, E. (2021). Keynote Speech at the 5th International Conference on Conservation of Architectural Heritage (CAH5th) Conference. Virtual. https://www.ierek.com/events/CAH5th#conferencetopics

• Elgewely, E. & Whitney, B. (2023, March 8). Clouds of Thought: An Installation Built of Repurposed Studio Paper Models. In The Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC), 2023, Vancouver, Canada. https://idec.org/annual-conference/

• A Webinar on the Development Plan for the Museum of Fine Arts in Alexandria (Visual Identity, Collections Interpretation & Conservation Management), organized by the Heritage Science Program, Egypt-Japan University for Science & Technology (E-JUST), June 12, 2020. https://webinar.ejust.edu.eg/webinar/Development-Plan-for-the-Museum-of-Fine-Arts-in-Alexandria-Visual-Identity-Collections-Interpretation-&-Conservation-Management

• Organized and Moderated an Introduction Session to “The Beautiful Handicrafts of Tohoku” Exhibition, Liberal Arts & Culture Center, Egypt-Japan University for Science & Technology (E-JUST), January 28, 2018.

• Reviving Karanis in 3D, Alexandria Center for Hellenistic Studies, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, November 2014. http://www.bibalex.org/hellenisticstudies/News/Details.aspx?ID=2017

• Reviving Ancient Karanis Town in a 3D Virtual World, at Kelsey Museum of Archaeology, University of Michigan, May 29, 2014. https://lsa.umich.edu/kelsey/news-events/all-events/archived-events/2014/05/lecture-reviving-karanis-in-3d-.html

• A talk among Saints Alive; Saint Matthew's Ministry to Older Adults, June 27, 2014.
  Title: "Discussion on Egypt's Politics and Art."

• A lecture at the Costen Institute of Archaeology Open House, UCLA, May 10, 2014.
  Lecture Title: "Virtual Karanis: The Story Behind a Greco-Roman House Revealed in 3D."

• Eye on Africa Lecture Series at the African Studies Center, Michigan State University (MSU), East Lansing, Michigan, April 17, 2014.
  Lecture Title: "Art & Culture in Egypt Before & After the Revolution." http://eyeonafrica.matrix.msu.edu/2014/05/april-17th-2014-eiman-elgewely/

• Panel on Egypt entitled: "Egypt at the Crossroads," UCLA, organized by Fulbright Association, UCLA, February 22, 2014. https://www.international.ucla.edu/institute/article/140242?fbclid=IwAR395S0ahNpFBcvUhy_hVS508L2gUAli29z38M2GBoVhX9Fa1wWDFCFCpKI

• Inaugural lecture for the new museum program at the University of California Santa Barbara (UCSB), Department of Art & Architecture History & Museum Studies, February 19, 2014.
  Lecture Title: "Towards Virtual and Real Museum Extended Interaction."

An Immersive Exploration of an Arabian Home: A Journey Through Time and Tradition 2024

360 interactive video installation at the Cyclorama

Venue: Sandbox, Moss Arts Center.

Sustainable Heritage Exploration: The Virtual Educational Application of Sheikh Isa House in Bahrain 2024

Venue: Moss Arts Center

Bringing AI to the Interior Design Studio 2024

Venue: Moss Arts Center

Sustainable Heritage in VR: Explore Sheikh Isa House, Bahrain 2024

Venue: Gensler, Washington, DC.

The Educational Model of Sheikh Isa House 2023
Venue: Holtzman Alumni Center, Virginia Tech
https://aad.vt.edu/engage/highlights.html

Faculty Initiated Research Grant (FIRG) Exhibition 2023
Venue: Cowgill Hall, Virginia Tech

ICAT Creativity and Innovation Day 2023
Venue: Moss Arts Center, Virginia Tech

Faculty Triennial Exhibition 2022
Venue: Moss Arts Center, Virginia Tech

DEI Instructional Innovation Challenge Exhibition 2022
Venue: Cowgill Hall, Virginia Tech

Bahrain International Design Week (BIDW) 2019
Designing & Co-curating the Exhibition Booth of the Applied Science University of Bahrain (ASU) that displayed selected student projects from the Arts & Design Department
Venue: The Avenues Bahrain, Manama, Kingdom of Bahrain
https://www.asu.edu.bh/2019/02/university-participation-in-bidw-2019/

http://www.albiladpress.com/newspaper/3772/552747.html

Beautiful Handicrafts of Tohoku, Japan 2018
Designing & Co-Curating the Exhibition that displayed selected handicrafts from the Tohoku region in Japan. The exhibition was held in collaboration with the Japan Foundation, Cairo office
Venue: Head Quarters Building, Egypt-Japan University for Science & Technology, Borg El Arab, Alexandria, Egypt
https://www.jpf.go.jp/e/project/culture/exhibit/traveling/handcraft_tohoku.html

http://www.albawabhnews.com/2920034

Design is a Verb 2013
A selection of recycled furniture design student projects resulting from the “Furniture Design” Course conducted and supervised by Eiman Elgewely at the Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University
Venue: Western Hall, Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Egypt
https://www.bibalex.org/en/News/Details?DocumentID=4821&Keywords=

Design Hub - Furnex International Furniture Fair 2012
Participating in Furnex Furniture Fair with a Furniture Collection under the name "Khamsa" (Evil Eye Hand), inspired by Egyptian heritage
Sponsor: Egyptian Furniture Export Council, Chamber of Woodworking and Furniture Industry
Venue: Young Designers Hall, Cairo International Convention Center

• Founding Director of the Visualization and Virtual Reality Lab (VVL) at the School of Design, Virginia Tech - 2021~present.
• Committee Member of the Honorifics Committee, School of Design, Virginia Tech - 2023-present.
• Committee Member of the Honorifics Committee, School of Design, Virginia Tech - 2021-2023.
• Interior Design Program Coordinator, College of Arts & Sciences, Applied Science University of Bahrain - 2019~2020.
• Chair of the Academic Advising Committee, College of Arts & Sciences, Applied Science University of Bahrain - 2019~2020.
• Member of the Scientific Research Committee, College of Arts & Sciences, Applied Science University of Bahrain - 2018~2019.
• Former Secretary of the Decor Department Board, Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University - 2012~2013.
• Board Member of the Artistic and Architectural Skills Development Services Center, Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University - 2012~2013.
• Academic Advisor for Master's & Ph.D. Degree students, helping students in writing research proposals.
• Supervisor of a number of Master's & Ph.D. theses, including the following titles:
• Heritage Values and Handicraft Professions and their Relevance to Interior Design in Kuwait.
  The Impact of Digital Technology on Form Finding in Interior Architecture.
  Regenerative Interior Architecture and Engaging it with the Environmental and Economic Development Process.
  Tectonic Technology and its Applications in Interior Architecture.
  New Technology and Methods of Improving Interior Space Performance (A Case Study and Comparison Between Bibliotheca Alexandrina and Kuwait National Library).
  The Development of the Interior Design of Sports Clubs in Alexandria Governorate.
  Interior Design of Healthcare Clinics in Kuwait.
  Design Concepts for Developing Slums in Kuwait.
  The Effect of Surface Texture on the Interior Space Environment.
  

Memberships

• Faculty Affiliate of the Center of Human-Computer Interaction (CHCI), Virginia Tech University since January 2023.
• Member of the Interior Design Educators Council (IDEC) since 2020.
• Member of the American Research Center (ARCE) in Egypt since 2020.
• Member of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) since 2014.
• Member of Plastic Arts Syndicate in Egypt since 2002.

Peer Reviewing

• Reviewer of IDEC Regional Conferences 2023.
• Ad Hoc Reviewer of the Journal of Interior Design since 2020.
• Reviewer and Juror of the Fulbright Egypt Student Program since 2013.
• Reviewer of Cultural Heritage and New Technologies Conference, Vienna, Austria.
• Reviewer of Studies in Digital Heritage Journal (SDH).
• Reviewer of Digital Humanities Conference 2020, 2021, 2022.

Modern Furniture Design 2012
A training program on modern furniture design organized by the Möbel Akademie, Germany, in collaboration with the Egyptian Furniture Export Council (EFEC) and the Chamber of Woodworking and Furniture Industry (CWWFI), Cairo, Egypt. Coached by the designer Michael Schneider.

RIEGL Laser Scanning 2009-2010
Training program on RIEGL Terrestrial Laser Scanner & Riscan Pro Software organized by the Informatics Research Institute, City of Scientific Research & Technological Applications, at RIEGL Laser Measurement Systems, Horn, Austria.

I-Site Studio-3D Laser Imaging 2007
Training program on I-Site 3D Laser Scanner & Software organized by the Informatics Research Institute, City of Scientific Research & Technological Applications, Borg El Arab, Alexandria.

Center: Alexandria University Faculty and Leadership Developing Center [FLDC]

• Designing and Developing the Digital Course Content 2017
• Innovative Problem-Solving and Decision-Making 2017
• References Management Systems 2017
• Funded Research Projects Implementation and Research Team Management 2017
• Quality Standards in the Education Process 2011
• International Publishing of Scientific Research 2011
• Preparing Research Project 2011
• Research Ethics 2011
• Conference Organization 2011
• Legal & Financial Aspects in University Environment 2011
• Exams and Students Evaluation System 2011

Prof. Brad Whitney
Associate Professor and Chair, Interior Design
School of Architecture + Design
Virginia Tech
201 Cowgill Hall (0205)
Blacksburg, VA 24061
p: 540.231.5383
Email: whitneyb@vt.edu

Prof. Dr. Diane Favro
Former Associate Dean, Academic Affairs
Professor of Architecture & Urban Design
Director of the Experiential Technologies Center,
School of Art & Architecture, University of California Los Angeles (UCLA)
5308 Math Sciences Building
Email: dfavro@arts.ucla.edu / dgfavro@gmail.com

Prof. Dr. Willeke Wendrich
Joan Silsbee Chair of African Cultural Archaeology
Professor of Egyptian Archaeology
UCLA Dept. of NELC / Cotsen Institute of Archaeology
397 Humanities Building
415 Portola Plaza
PO Box 951511
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1511
+1 310 206 1496
Email: wendrich@humnet.ucla.edu