Prof. Cherif Khater, President of Mansoura University, bestowed a prestigious honor upon the dedicated research team at the Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center (MUVP).
On Wednesday, August 16, 2023, Prof. Cherif Khater, President of Mansoura University, bestowed a prestigious honor upon the dedicated research team at the Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center (MUVP).
The ceremony, graced by the presence of Prof. Osama El-Ayyan, Dean of the Faculty of Science, Prof. Hesham Sallam, the founder of MUVP, and Dr. Heba El-Desouki, Director of MUVP, served as a tribute to the research team's remarkable achievement - the discovery and meticulous documentation of the "Tutcetus" fossil, hailed as the "king of whales" and estimated to be approximately 41 million years old. The groundbreaking research findings were recently published in Communications Biology.
Expressing immense pride in this monumental discovery, Prof. Cherif Khater emphasized that this achievement marks a significant milestone in the field of paleontology. It distinguishes Mansoura University on both national and international fronts, solidifying the institution's prominence in scientific discoveries within the realm of paleontology. Furthermore, the publication of this research in esteemed international journals elevates the university and Egypt to a newfound scientific standing in this critical scientific domain. During the ceremony, special recognition was accorded to the esteemed members of the research team. This exceptional group comprises Prof. Hesham Sallam, the founder of the Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center, Dr. Mohamed Antar, a distinguished member of the Center's Board of Directors, and Dr. Abdullah Gohar, a member of the research team.
Notably, the ceremony also celebrated the remarkable contributions and discoveries made by the research team and the Sallam Lab team at the Mansoura University Vertebrate Paleontology Center. These invaluable contributions were recently featured in major international scientific journals. The honored members of the research team include Sanaa El-Sayed, Sarah Saber, Shorouq Al-Ashqar, Belal Salem, Mohamed Ahmed, Hossam El-Saka, and Ahmed Morsi, the exceptionally talented paleoartist at MUVP. Mansoura University extends its heartfelt congratulations to the entire team for their unwavering dedication to advancing the frontiers of paleontology and for bringing international acclaim to the university and Egypt through their groundbreaking discoveries.
Tutcetus's article link
Antar, M.S., Gohar, A.S., El-Desouky, H. et al. A diminutive new basilosaurid whale reveals the trajectory of the cetacean life histories during the Eocene. Commun Biol 6, 707 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s42003-023-04986-w