Nov 15, 2022
Hamed Gohar's 115th Birthday
This Doodle’s Key Themes
Today’s Doodle celebrates the 115th birthday of Hamed Gahar, a renowned Egyptian scientist, marine biologist and TV host. He is considered the founding father of oceanography in Egypt and the Arab world, and hosted an educational show called “Sea World” for 18 years.
Gohar was born on this day in 1907 in Cairo, Egypt. He was a gifted student from an early age and studied medicine at Cairo University in 1925. However, he decided to pursue biology and received his master’s degree in oceanography from Cambridge University in 1931. Gohar then began researching xenia, or soft coral, along the coast of the Red Sea.
Gohar discovered that dugong, a sea mammal that was thought to be extinct in the region, still existed in the Red Sea. He continued studying underwater life for 25 years at the Hurghada marine biological station, and it’s rumored that he never ate fish due to his love for sea creatures.
Gohar made several contributions to Egyptian and Arabic marine biology. He worked with the Arabic Language Academy to create scientific dictionaries in Arabic. He also served as an adviser to the United Nations’ Secretary General and helped organize the first International Conference on Law of the Sea in Geneva.
An entire generation of Arabs know Gohar from his popular TV show, “Sea World”, which he hosted for more than 18 years. By highlighting underwater scenery and natural sea life, Gohar gifted Arabs with inspiring knowledge about marine biology, and is remembered today for his distinct voice and unending love for the ocean.
Happy 115th birthday, Hamed Gohar!
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