14/08/23

Mohammed Yahia, Arab science journalism icon, dies at 41

Mohammed Yahia was a firm supporter of SciDev.Net and an inspiration to many in the field of science journalism. Copyright: Mohammed Yahia / SciDev.Net

By: Nehal Lasheen

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<div id="article-introduction">
<h1>Mohammed Yahia, Arab science journalism icon, dies at 41</h1>
<h4>By: Nehal Lasheen</h4>
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<p>Great shock and sadness befell the Arab and international science <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/communication/journalism/">journalism</a> community after losing one of its most important young actors.</p>
<p>Mohammed Yahia, the former executive editor of <em>Springer Nature</em> in the Middle East, died on Friday (11 August), aged 41, having battled a rare form of cancer for many years.</p>
<p>Before joining Nature in 2010, Yahia had worked for a number of prestigious science media organisations, including as regional editor for the Middle East and North Africa at <em>SciDev.Net</em>. He was president of the World Federation of Science Journalists from 2017-2019.</p>
<p>“Mohammed was always proud of his work with <em>SciDev.Net</em> and the value it brings to society,” said Ola Al-Ghazawy, Yahia’s wife. “It has added a lot to his legacy.”</p>
<p>About Yahia’s relationship with <em>SciDev.Net</em>, Nadia El-Awady, also a former president of the WFSJ, said: “Mohammed worked for about a year at <em>SciDev.Net</em>, a platform that has a special place for most science journalists.”</p>
<p>She also commented on the great connection Yahia had with <em>SciDev.Net</em> despite the short period he spent working there.</p>
<p>He used to say: “My relationship with <em>SciDev.Net</em> is a special one”, El-Awady reflected.</p>
<p>She noted that Mohammad was closely associated with <em>SciDev.Net</em> founder David Dickson, one of the greatest supporters of science journalism in the global South.</p>
<p>“We all mourned his passing and still our grief is very great,” she added in reference to Dickson.</p>
<p>Yahia never hesitated since he left <em>SciDev.Net</em> to provide support or cooperation, and he gave <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/supported-content/science-journalists-face-challenges-of-fake-news-era/">a rich interview</a> on science journalism in 2019 as president of the WFSJ.</p>
<p>Bothina Osama, regional coordinator for Middle East and North Africa region at <em>SciDev.Net</em>, said: “Mohammed handed over to me the coverage of the Middle East and North Africa region in 2010 and, despite his move to work in Nature, he was always asking and checking that everything was going well with <em>SciDev.Net</em>, and his joy was overwhelming with the opening of the Arabic MENA edition.</p>
<p>“Mohammed will leave a huge void in the Arab science media, which will be difficult to fill for a long time. We will miss you, Mohammed.”</p>
<p>Yahia graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Cairo University in 2004 and began his career in the field of science journalism by working as an assistant editor in the English science section of <em>IslamOnLine</em> in 2006.</p>
<p>As well as his other roles, he went on to become one of the founders of the <a href="http://www.astf.net/index.php/en/astf-networks-4-en">Arab Science Journalists Association</a> (ASJA), working to promote science journalism in the region.</p>
<p>Only last month, Yahia announced his new position as editor-in-chief of the magazine of the American Chemical Society, Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN).</p>
<p>Sadly, however, he passed away on the flight on his way to the American city of San Francisco to attend the association’s annual conference.</p>
<p>He had been diagnosed in 2014 with a <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/health/disease/">disease</a> called myelofibrosis, a rare type of bone marrow cancer.</p>
<p>Yahia leaves behind two children, Zeina, 14, and Zakaria, aged seven.</p>
<p>His memory and legacy will live on among the science journalism community, through his achievements and support for the many young journalists who gained experience from him.</p>
<p>The smiling face that did not leave him throughout his career, despite his incurable illness, will long be remembered, and he will remain an inspiration to many for years to come.</p>

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<p>This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.scidev.net" target="_blank">SciDev.Net</a>. Read the <a href="https://www.scidev.net/global/news/mohammed-yahia-arab-science-journalism-icon-dies-at-41/" target="_blank">original article</a>.</p>
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Great shock and sadness befell the Arab and international science journalism community after losing one of its most important young actors.

Mohammed Yahia, the former executive editor of Springer Nature in the Middle East, died on Friday (11 August), aged 41, having battled a rare form of cancer for many years.

Before joining Nature in 2010, Yahia had worked for a number of prestigious science media organisations, including as regional editor for the Middle East and North Africa at SciDev.Net. He was president of the World Federation of Science Journalists from 2017-2019.

“Mohammed was always proud of his work with SciDev.Net and the value it brings to society,” said Ola Al-Ghazawy, Yahia’s wife. “It has added a lot to his legacy.”

About Yahia’s relationship with SciDev.Net, Nadia El-Awady, also a former president of the WFSJ, said: “Mohammed worked for about a year at SciDev.Net, a platform that has a special place for most science journalists.”

She also commented on the great connection Yahia had with SciDev.Net despite the short period he spent working there.

He used to say: “My relationship with SciDev.Net is a special one”, El-Awady reflected.

She noted that Mohammad was closely associated with SciDev.Net founder David Dickson, one of the greatest supporters of science journalism in the global South.

“We all mourned his passing and still our grief is very great,” she added in reference to Dickson.

Yahia never hesitated since he left SciDev.Net to provide support or cooperation, and he gave a rich interview on science journalism in 2019 as president of the WFSJ.

Bothina Osama, regional coordinator for Middle East and North Africa region at SciDev.Net, said: “Mohammed handed over to me the coverage of the Middle East and North Africa region in 2010 and, despite his move to work in Nature, he was always asking and checking that everything was going well with SciDev.Net, and his joy was overwhelming with the opening of the Arabic MENA edition.

“Mohammed will leave a huge void in the Arab science media, which will be difficult to fill for a long time. We will miss you, Mohammed.”

Yahia graduated from the Faculty of Pharmacy at Cairo University in 2004 and began his career in the field of science journalism by working as an assistant editor in the English science section of IslamOnLine in 2006.

As well as his other roles, he went on to become one of the founders of the Arab Science Journalists Association (ASJA), working to promote science journalism in the region.

Only last month, Yahia announced his new position as editor-in-chief of the magazine of the American Chemical Society, Chemical & Engineering News (C&EN).

Sadly, however, he passed away on the flight on his way to the American city of San Francisco to attend the association’s annual conference.

He had been diagnosed in 2014 with a disease called myelofibrosis, a rare type of bone marrow cancer.

Yahia leaves behind two children, Zeina, 14, and Zakaria, aged seven.

His memory and legacy will live on among the science journalism community, through his achievements and support for the many young journalists who gained experience from him.

The smiling face that did not leave him throughout his career, despite his incurable illness, will long be remembered, and he will remain an inspiration to many for years to come.