Mostafa Fawzy became interested in physics in high school. It was the "elegance and paradox" of quantum theory that got his attention and led to his studies at the undergraduate and graduate level. But even with a solid foundation of coursework and supportive mentors, Fawzy wanted more. MIT Open Learning's OpenCourseWare was just the thing he was looking for.
Now a doctoral candidate in atomic physics at Alexandria University and an assistant lecturer of physics at Alamein International University in Egypt, Fawzy reflects on how MIT OpenCourseWare bolstered his learning early in his graduate studies in 2019.
Part of MIT Open Learning, OpenCourseWare offers free, online, open educational resources from more than 2,500 courses that span the MIT undergraduate and graduate curriculum. Fawzy was looking for advanced resources to supplement his research in quantum mechanics and theoretical physics, and he was immediately struck by the quality, accessibility, and breadth of MIT's resources.
"OpenCourseWare was transformative in deepening my understanding of advanced physics," Fawzy says. "I found the structured lectures and assignments in quantum physics particularly valuable. They enhanced both my theoretical insight and practical problem-solving skills - skills I later applied in research on atomic systems influenced by magnetic fields and plasma environments."
He completed educational resources including Quantum Physics I and Quantum Physics II , calling them "dense and mathematically sophisticated." He met the challenge by engaging with the content in different ways: first, by simply listening to lectures, then by taking detailed notes, and finally by working though problem sets. Although initially he struggled to keep up, this methodical approach paid off, he says.
Fawzy is now in the final stages of his doctoral research on high-precision atomic calculations under extreme conditions. While in graduate school, he has published eight peer-reviewed international research papers, making him one of the most prolific doctoral researchers in physics working in Egypt currently. He served as an ambassador for the United Nations International Youth Conference (IYC), and he was nominated for both the African Presidential Leadership Program and the Davisson-Germer Prize in Atomic or Surface Physics , a prestigious annual prize offered by the American Physical Society.
He is grateful to his undergraduate mentors, professors M. Sakr and T. Bahy of Alexandria University, as well as to MIT OpenCourseWare, calling it a "steadfast companion through countless solitary nights of study, a beacon in times when formal resources were scarce, and a living testament to the nobility of open, unbounded learning."
Recognizing the power of mentorship and teaching, Fawzy serves as an academic mentor with the African Academy of Sciences, supporting early-career researchers across the continent in theoretical and atomic physics.
"Many of these mentees lack access to advanced academic resources," he explains. "I regularly incorporate OpenCourseWare into our mentorship sessions, using it as a foundational teaching and reference tool. It's an equalizer, providing the same high-caliber content to students regardless of geographical or institutional limitations."
As he looks toward the future, Fawzy has big plans, influenced by MIT.
"I aspire to establish a regional center for excellence in atomic and plasma physics, blending cutting-edge research with open-access education in the Global South," he says.
As he continues his research and teaching, he also hopes to influence science policy and contribute to international partnerships that shine the spotlight on research and science in emerging nations.
Along the way, he says, "OpenCourseWare remains a cornerstone resource that I will return to again and again."
Fawzy says he's also interested in MIT Open Learning resources in computational physics and energy and sustainability. He's following MIT's Energy Initiative, calling it increasingly relevant to his current work and future plans.
Fawzy is a proponent of open learning and a testament to its power.
"The intellectual seeds sown by Open Learning resources such as MIT OpenCourseWare have flourished within me, shaping my identity as a physicist and affirming my deep belief in the transformative power of knowledge shared freely, without barriers," he says.
