Code with a Conscience

When Ebram Raafat Thabet stepped on campus four years ago, he felt he had very little exposure to different types of people. “I was simply someone who loved computer science and wanted to study it at the best university in Egypt,” he said.

Now a computer science senior, Thabet has studied abroad, ranked among the top 10% of students in his major, received the AUC Exemplary Student Award and earned recognition in multiple sustainability competitions. He is also a valued member of the AUC chess team, an internationally rated chess player, and has completed internships in AI and software engineering.  “I became much more socially adept and proactive in seeking out new opportunities,” he reflected. “I grew into a more intellectual person and stronger leader.”

Thabet knew from an early age that he wanted to study computer science, and his passion for the field grew over time. “I loved transitioning from being a standard computer user to becoming a creator,” he said.

The Change Leaders Scholarship gave Thabet the opportunity to pursue his interests at the University. “I was able to discover internships and new opportunities at AUC, even connecting with scholarship graduates who came back to share their experiences — from getting into master's programs to launching their own startups,” he said.

Thabet is also involved in several research projects, including one sponsored by Microsoft and another AUC project focused on urban air mobility, in collaboration with The University of Osaka. During his studies, Thabet also had the opportunity to study abroad in the United States, spending time at Temple University in Pennsylvania. “I got to visit a place that truly feels like a cultural melting pot, which allowed me to get to know so many different cultures up close,” Thabet said. “I lived in the same apartment with people from Asia, Africa and the U.S., and each of them brought a completely different perspective and lifestyle,” he said.

A Top 10 finalist and grant recipient in the USAID Social and Green Entrepreneurship Program for Methmelt, an initiative he worked on to help reduce methane gas emissions. Thabet won first place in AUC’s Sustainability and Climate Resilience Competition. “Sustainability and climate impact are causes close to my heart,” Thabet said. “People are usually blamed for causing climate change and environmental damage, but I think we forget that people are also the key to solving this. A good example is how the ozone layer has been recovering, largely because of human effort and action. We shouldn’t lose sight of that.”

“Many people who need this kind of content don’t have the money to pay for it, so having it available for free in their own language makes a real difference.”

Between research, competitions and his studies, you might think Thabet would have his hands full. Yet he has also interned as an AI developer, building large language model agents for enterprise clients, and as a software engineer for Hassan Allam Properties. He taught programming to children and youth through iSchool, served as a data science lead at Google Developer Student Clubs and currently works with International Schooling as a programming tutor for more than 80 international students. Thabet is also an ambassador for the International Computer Science Competition, mentoring peers in competitive programming.

“Teaching feels like one of the most meaningful ways to give back to a community,” Thabet said. “I've always wanted to have a positive impact on people’s lives, and teaching allows me to do that.”

Thabet’s commitment to teaching extends beyond the classroom. He started a YouTube channel called Be Tech Bo, where he explains AI and programming concepts in Arabic to more than a million viewers. “Tech is a fast-moving field, and Arabic speakers often don't have easy access to up-to-date information,” Thabet said. “Many people who need this kind of content don't have the money to pay for it, so having it available for free in their own language makes a real difference.” Even when a video doesn’t perform as well, Thabet said it’s rewarding when viewers comment that a tutorial helped them or ask for more.

Reflecting on his most memorable moment at AUC, Thabet recalled receiving the Exemplary Student Award for balancing academics and cocurriculars. “It was the first time my family ever came to visit the University, and having them there with me along with my friends meant so much,” he said. “Hearing my name called was completely unexpected, and that’s what made it so unforgettable. I thank God for that.”

For Thabet, making the most of the AUC experience is all about being open to what the University has to offer. He encourages students to build genuine connections; seek out internships; try something new, whether through clubs, activities or unique sports such as padel; and make use of University resources, including the Career Center and Writing Center. He also recommends taking advantage of opportunities to study abroad through an exchange semester. Above all, his advice is simple: “Keep trying, and keep trying again,” he affirmed.