1001 Nights –v– 1001 Inventions:
Muslim Scientific Heritage in our World
Salim T S Al-Hassani
Emeritus Professor, University of Manchester
Chairman, Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation
Thursday 29 March 2007 @ 6pm
After the fall of the Roman Empire there was an extraordinary period of scientific activity radiating from Baghdad and along a glittering crescent through North Africa, Spain and into Southern Italy for about a thousand years after 600 CE. The RSA is delighted to announce a lecture in Manchester by Professor Salim Al-Hassani which will showcase some of the fascinating inventions of this period and explore their relevance to today's world and society. Al-Hassani will also consider the "1001inventions" project and the challenge of using "edutainment" techniques to transfer historical information into an interactive touring exhibition. Can the popularisation of such knowledge contribute to social cohesion in the UK and the wider world?
About the speaker:
Professor Al-Hassani is one of the UK's most senior professors in Mechanical Engineering, having been appointed to a Chair at the University of Manchester Institute of Science & Technology (UMIST) in 1991. He was an undergrad at UMIST (1962-65), participating during his student days in the fledgling Muslim student organisations of the 60s. Today, he is an acknowledged world expert in the decommissioning of offshore installations and in major plant-related accident investigations. He served as an expert witness in the enquiry into the Piper Alpha oil rig disaster (1988). His other special interest is the history of Islamic science where he has made his mark in the application of applied modern engineering analysis to the machines of Al-Jazari and Taqi Al-Din, recreating their work in 3-D. He is Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Foundation for Science Technology and Civilisation.
Venue: Royal Northern College of Music, 124 Oxford Road, Manchester, M13 9RD http://www.rncm.ac.uk
This event is FREE and open to the public but advance booking is necessary. Reserve seats by booking online at http://www.theRSA.org or contact:
RSA Lectures, 8 John Adam Street, London WC2NEmail: lectures@rsa.org.uk
Telephone: 020 7451 6868 Fax 020 7839 5805
Information on all RSA lectures online: http://www.theRSA.org
