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Thursday, 01 July 2010 08:09 |
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In the Middle East, a growing science culture is challenging preconceived notions of religion, commerce, and the role of women in society. Arab scientific innovation is not just a facet of history books. It is happening now.
By RASHA DEWEDAR When it comes to the Muslim world, the media often focuses on foreign policy, terrorism and the differences between the Muslim world and the West. But in the book 1001 Inventions: Muslim Heritage in Our World, University of Manchester’s Professor Salim Al-Hassani draws a different picture of Muslims, highlighting their artistic and scientific progress. This progress, in fact, was the spark that initiated most modern Western advances in medicine, mathematics and science starting in the 16th century.
But Muslims around the world are also contributing to innovation today. In the Middle East this contribution is evidenced in the growing science culture. One of these projects is Stars of Science, a pan-Arab television contest showcasing young Arab innovators aged 18 to 30. It is the first of its kind: a Middle Eastern science-based reality television show. read more
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