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The Astrophysics Outreach Team are are pleased to inform you of the next public debate in the new series entitled “The Big Questions” on topical themes in modern astrophysics and cosmology.

In each debate, a member of the Astrophysics Group discusses one of the big questions raised by cutting-edge research with a guest, be it the origin of the Universe or the existence of black holes. The series is accessible to everybody and is aimed at the general public, who will have the opportunity to ask questions in what will be a lively and interactive discussion.

We are delighted to announce that the next event is organized in collaboration with the Dana Centre, and will have the format of a Cafe Scientifique at the d.cafe of the Dana Centre.

Professor Jim Al-Khalili (University of Surrey) and Dr Rim Turkmani (Imperial College London) will discuss how Arab science spearheaded the scientific revolution. The event will be chaired by Alison Boyle.

The event is freebut registration is essential. Please visit http://www.danacentre.org.uk/  or email tickets@danacentre.org.uk to book.

Background

While the Western world was still engulfed in the Dark Ages, Arab astronomers profoundly changed our relationship with the skies, transforming our percepetion of the heavens: from an entity that mastered our destiny, the sky became an object of scientific study, well before Galileo. Arabs absorbed the legacy of Greek, Indian and Persian astronomy, and contributed key developments, for example by insisting that no model should be taken for granted if it doesn’t fit with observations. Join our speakers, Dr Rim Turkmani and Prof Jim Al-Khalili, in an exciting exploration of the Arabic roots of modern astronomy, discussing how Arab science influenced the renaissance and spearheaded the scientific revolution.

Speakers

Professor Jim Al-Khalili is a professor of physics at the University of Surrey and is also the University’s first Professor of the Public Engagement in Science. He is author of several successful popular science books, so far translated into 13 languages. Jim is a regular contributor to radio and television science and history of science programmes, including presenting the recent BBC series, Science and Islam, and he is currently writing a book on medieval Arabic science to be published by Penguin Press next year. In 2007, he received the Royal Society Michael Faraday medal and prize for science communication. Jim is vice president of the British Science Association and a senior advisor to the British Council on science and technology.

Dr Rim Turkmani is the holder of the Royal Society Dorothy Hodgkin Research Fellowship at Imperial College London. Beside her research on solar flares and particle acceleration, Rim works actively on the history of Arabic/Islamic science and its influence on the renaissance and the scientific revolution. On this subject she participated in several TV and radio documentaries, consulted exhibitions and gave numerous talks to a wide range of audiences. She also took part in TV and public debates on science and religion. She strongly supports education as the main way forward for development, and to this aim she established the Damask Rose Trust, a UK-based charity which supports education and development in Syria, her home country.

Venue Dana Centre, for info and bookings, see http://www.danacentre.org.uk/

For further info about the Big Questions series, contact:

BigQuestions@imperial.ac.uk
Tel: 020 7594 7531
or visit http://www.imperial.ac.uk/astrophysics
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