IRCICA Newsletter, issue 82-83

Conference on “Astronomers in Islam and their
contribution to world history of science” at IRCICA
conference on “Astronomers in Islam and their
A contribution to world history of science” was organised at
IRCICA in cooperation with the Metropolitan Municipality of
Istanbul, on 7-8 May 2010. The Secretary General of the OIC
Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu and the Metropolitan Mayor of
Istanbul Arch. Dr. Kadir Topbaş were present at the opening
ceremony held at Çit Qasr, Yıldız Palace.
The conference was attended by historians of science from
Europe, Kazakhstan, Syria, and Turkey. In his welcoming
address the Director General of IRCICA Dr. Halit Eren recalled
that the conference was planned within the framework of the
International Year of Astronomy commemorated by the UN
and that events related to the Year were continuing in Turkey
and elsewhere. He underlined the objectives of the meeting
pointing out that celebration of the 400th year of the use of the
telescope by Galileo with this Year would be incomplete without
paying tribute to the astronomers of Islam whose works were
transferred into and contributed to European science. Dr. Eren
outlined the Centre’s activities in the field of history of science
in Islam, especially the long-term programs that were launched
from the 1980s onwards under the direction and editorship of
Prof. İhsanoğlu.
The Mayor of Istanbul Dr. Kadir Topbaş expressed his pleasure
to see Istanbul increasingly host significant academic and
cultural events. In its 8500-year old civilisational history and
its 15000 year-old history as a place of settlement, Istanbul
hosted important scientific developments, and particularly
in this context, he referred to the observatory that was built
on the European side by the Ottoman astronomer Taqi el-
Din. He paid tribute to the astronomers in Islam. He said that
these astronomers have duly noted and acknowledged their
borrowings from other cultures and sources.
Prof. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, Secretary General of the OIC,
expressed his pleasure that the conference was organised with
the cooperation of the Metropolitan Municipality of Istanbul.
He renewed his gratitude to Architect Dr. Kadir Topbaş, Mayor
of Istanbul, for his support of international academic and
cultural events in general, and those of IRCICA in particular.
He said that “during Dr. Topbaş’s Mayorship the city of Istanbul
has become a world metropolis, and he has also played a role
in the selection of Istanbul as a joint European Capital of
Culture 2010. This is an acknowledgment of the historic role
Istanbul has played for millennia as the capital of successive
civilisations of western and eastern origin.” The Secretary
General commended IRCICA for successfully carrying out
with its research programs on history of science. He expressed
his happiness to be meeting colleagues from various countries,
old friends and new friends.
During the working sessions Professor William Shea form
Padua University, Italy, spoke of “Galileo’s Discovery of A New
World in the Heavens: A Step Along the Route Opened by
Islamic Astronomers and Scholars”.
Dr. François Charette from the University of Frankfurt
presented spoke of “Astronomy and its Practitioners in the
Mamluk Sultanate”.
Prof. Atilla Bir (Istanbul Technical University) and Prof.
Mustafa Kaçar (Istanbul University) presented a paper on
the activities and the innovative contributions of the Turkish
mathematician, astronomer and cosmologist Ahmet Ziya
Akbulut, particularly his book on the Quadrant.
The paper by Prof. Jan P. Hogendijk from Utrecht University
was on “Three Instruments for Finding the Qibla: Islamic
Astronomy or European Cartography?”
Prof. Moustafa Mawaldi from the University of Aleppo spoke
of “Mathematicians and Astronomers in the Ottoman Period:
Astronomical
Madrasa of Qadi
Zada al-Rumi”.
Prof. Yavuz Unat
from Kastamonu
University spoke
of “Islamic
Astronomy and
its Effects on the
West”.
Dr. Laura
Yerekesheva from
the Institute of
Oriental Studies,
Kazakhstan,
spoke of “Science
and Religion:
Medieval Islamic
Scholars and
Astronomers in
Central Asia”.
Discussions
followed
the paper
presentations.
May-August, No: 82 / September-December 2010, No: 83 Newsletter 21