University Of Sharjah Participates In UNESCO Chair Conference On Knowledge Exchange With Latin America

The Sharjah International Foundation for the History of Arab and Muslim Sciences (SIFHAMS) at the University of Sharjah took part in the third International Conference of the UNESCO Chair. This event was hosted by Ibn Haldun University in Istanbul. The conference, themed "Transcontinental Exchange of Knowledge and Building Scientific Bridges between the Islamic World and Latin America," was a collaborative effort by Ibn Haldun University’s Alliance of Civilisations Institute, SIFHAMS, and the UNESCO Chair at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

Prof. Mesut Idriz, Director of SIFHAMS, delivered a keynote speech focusing on historical knowledge exchanges between the Islamic world and Latin America. He highlighted Al-Andalus's scientific contributions and Muslim navigators' roles in early mapping and seafaring. Prof. Idriz stressed that these developments had a global impact, urging for a broader understanding of the "discovery of the New World" to include Muslim civilisation's intellectual and cultural influences.

Prof. Idriz advocated for joint research initiatives to foster collaboration between scholars from the Islamic world and Latin America. He emphasised creating platforms for young researchers to share expertise, especially in humanities, digitisation, and heritage preservation. This approach aims to enhance mutual understanding and cooperation across continents.

The conference also featured scholars from the University of Sharjah presenting research on various topics. These included digital heritage preservation, scientific diplomacy, intercultural dialogue, and astronomy. Their presentations underscored the importance of knowledge exchange in advancing scientific and cultural engagement.

Prof. Jairo Lugo-Ocando, Dean of the College of Communication, along with Prof. Nadia Al Hosani, Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Design, moderated several sessions during the conference. These sessions focused on scholarships' roles in promoting knowledge exchange and fostering scientific collaboration between regions.

One notable session chaired by Prof. Idriz was titled "Entangled Histories: Islamic-Latin Encounters and Cross-Continental Knowledge Flows." This session delved into cultural and economic exchanges that have historically shaped relations between these regions.

The conference successfully highlighted how historical interactions have influenced modern scientific collaborations between different cultures. By recognising these shared histories, participants aimed to build stronger bridges for future academic partnerships.

With inputs from WAM