Istanbul: The Sharjah International Foundation for the History of Arab and Muslim Sciences (SIFHAMS) of the University of Sharjah participated in the third International Conference of the UNESCO Chair, held at Ibn Haldun University in Istanbul. The event, 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).
According to Emirates News Agency, Prof. Mesut Idriz, Director of SIFHAMS, delivered a keynote address where he examined the historical pathways through which knowledge flowed between the Islamic world and Latin America. He discussed the scientific legacy of Al-Andalus and the contributions of Muslim navigators to early mapping and seafaring, pointing out the global impact of these developments. Prof. Idriz advocated for a more inclusive understanding of the 'discovery of the New World,' acknowledging the intellectual and cultural imprint of Muslim civilisation.
He further stressed the importance of supporting joint research initiatives and establishing platforms for young scholars from the Islamic world and Latin America to exchange expertise, particularly in the fields of humanities, digitisation, and heritage preservation. Scholars from the University of Sharjah contributed research on topics including digital heritage preservation, scientific diplomacy, intercultural dialogue, and astronomy.
Moreover, Prof. Jairo Lugo-Ocando, Dean of the College of Communication, and Prof. Nadia Al Hosani, Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Design, moderated several sessions during the conference. Various researchers presented studies on the role of scholarships and knowledge exchange in promoting scientific and cultural engagement. Prof. Idriz also chaired a session titled 'Entangled Histories: Islamic-Latin Encounters and Cross-Continental Knowledge Flows,' which delved into the cultural and economic exchanges that have shaped relations between the Islamic world and Latin America.