Juma Al Majid Opens Arab Pioneers in Science and Medicine Exhibition at Dubai Healthcare City

Monday, May 31, 2010

His Excellency Juma Al Majid, Chairman of Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, inaugurated the Islamic and Arab Pioneers in Science and Medicine Exhibition at Dubai Healthcare City, a member of TECOM Investments, featuring renowned forefathers of science and medicine.

His Excellency Juma Al Majid, Chairman of Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage, inaugurated the Islamic and Arab Pioneers in Science and Medicine Exhibition at Dubai Healthcare City, a member of TECOM Investments, featuring renowned forefathers of science and medicine.
 
Following an opening ceremony, dignitaries toured the gallery that features unique prints of pioneers such as Abdul Hasan Kamaluddin Hasan bin Ali Alfarisi, Abu Ali Al-Hussain bin Abdullah bin Ali Ibn Sina, Abu Raihan Muhammad bin Ahmad Al-Beiruni, Abu Nasr Mohammad Awzlag Al-Farabi and Abu Zaid Hunain bin Ishaq Al-Ibadi.
 
Dr. Ayesha Abdullah, Managing Director, Sciences Cluster, TECOM Investments, said: “As pioneers of a unique community in Dubai that is dedicated to excellence in medicine, Dubai Healthcare City is the most appropriate location for celebrating pioneers in science and medicine. Validating this fact is our initiative to name the buildings in Dubai Healthcare City after many of our renowned ancestors including the Al Razi Building where the exhibition is being held. In addition, through our sister entity DuBiotech, we are developing the first major life sciences hub in the Middle East.

Abdul Salam Al Madani, President of INDEX Holding; HE Juma Al Majid, Chairman of Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage; Abdullatif AlMulla, Group Chief Executive Officer – TECOM Investments; Dr. Muhadditha Al Hashimi, CEO of The Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Academic Medical Center; Dr. Ayesha Abdullah, Managing Director – Sciences Cluster, TECOM Investments.

“Through his vision, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has successfully established the hub in Dubai for world class science and medicine with projects such as DuBiotech and Dubai Healthcare City. We are keen to carry forward the rich legacy handed down to us by our forefathers in innovation and discovery for generations to come.”
 
Dr. Abdullah added: “We are grateful to the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage for its support and commitment to increasing awareness on the rich Arab culture. We are proud of our Islamic and Arab ancestors whose great achievements have both inspired and heavily influenced science and medicine around the world today.”
 
His Excellency Juma Al Majid said: “This exhibition is a demonstration of the rich wealth that has been offered by the Arab world to humanity at large. Even today, we have a number of Arab scientists who continue to lead research around the world. This exhibition is only a first glimpse on what our forefathers have achieved in the medicine and science field. The exposition offered by the Juma Al Majid Center for Culture and Heritage to DHCC confirms our commitment to maintaining that legacy.”
 
The Arab Pioneers in Science and Medicine Exhibition, supported by Index Conferences and Events and sponsored by Julphar, provides guests an opportunity to appreciate the significant contribution the Arab world has made to science and medicine.
 
Abul Hasan Kamaluddin Hasan bin Ali Alfarisi from the 13th century produced a number of writings in different branches of mathematics, but is best known for his contribution to Optics. He also formulated the first mathematically sound explanation of the rainbow.
 
Abu Ali Al-Hussain bin Abdullah bin Ali Ibn Sina, known as the Prince of Physicians (980-1037) remains one of the most influential thinkers in world history. His Canon of Medicine is a compendium of Islamic and Greek medical knowledge of his time, and contains many original observations such as the spread of diseases by water and soil.

Abu Raihan Muhammad bin Ahmad Al-Beiruni (973-1048) was one of the earliest proponents of the objective, experimental scientific method, and has been called the father of geodesy, the founder of Indology, and the first anthropologist. His Pharmacolgy was celebrated for its in-depth study of medicinal herbs and minerals. Abu Nasr Mohammad bin Awzlag Al-Farabi (872-950/1 AD) is known for his contribution to the mathematical art of music and cosmology. Al-Farabi believed that science is the highest stage of human wisdom and that, for it to thrive, it is essential to foster at all times a sense of critical understanding, order and purpose.
 
Abu Zaid Hunain bin Ishaq Al-Ibadi (810-873 AD) is the fifth forefather to be featured in the Arab Pioneers Health and Science Gallery. An important component of Hunayn's prodigious scientific activity was sourcing and studying works from Greek antiquity and producing translations into Arabic and Syriac. He was known in his time as `the sheikh of the translators', and his translations (later used by Ibn Sina and others) helped form the foundation on which Islamic medicine was built.
 
Free to the public, the Arab Pioneers in Science and Medicine Exhibition will be on permanent display at the Al Razi Building, Block B at Dubai Healthcare City from 1 June 2010 from 8.00am-8.00pm daily.