Prof. Jim Al-Khalili (Theoretical Physicist) Interview

Jim Al-Khalili is a Professor of Theoretical Physics at the University of Surrey in England, where he also holds a Chair in the Public Engagement in Science.

The Professor is also an accomplished author and broadcaster who has presented TV documentaries for the BBC.

He has been granted an Honorary Fellowship of the British Science Association - one of only 80 people to receive that honour in the last 200 years.

In this interview, Professor Al-Khalili discusses his interest in science and his personal scientific heroes. He also outlines how discoveries about the achievements of scientists in Muslim civilisation (Ibn Sina, Al-Khwarizmi, Ibn Al-Haytham etc) had a huge influence on Western giants of science.

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1001 Inventions is a global educational initiative that promotes awareness of the scientific and cultural achievements of Muslim civilisation during the Middle Ages and how those contributions helped build the foundations of our modern world.

Working with worlds leading academics, 1001 Inventions engages with the public through educational media and interactive global exhibitions, in order to highlight the shared cultural and technological inheritance of humanity.

Launched in the United Kingdom in March 2006, 1001 Inventions has successfully educated more than a million people, promoted cross-cultural understanding and strengthened social cohesion.

1001 Inventions was created by the academic Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilisation (FSTC) with support from the British Government.

The 1001 Inventions touring exhibition will embark upon a global tour, starting at the London Science Museum in January 2010 and visiting major international cities over a four-year period.

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Category:

Science & Technology

Tags:

• Jim Al-Khalili
• Theoretical Physics
• University of Surrey
• British Science Association
• Muslim Heritage
• History

[alghoraba]

is he muslim ?

[1001Inventions]

@alghoraba

It doesn't really make any difference what religion he follows (if he follows any) when it comes to the quality, credibility and enjoyability of his work.

For what little it is worth though, no I believe he is not Muslim.

[1001Inventions]

It makes no sense to say that for 1000 years Muslim civilisation merely preserved the works of older civilisations and made no advances. And the realiity is that the Muslim world gave us huge advances in the fields of medicine, physics, chemistry, mathematics, astronomy, engineering, optics and numerous other fields.

The is exactly the message you will find in Prof. Khalili's documentaries with the BBC, which are highly recommended. (He recently completed a documentary for BBC4 on chemistry.)

[1001Inventions]

Thanks for your comment OASISriffs. Apologies for the abrupt cut-off to the video. This was not our doing but occured during the upload and we are working on finding a way to fix that.

[rambo1152]

It's called an interview, but a great effort has been made to edit the interviewers' contribution out. Why?

[missdead1]

I thought he was a particle physicist?

[SuperInline6]

@alghoraba No, he is a cientist. Cience and religion don't blend, no matter what people say.

[timephonic]

well i think , advancement of a civilization is directly linked with how much it is open to education and science. Muslim scientists and scholars managed to contribute a lot at that time is because Arabs were relatively more open to these sorts of things compare to the other civilization. The role changed slowly and we Muslims lagged behind.

What i want to say is, its the openness of the society towards science that leads to advancement , its not religion. (sorry for my bad english :p)

[qadi0]

@alghoraba he's atheist. 

[itsabomberscope]

I think Jim is the best Science presenter on TV. He always gets me interested in any subject hes talking about. I feel other presenters try to hard.

[TheRoyco1980]

his father is muslim and his mother is cristian. he has no religion himself but beleves in science as a religion

[FIGHTFANNERD3]

@lemuriavi good looking people are smart most of the time

[FIGHTFANNERD3]

@alghoraba no

[farouqnimer]

@alghoraba he's atheist