TORONTO – The Ontario Science Centre is aiming to promote diversity with an exhibit which celebrates scientific and technological breakthroughs made during the golden age of Islamic science.
The “Sultans of Science” exhibition – which opened Friday just in time for March break – was last at the centre in 2009, but has since been updated to include new components.
The exhibit which covers the seventh to 17th centuries focuses on nine themes, including flight, Islamic astronomy, mathematics, art and architecture, and optical science.
A new highlight is a four-metre replica of a boat which features a mechanical musical crew.
Inventor Al-Jazari’s musical boat is an example of early robotics. The replica behaves like the original boat, playing music with functional mechanical figurines.
Science Centre CEO Lesley Lewis says the entire exhibition helps ensure the museum appeals to visitors of all ages and cultures.
“The knowledge displayed in this exhibition is important to everyone in our diverse society,” said Lewis.
“It provides a glimpse into the history of science in a part of the world that our visitors may not be aware was home to great scientific discoveries.”
The exhibit, which travels around the world, is developed by Dubai’s MTE Studios.
The company’s CEO Ludo Verheyen says the exhibition is the only one in the world that has replicas of inventions by scholars like al-Jazari that are fully functional.
The exhibit will run until June 7.
- 2021 heat dome fuelled by climate change, intensified wildfire risk: study
- B.C. introduces legislation recognizing Haida Gwaii Indigenous title
- Whale experts confident B.C. orca calf will survive, find family if rescue plan succeeds
- Plastic production cap still contentious as Ottawa set to host treaty talks
Comments