Abdul Latif Jameel Foundation (ALJF) on Thursday announced its sponsorship of landmark Muslim heritage exhibition to be hosted at the Science Museum, London. The “1001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World”, traces the forgotten story of a thousand years of science from the Muslim world, from the 7th century onwards. The free exhibition, which runs from Jan. 21 to April 25, 2010, will look at the social, scientific and technical achievements that are credited to the Muslim world, while celebrating the shared scientific heritage of other cultures. The exhibition at the Science Museum marks the beginning of a global tour, partnering with the world's best science and education institutions. It will feature a diverse range of exhibits, interactive displays and dramatization, all of which acknowledge the Muslim world's contribution to many modern inventions, spanning fields such as engineering, medicine and design, and can trace their roots back to Muslim civilization. Fady Jameel, speaking on behalf of the Abdul Latif Jameel Foundation, said: “One of the most important aims of our foundation is to promote global education projects and this 1001 Inventions exhibition at one of Europe's most prestigious museums will help achieve just that through increasing understanding about a fascinating period of history and discovering how it impacts us in today's modern word.” Professor Chris Rapley, director of the Science Museum, said: “The thousand year period from the 7th century onwards was a time of exceptional scientific and technological advancement in the Islamic World, spanning China , India , Persia , Africa and Arabia. This is the period in history that gave us huge advances in engineering, mathematics, chemistry and physics. With over 15,000 objects in our collection spanning many different cultures, the Science Museum provides the perfect platform for this exhibition, as a place which encourages innovation and learning amongst visitors of all ages.” One of the iconic focal features of this exhibition is a six-meter high replica of the ‘Elephant Clock'- a visually striking early 13th century water clock, the body of which contains symbols referring different cultures and is featured alongside a short feature film starring Oscar-winning actor Sir Ben Kingsley as Al-Jazari, inventor of the fabled clock. Professor Salim T. S. Al-Hassani, chairman of 1001 Inventions, said: “The Elephant Clock is an early 13th century machine which gives physical form to the concept of multi-culturalism. This engineering marvel featured an Indian Elephant, Chinese Dragons, a Greek water mechanism, an Egyptian Phoenix, and wooden automata in traditional Arabian attire. It embodies cultural and scientific convergence of civilisations and is an appropriate center-piece for an exhibition about the roots of science and technology.”
