“It’s my fond hope that 1001 exhibition, which relays the 1000 year adventure of science and technology in Muslim civilisation, will serve as an example for our youth, for the Muslim world and for humanity. When the exhibition first opened in London, it was visited by nearly half a million people. I believed that it would be so much more meaningful if we brought it to Istanbul during this Holy month of Ramadan. As a result, all tourists, both local and foreign, would have the chance to experience the exhibition while visiting this historic city. Accomplishments displayed within this this exhibition, which were achieved in the fields of medicine, astronomy, mathematics, geometry, chemistry and so on, still manage to amaze us even today. Magnificent inventions like robots, clocks, blood sampling containers, water machines, locks with passwords, thermoses, automated childrens toys, created by the Ottoman scholar Al Jaziri, who was considered to be the Leonardo Da Vinci of the Muslim world, still manage to generate astonishment and admiration in the modern world.
It is our common responsibility to ensure we do not forget, or let be forgotten, those precious scientists who came from Muslim civilisation, who led a silent life. In that sense, the 1001 Inventions exhibition is a very important and propitious task. The exhibition will will be moving on to New York (after Istanbul), and will then be travelling all around the world. I believe that new museums should be built in our cities and university campuses dedicated to the scientific achievements of Muslim civilisation. Such efforts will help increase self-confidence in the young generation of the Muslim world. I also believe it will help demonstrate that science and technology progress is a cornerstone of our civilisation’s progress. Finally, I would like to congratulate each and every individual who was involved in creating this exhibition.”His Excellency Recep Tayyip Erdoğan,
President and Former Prime Minister of Turkey
Photo Gallery >>>
