AURAK Features Al-Khazini

The American University of Ras al Khaimah’s (AURAK) School of Graduate Studies and Research featured Dr. Mashhad Al-Allaf’s research, “Al-Khazini and Newton on the Center of Gravity” in the Faculty Research Colloquium Lecture Series.

Dr. Mashhad Al-Allaf is an Associate Professor of the Humanities and Social Sciences Department in the School of Arts and Sciences at AURAK.  He holds a doctoral degree in Modern Philosophy: Science and Metaphysics, and his bachelor’s and master’s degrees are concentrated in the Philosophy of Science. Dr. Al-Allaf’s research focuses on Abu al-Fath Abd al-Rahman Mansur al-Khazini’s book, , and through it, the relationships between balances, heaviness, weight, and significant concepts related to force, mass, and the center of gravity. Dr. Al-Allaf believes that Al-Khazini’s work embodies the expansion of scientific concepts in relation to theory and experimentation; it is a noteworthy source for scientific discourse across cultures since it exemplifies inherent connections between the Western and Islamic Culture in that Al-Khazini examines concepts contemplated by Greek scientists, observes other Muslim scientists, and implies an influence of Islamic Medieval sciences on later European scientists.

Dr. Mashhad was pleased with the presentation as it lead to discourse among faculty of other scientists that may have been impacted by Al-Khazini, “I wanted first to create awareness of knowledge and culture in the area of science and the history of science and second to illustrate the interdisciplinary connections between subjects such as history and the different sciences.”

“It is vital that the world of academia collaborate and build upon each other’s ideas to advance research and progress,” stated AURAK President, Professor Hassan Hamdan Al Alkim. “The Faculty Research Colloquium lecture series creates the perfect atmosphere for actively researching professors to gain collegiate feedback concerning their work, allowing them to explore concepts more thoroughly and exposes students first-hand to the research process.”