Scientific Legacy of Ali Qushji
TÜBA will hold the “Uluslararası Ali Kuşçu Sempozyumu ve Sergisi” (International Ali Qushji Symposium and Exhibition) in Istanbul between November 18-20, 2024 in cooperation with the History of Science Institute of Istanbul Medeniyet University (IMU), Istanbul Technical University (ITU) and the Manuscripts Institution of Türkiye between November 18-20, 2024 in order to examine, discuss and publicize Ali Qushji's works in various disciplines within the framework of academic rules. In the event, Ali Qushji's contributions in various disciplines will be discussed with a scientific approach.
Within the scope of the events organized to honor the 550th year of the passing of Ali Qushji, who was at the intersection of the early and late renewal periods in the history of Islamic philosophy and science, “Semerkant’tan İstanbul’a: Ali Kuşçu ve Çevresi Yazma Eser Sergisi” (From Samarkand to Istanbul: Ali Qushji and His Circle Manuscript Exhibition) will be opened at the Rami Library on November 18. In the exhibition, Kuşçu's works and the scientific knowledge of his time will be presented to visitors.
The opening ceremony of the symposium, which will be held at ITU Maçka School of Foreign Languages A104 Amphitheater, will be attended by the Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır (in his presence), President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Prof. Erol Özvar (in his presence), President of TÜBA Prof. Muzaffer Şeker, Vice President of the Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Uzbekistan Prof. Bakhram Abdulkhalim. ITU Rector Prof. Hasan Mandal, IMU Rector Prof. Gülfettin Çelik and IMU Institute of History of Science Director Prof. İhsan Fazlıoğlu, the symposium program will start with the opening speeches of Prof. F. Jamil Ragep and Dr. Sally Ragep, the winner of TÜBA International Academy Award, will be the guests of honor. During the 2-day event, scientists from different geographies will discuss Ali Qushji's contributions to the world of science in 6 sessions.
Ali Qushji should be a guide for every scientist
Speaking about the symposium, President Şeker stated that with UNESCO declaring 2024 as the “Year of Ali Qushji”, the valuable scientist who made deep contributions to our civilization was once again commemorated with appreciation.
President Şeker said: “Ali Qushji, with his works in the fields of astronomy and mathematics in the 15th century, left a deep mark not only in the scientific world of the period, but also throughout the ages. His works are important documents that show us the universality of science and how the contributions of scientists from different geographies serve to the progress of humanity as a whole. Ali Qushji's arrival in Istanbul and his work here is an important milestone in the development of science in the Ottoman Empire. His contributions to the advancement of scientific thought and research, especially in mathematics and astronomy, are still remembered with great respect today.”
He stated that the symposium organized by TÜBA to commemorate Ali Qushji and to re-evaluate his scientific legacy aims to emphasize that his work inspired the development of scientific thought not only in the past but also today. He stated that during the symposium, Ali Qushji's scientific legacy will be revisited, and how his work sheds light on today's science and how it is an important source of inspiration for future generations will be publicized more eloquently to a wider audience. He said that the power of scientific research and his dedication to knowledge will continue to guide every scientist who follows in Ali Qushji's footsteps.
Prof. Fazlıoğlu stated that it is important that Ali Qushji and his works are the subject of research from different perspectives and that the historical context that paved the way for Ali Qushji's intellectual development and influence should also be discussed. He informed that after the symposium, which aims to point out the importance of Ali Qushji and his works in terms of the history of Islamic philosophy and science and to contribute to the literature in this respect, an edited book will be brought to the world of science as a result of the selections made from the papers presented throughout the program.