The project won the title in a group of many prestigious international exhibitions. Hundreds of professionals from the museums and exhibitions industry attended the award function. The function recognized the achievements of the exhibitions industry over the past 12 months. Also nominated in the Touring category were exhibitions by the British Library, Imperial War Museum and the National Museums Liverpool.
Salim Al-Hassani, chairman of 1001 Inventions, said: “Our whole team is humbled by this recognition. The Museums and Heritage Excellence Awards are considered the ‘Oscars’ of the exhibitions industry and we are delighted to have been named Best Touring Exhibition by our peers. Hundreds of people were involved in bringing this project to fruition, headed by ALJCI, and they all deserve our thanks. We’ve already catered to English-language and Turkish-language visitors, and we are in the process of translating the exhibition into other languages too, including Arabic.”
Fady Mohammed Abdul Latif Jameel, president of ALJCI said: “Abdul Latif Jameel Community Initiatives is delighted that ‘1001 Inventions’ has been given this great honor by the museums industry. Undoubtedly, this shows the interest of ALJCI to support the project, which highlights the astounding contribution that Muslim civilization has made to the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. ALJCI is seeking to maximize beneficiaries of the project and to turn it into an inspiration for young males and females around the world, and motivate them to follow the steps of Muslim scientists during that period. More than a million people have already visited the exhibition during the first year of its global tour and that is the greatest endorsement we could ever hope for.”
The exhibition is currently on a five-year global tour. Following blockbuster runs in London, Istanbul and New York, it will open this month at the prestigious California Science Center. The exhibition reveals the forgotten history of men and women from various faiths and backgrounds whose contributions to the advancement of scholarship and technology during the Middle Ages helped pave the way for the European Renaissance. This period of history from the 7th century to 17th century is commonly — though erroneously — referred to as the “Dark Ages.”
1001 Inventions is a global educational initiative that promotes awareness of scientific and cultural achievements from the Golden Age of Muslim civilization and how those contributions helped build the foundations of our modern world. This period lasted approximately 1,000 years, from the 7th century onward. The exhibition and the educational products that accompany it highlight the scientific and technological achievements made by men and women, of different faiths and cultures, who lived in or were connected with broader Muslim civilization.
Originally funded by the British government and launched in the UK in 2006, 1001 Inventions was created by the Foundation for Science, Technology and Civilization (FSTC). The FSTC is a British-based nonprofit, international network of the world’s leading academics with expertise in the history of science and technology.
