MCIS international workshop: Science Teaching in Contemporary Islamic Societies

The purpose of the workshop is to critically analyze some of the most pressing issues regarding science education in contemporary Islamic societies; to discuss ways to address these challenges; and to offer recommendations to inform the current efforts to enhance scientific literacy in contemporary Muslim societies.

Participants – international experts in science, science education, history of science, and education policy – will discuss these issues from historical, social, and policy perspectives.

NOTE: There is no cost to attend the workshop but PRE-REGISTRATION is mandatory.
For more information on the workshop, and to preregister, please email: Katrin Dinkel (katrin [dot] dinkel [at] mcgill [dot] ca)

PROGRAM OVERVIEW:

Thursday, Oct. 22: A Public Lecture (Leacock 232 at 5:00-6:30pm)

KEYNOTE ADDRESS: Prof. Ahmad Dallal (Dept. of History & Archaeology, American University of Beirut):

The Cultural Imperative: Towards Purposeful Science Research Agendas in the Contemporary Muslim World

Friday, Oct. 23 (Thomson House Ballroom, 2^nd FL., 3650 Rue McTavish):

WELCOMING REMARKS (9:45-10:00):

• Jamil Ragep (co-director, MCIS/Islamic Studies, McGill)
• Anila Asghar (co-director, MCIS/Faculty of Education, McGill)

PANEL 1 (10:00-12:30): Science Policy & Education

CHAIR: Ehab Abouheif (co-director, MCIS/Biology, McGill)

• Anila Asghar (MCIS/Education, McGill): Science Education Discourses in Contemporary Muslim Societies
• Saouma BouJaoude (Director, Center for Teaching & Learning, American University of Beirut): Educational Implications of Cross-cultural Studies on the Relationships between Conceptions of the Theory of Evolution and Religious Affiliation
• Nelofer Halai (Educational Development, Aga Khan Univ., Karachi): Scientific Reasoning and Science Teaching in the Classroom
• Fouad Abd-El-Khalick (Assoc. Dean for Research & Education, Univ. Illinois at Urbana-Champaign): Integration, Intersection, Disjunction: Toward an Empirical Research Programme on the Question(s) of Islam and Science

PANEL 2 (2:00-4:30): Hot Issues in Science Education

CHAIR: Sally Ragep (MCIS/Islamic Studies, McGill)

• Mustafa Yavuz (History of Science, Istanbul Medeniyet Univ.): An Evaluation of Studies on Teaching Evolution Theory among High Schools and Universities in Turkey
• Fateme Savadi (Islamic Studies, McGill): The Development of Modern Science Teaching in Iran
• Abdul Matteen Rafiqi (Biology, McGill): Challenges of Reconciling Islam and Evolution
• Ehab Abouheif (MCIS/Biology, McGill): Why is it Important for Muslims to Embrace Evolution?

Saturday, Oct. 24 (Thomson House Ballroom, 2^nd FL., 3650 Rue McTavish):

PANEL 3 (10:00-12:30): Historical Context & its Relevance

CHAIR: Jamil Ragep (MCIS/Islamic Studies, McGill)

• Sally Ragep (MCIS/Islamic Studies, McGill): An Historical Overview of Critical Issues in Science Teaching in Islam
• Ahmed Djebbar (Science & Technology, Université de Lille I, France): L’enseignement des sciences au Maghreb: Des leçons du passé aux expériences contemporaines

RESPONSES: On the Relevance & Integration of the History of Science for Science Education Today

• Ahmad Dallal (History & Archaeology, American University of Beirut)
• Ihsan Fazlioglu (Dean, Faculty of Letters, Istanbul Medeniyet Univ.)

PARTICIPANTS:

• Prof. Fouad Abd-El-Khalick (Assoc. Dean for Research & Education, Univ. Illinois at Urbana-Champaign): Science Education and Practice
• Prof. Ehab Abouheif (MCIS/Biology, McGill Univ.): Evolutionary Biology
• Prof. Anila Asghar (MCIS/Faculty of Education, McGill Univ.): Science Education and Practice: Science Education and Practice
• Prof. Saouma BouJaoude (Director, Center for Teaching & Learning, American University of Beirut): Science Education and Practice
• Prof. Ahmad Dallal (History & Archaeology, American University of Beirut): History of Science, Interactions of Science and Religion in Muslim Societies
• Prof. Emeritus Ahmed Djebbar (Science & Technology, Université de Lille I, France): History of Islamic Science & Science Education
• Prof. Ihsan Fazlioglu (Dean, Faculty of Letters, Istanbul Medeniyet Univ.): History of Science and Philosophy in Islam
• Prof. Nelofer Halai (Educational Development, Aga Khan Univ., Karachi): Science Education and Practice
• Dr. Abdul Matteen Rafiqi (Biology, McGill Univ.): Evolutionary Biology
• Prof. F. Jamil Ragep (MCIS/Islamic Studies, McGill Univ.): History of Islamic Science; Interactions of Science and Religion in premodern Muslim Societies
• Dr. Sally P. Ragep (MCIS/Islamic Studies, McGill Univ.): History of Science and Science Education in Islam
• Ms. Fateme Savadi (Islamic Studies, McGill Univ.): History of Islamic Science; Science Education in Iran
• Prof. Shaheen Shariff (Faculty of Education, McGill Univ.): Intersection of Law, Education and Technologies; Diversity and Pluralism
• Prof. Mustafa Yavuz (History of Science, Istanbul Medeniyet Univ.): Teaching Evolution Theory in Turkey

NOTE: There is no cost to attend the workshop but PRE-REGISTRATION is mandatory.

For more information on the workshop, and to preregister, please email: Katrin Dinkel katrin [dot] dinkel [at] mcgill [dot] ca.

This workshop is part of an international collaborative project, “Science Teaching in Pre-Modern and Modern Islamic Societies: Pedagogical Approaches in Religious, Institutional, and Geographical Contexts,” with funding from a SSHRC partnership development grant, plus additional support from the McGill Centre for Islam and Science (MCIS), the State of Qatar, and three partner institutions: the Max Planck Institute for the History of Science, Berlin; Medeniyet Univ., Istanbul; and Univ. of California, Berkeley.