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‘Belief in Dialogue’ meet begins today

DUBAI - Over 40 of the world’s leading thinkers from across 10 countries, will convene at the American University of Sharjah today for the three-day conference on the first Middle East’s ‘Belief in Dialogue: Science, Culture and Modernity’ conference.

The conference, which will take place at the Lecture Hall A in the American University of Sharjah Main Building, is part of the British Council’s global Belief in Dialogue programme held in cooperation with the American University of Sharjah (AUS) and in association with the International Society for Science and Religion (ISSR). It is conducted under the patronage of His Highness Shaikh Dr Sultan bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, and President of AUS.

Dr Patrick Brazier, Regional Director, MENA, British Council, and Dr Mark Rush, Dean, College of Arts and Sciences American University of Sharjah, addressed a Press conference on Monday to announce the event.

An ongoing initiative by the British Council, the conference aims to explore how people all over the world can live peacefully amidst growing diversity.

The Middle East’s first Belief in Dialogue conference will focus on the convergence of science, culture and faith and will engage participants in a meaningful way about how these distinct yet linked forces are shaping the future of the region.

Speakers at the conference include Patricia Fara, a historian of science at the University of Cambridge; Tariq Ramadan, a Swiss Muslim intellectual, philosopher, and writer, currently Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University; Qanta Ahmed, author and Associate Professor of Medicine at the State University of New York; Ziauddin Sardar, a writer and cultural-critic who specializes in the future of Islam, science and cultural relations; and, Dr. Nidhal Guessoum, Professor of Physics, AUS.

—lily@khaleejtimes.com

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