Final Statement

The 8th International Colloquium for the History of Science, jointly organized by the Bibliotheca Alexandrina and the Institute for the History of Arabic Science (Aleppo University, Syria), was held (28-30 September, 2004) under the theme of "Untrodden Areas in the History of Arabic Sciences" for the first time at the premises of the Bibliotheca Alexandrina (Egypt).

Over forty scholars from various academic institutes; universities, and organizations participated in the Colloquium. They came from eleven countries, namely Egypt, Syria, Iraq, Algeria, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, the United Kingdom, Greece, Germany, Russia, and the USA.

Academic presentations covering the untrodden areas in the history of Arabic science (including primary, medical and applied sciences) were made over eight sessions in addition to opening and closing sessions.

The opening addresses, delivered by Dr Youssef Ziedan, Director of Manuscript Center/Museum, Dr Alaa Lolah, Director the Institute for the History of Arabic Science and Dr Mohamed Nezar Uqail, Dean of Aleppo University, stressed the importance of Arabic scientific heritage and the necessity for revealing its hidden aspects, and publishing it after critical in-depth studies. Various cultural activities and social events accompanied the Colloquium.

At the closing of the Colloquium, the participants endorsed the following recommendations:

• Assigning a special body to coordinate and establish cooperation between universities, institutions, establishments, organizations and centers concerned with the history of Arabic science to compile, provide extensive studies of, and publish Arabic scientific legacy.
• Including the history of Arabic science in educational curricula on all levels.
• Making the best use of modern technology in the compilation and studying of Arabic scientific heritage, in addition to publishing manuscript catalogs on the Internet.
• Finally, the participants seized the opportunity to express their deepest gratitude for the Institute for the History of Arabic Science, Aleppo University and the Manuscript Center for their efforts to organize this Colloquium. They also commended the collaboration between the two institutes and expressed their appreciation for the Bibliotheca Alexandrina for its hospitality, and also for providing all the necessary facilities which helped make this gathering a success.