Café Scientifique / Science Cafe — Orlando

More than four centuries have passed since the beginning of the “Scientific Revolution”, and names like Copernicus, Galileo, and Newton have rooted themselves into history as the fathers of contemporary science. Although their contributions to our understanding of the universe are undeniable, it was a group of Islamic scientists nearly 500 years prior that set the stage for a reexamination of the physical world.

Derek Demeter, director of the Seminole State College Planetarium, presents a history of science that showcases the progressive and dynamic nature of these Islamic scholars and the ideas they espoused: heliocentrism, optics, and natural selection to name but a few. Although they may today be “the forgotten scientists”, it is their research that serves as the foundation for our understanding of science today.