With researchers and experts from across the globe, the Sharjah International Foundation for the History of Arab and Muslim Sciences (SIFHAMS) took part in the third International Conference of the UNESCO Chair, themed “Transcontinental Exchange of Knowledge and Building Scientific Bridges between the Islamic World and Latin America.” The event, held at Ibn Haldun University in Istanbul, was jointly organized by the university’s Alliance of Civilizations Institute, SIFHAMS, and the UNESCO Chair at the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM).

In his keynote address, Prof. Mesut Idriz, Director of SIFHAMS, traced the historical pathways through which knowledge flowed between the Islamic world and Latin America. He highlighted the scientific legacy of Al-Andalus and the contributions of Muslim navigators who pioneered early mapping and seafaring techniques, paving the way for global geographical understanding. Prof. Idriz remarked that “history is not a single perspective but a many-sided mosaic,” calling for a more inclusive reading of the “discovery of the New World” narrative; one that recognizes the intellectual and cultural imprint of Muslim civilization and the Andalusian transmission of knowledge to Europe and beyond.

Idriz lauded the enduring collaboration among participating academic institutions and reaffirmed the University of Sharjah’s commitment to strengthening scientific diplomacy and illuminating the enduring role of Arab and Islamic communities in shaping human knowledge. He further stressed the need to support joint research initiatives and to create platforms for young scholars from the Islamic world and Latin America to share expertise, particularly in the humanities, digitization, and heritage preservation.

The conference featured strong contributions from University of Sharjah scholars, who presented research on topics including digital heritage preservation, scientific diplomacy, intercultural dialogue, and critical reviews of observational evidence in astronomy. Prof. Jairo Lugo-Ocando, Dean of the College of Communication and Prof. Nadia Al Hosani, Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Design, moderated several sessions.

Among the UoS presenters were Dr. Semiyu Aderibigbe from the UoS’s College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences, who discussed knowledge justice and global education and  Dr. Mohamed Ali, who examined Turkey’s cultural diplomacy in Latin America. Researcher Saleh Mohamed Zaki Mahmoud introduced a study on the digital preservation of manuscripts and historical documents and its global implications for knowledge exchange. Dr. Noura Nasser Al-Karbi shared the UAE’s pioneering experience in international scholarships as a model for fostering intercultural dialogue, while Dr. Mashhour Ahmed Al-Wardat offered a critical reassessment of astronomical evidence underlying the heliocentric theory.

Prof. Idriz also chaired a session titled “Entangled Histories: Islamic-Latin Encounters and Cross-Continental Knowledge Flows,” which explored the cultural and economic exchanges that shaped relations between the Islamic world and Latin America.

The conference concluded with scientific visits to the historic Süleymaniye Complex and Topkapı Museum, alongside hands-on workshops on documenting scientific heritage through open science practices. The program wrapped up with vibrant artistic and cultural performances celebrating dialogue among civilizations.