The Sultans of science

The Islamic world was hot with innovation a thousand years ago; from aviation and astronomy to medicine and even robotics. And the society celebrated its ‘Sultans of Science’ Friday. So is the Ontario Science Centre, with the opening of its latest exhibit.

This is a replica of a robotic boat built by Al Jazari, who was famous for using water to power machines.

Bhavleen Kaur is with the Ontario Science Centre. “The boat used to move in the courtyard of the king. It would be half an hour, and play music and entertain the king.”

In the original, water pours through wheels and buckets to animate the oarsman and musicians on the boat.

Bhavleen said. “This was a piece that’s showing the robotics, so he was showcasing his techniques to develop robotics.”

If you thought robot house servants were a thing of the future? — think again. A robot like this was used a thousand years ago, when the king wanted to wash his hands.

“I was looking at this combination lock, how they used Arabic and turned them into modern numbers to open the box.”

Ancient islamic thinkers discovered flight and optical illusion and elaborate machines that provided water to cities.

That’s what it’s showing — that Islamic source was one of major sources. And I think it’s important that our children and other children understand.

“The old, for me is new because I don’t know about it.”

“Yea, if you do that it goes down so if you push this up that would mean it would lock, and you go, yeah. it’s pretty cool!”

The exhibit was inspired by this clock — yes, clock. Also by Al Jazari; water inside the elephant flows through mechanisms to mark each half hour of the day. The design has Indian, Arabic, Chinese, and Egyptian influences.

Ludo Verheyen is with the Sultans of Science. “For him it reflect universal human nature, how the world was as he knew it as the time, should actually work together and be harmonized.”

The Sultans of Science is on until June seventh.