Cafe Scientifique Orlando is a gathering of scientifically-inclined people in Central Florida, who meet at a cafe, coffee house, pub, or nonacademic location to discuss events and ideas in the world of science. We enjoy beer and wine, and we use plain language to talk about extraordinary ideas.

Full Title: 
The Forgotten Scientists: Islam and the Rise of Modern Science
Presenter: 
Demeter, Derek
When: 
Wednesday, 4 May 2011 - 7:00pm - 8:30pm
Venue: 
Taste
Where: 
Taste
Street:
717 W. Smith Street
City:
Orlando
,
Province:
Florida
Postal Code:
32804
Country:
United States

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.

Past Café Scientifique Events

Race to the Moon 18 November, 2014 - 18:30 downtown library
Good Bacteria 9 September, 2014 - 18:30 downtown library
Marine Ecosystems 8 August, 2014 - 18:30 downtown library
Solar System 7 July, 2014 - 18:30 downtown library
Robotics 6 June, 2014 - 18:30 downtown library
Cloud Computing 13 May, 2014 - 18:30 downtown library
Nanoscience 8 April, 2014 - 18:30 downtown library
Fire Ants 11 March, 2014 - 18:30 downtown library
Food Preservation 5 March, 2014 - 19:00 Eden Bar at...
Marine Mammals 11 February, 2014 - 18:30 downtown library
Bees 14 January, 2014 - 18:30 downtown library
Frankenfood 10 December, 2013 - 18:30 downtown library

Topics We'd Love to See

What are some topics you’d like to have? Tell us in your comments below. See our full schedule to know what we’ve had and plan to have, before adding something new.

Additionally, if you are a scientific expert interested in presenting a topic, please email us.

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