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NYUAD Institute

247 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 1 rating

The NYUAD Institute is a center of advanced research, scholarly and creative activity, and public workshops. Institute programs facilitate discussion between academics, students, professionals, and leaders from the UAE and from around the world.

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Episodes

How Is Biological Form Encoded?

February 06, 2024 16:10 - 46 minutes - 53.5 MB

This talk explores morphogenesis, the fascinating process of form development in biology. It examines how complex 3D organisms evolve from a single fertilized egg, involving intricate cell divisions, movements, and shape changes. The focus is on the mechanical processes that influence cell and tissue transformation and their regulation across space and time. The discussion integrates genetics, mechanics, and geometry to understand how these factors encode cell behaviors essential for developm...

System Error: Where Big Tech Went Wrong and How We Can Reboot

February 06, 2024 16:01 - 1 hour - 77.3 MB

This talk explores the unintended consequences of technology's pursuit of optimization, unveiling how it perpetuates discrimination, compromises privacy, displaces workers, and contaminates information flows. It examines the tension between corporate values driven by big tech and the ideals of a democratic society. The speaker will highlight the pervasive issue where meaningful aspects of life remain unmeasured by tech optimizers, whose large-scale disruptions inadvertently dictate societal n...

True Grit: Striving in the Face of Adversity

February 06, 2024 15:55 - 44 minutes - 50.9 MB

This talk discusses how it's common to embark on a challenging pursuit without knowing the likelihood of success. As we encounter hurdles and setbacks, we face a crucial decision: to give up or persevere. Optimism about our chances can prevent premature despair. The talk argues that "grit"—persisting in adversity—is rational only if it avoids unrealistic optimism. Rational striving requires close attention to our abilities and strengths and assessing whether our circumstances will likely supp...

Field Notes from Aridly Abundant Landscapes

February 06, 2024 15:50 - 46 minutes - 52.8 MB

Faysal Tabbarah, the 2023 NPUAE Curator, leads a compelling exploration into the potential of arid environments at the National Pavilion UAE during the 18th International Architecture Exhibition. His work focuses on unveiling the hidden possibilities within arid landscapes, especially those in the UAE, such as desert plateaus, wadis, and coastal plains. This talk highlights innovative architectural designs tailored for arid climates, challenging traditional perceptions and exploring these env...

Climate Law and Net Zero: Challenges and Opportunities

February 06, 2024 15:45 - 56 minutes - 64.9 MB

Addressing the urgency of climate change and the foundational role of international agreements like the Paris Agreement of 2015, countries are urged to adopt concrete domestic measures. Beyond the realms of international directives, the evolution of 'climate law' encompasses various sectors, including administrative, commercial, human rights, and more. As nations worldwide adopt distinctive models for this, such as the UK, France, and the USA, understanding these shifts becomes paramount. Thi...

Climate Change and the Rights of Nature

February 06, 2024 15:40 - 53 minutes - 60.9 MB

This talk explores the rise in greenhouse gas concentrations since 1992, leading to the 2023 declaration that "Climate breakdown has begun." Traditional approaches to address climate change have been ineffective. However, ancient insights from indigenous peoples and overlooked spiritual traditions offer fresh perspectives. With rights of nature now recognized in 24 countries, this session will spotlight the potential of reimagining our relationship with nature. Speakers Dale Jamieson, Profes...

On Water: A Natural Perspective!

February 06, 2024 15:30 - 43 minutes - 49.2 MB

In this talk, the speaker will trace humanity's bond with water, from historical ties to future implications. Despite water's perceived abundance, most is inaccessible in oceans. Addressing these challenges intertwines with key sustainability objectives. In an era marked by climate change, how do we address water issues? The discussion will emphasize the vital role of the environment we aim to protect: Nature. Speakers Saeed Alhassan, Professor of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering, Khalifa ...

The Jazz of the Cosmos

February 06, 2024 15:25 - 1 hour - 76.2 MB

Explore the intriguing connections between the realms of physics, cosmology, and quantum physics with the music that defines an era. This talk examines the narrative of cosmic structure, interpreting it through the elements of jazz music, and unveiling the harmonious relationship between these diverse yet unified fields. Speakers Stephon Alexander, Professor of Physics, Brown University In conversation with Arlie Petters, Provost, NYUAD

Mobility Diplomacy: How States Maximize Passport Power

January 05, 2024 16:03 - 47 minutes - 54.1 MB

Passport rankings demonstrate that access to visa-free travel is highly stratified globally. How do states ascend these ranks? This talk introduces the concept of mobility diplomacy and argues that neither wealth nor political stability are sufficient conditions for unlocking visa-free travel. To be successful, developing countries must persuade highly developed countries—especially the European Union—that their citizens will not become migrants. The talk discusses the most successful case of...

Developing Competencies in Medicine and Biotechnology for the UAE

January 05, 2024 15:58 - 37 minutes - 43.3 MB

In this talk, the speaker will discuss the evolution and importance of advancing competencies in medicine and biotechnology tailored for the UAE's unique needs and aspirations. Through a deep exploration of innovative strategies and practices, the talk will shed light on how the future of healthcare and biotechnological research is being shaped in the region. Emphasizing both regional successes and challenges faced, the discussion aims to inspire and guide professionals dedicated to driving e...

The Abbasid Caliph and His People: A View From the Centre

January 05, 2024 15:53 - 50 minutes - 58.3 MB

This talk explores the conventional representations of the Abbasid dynasty, highlighting its perceived trajectory from its rise in the mid-eighth century to its decline in the tenth century. The speaker examines historical and literary sources from the mid-tenth century, elucidating the role and influence of the Abbasid Caliph and Baghdad during a pivotal era of political and cultural transformation. Speaker Letizia Osti, Associate Professor of Arabic Language and Literature, University of M...

Source of Life: Water Management in the Premodern Middle East

January 05, 2024 15:46 - 45 minutes - 52 MB

In the challenging climatic conditions of the Middle East, providing clean water has always been a significant concern. Yet, ancient cities like Abbasid Baghdad and Mamluk Cairo effectively supplied water to their populations. This talk explores these historical achievements, shedding light on the often misunderstood institutional strengths in the premodern Middle East. The discussion focuses on the diverse water systems in place and the reasons behind their sustainability. Speaker Maaike va...

Cooling the Arab Gulf: How Air-Conditioning Changed Everything

January 05, 2024 15:39 - 42 minutes - 48.6 MB

In the Arab Gulf, air-conditioning consumes about 60% of the domestic consumption of electricity. Yet, the ascendency of this technology is far from simple. Beyond simply providing coolness, air-conditioning transformed life as people knew it. In a remarkably short period of time, this seemingly innocent device reshaped houses, cities, practices of daily life, social relations, and even, bodies. Today, one can argue there is no society that is more air-conditioned than in the Gulf, where even...

Community Archives as a Model for Documenting the UAE's Recent Past

October 24, 2023 07:22 - 57 minutes - 66.2 MB

This talk explores the significance of communal efforts in capturing history by focusing on the concept of "community archives," that is, archives created by and for groups within a given community who seek to take a more active role in jointly preserving the documentation of their shared past. Through talks presented by two noted scholars in this field, this event will look at how this emerging movement in archives has evolved internationally, as well as examine case studies from the Gulf, w...

Researching the Leadership of the Prophet Muhammad

October 24, 2023 07:21 - 1 hour - 82.7 MB

Evaluating historical leadership effectiveness poses challenges, particularly when analyzing figures like the blessed Islamic Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, a military leader involved in wars that created new power structures and a prophet who ushered in dramatically original and transformational ways of understanding monotheistic religion and its relationship with politics. Records often bear the bias of their authors, and attributing success or failure directly to a leader’s actions may overlook exter...

An Alchemist of the Self

October 24, 2023 07:20 - 1 hour - 99.7 MB

Join us for an engaging evening with Francisco Goldman, a distinguished and multi-award-winning author renowned for his remarkable contributions to both fiction and nonfiction literature. In this captivating talk, Goldman delves into the pages of his latest novel, Monkey Boy, a literary masterpiece celebrated by The New Yorker critic James Woods for its infusion of rebellious comedy and vitality. As a natural-born storyteller, Goldman will take you on a journey through his witty, intimate, an...

Documenting a Performing Arts History

October 24, 2023 07:19 - 1 hour - 98.7 MB

Key figures involved in The Arts Center’s creation explore the significance and meaning of arts documentation while reflecting on their collaborative journey capturing seven years of The Arts Center’s history. They offer unique perspectives on their approaches and their individual and collective contributions toward this effort. Speakers Waleed Shah, Photographer, Creative Thinker, and Entrepreneur Bill Bragin, Executive Artistic Director, The Arts Center, NYUAD Nadine Khalil, Editor, Curato...

Why Experiment with Ancient Technologies?

October 24, 2023 07:19 - 42 minutes - 48.4 MB

This talk explores the groundbreaking achievements of our ancestors in ancient Abu Dhabi, highlighting the complexity and significance of their pioneering innovations in archaeology. Discover the techniques and methods employed by ancient societies to craft stone axes, domesticate animals, transport goods over long distances, and develop bronze, humanity's first composite artificial material. The talk also discusses the UAE's global role as an exporter of copper long before the advent of oil....

Pharaonica, Flora, and Human Flesh

October 24, 2023 07:18 - 1 hour - 76.1 MB

This talk explores the profound insights of Abd al-Latif al-Baghdadi, an intellectual luminary who connected Aristotle's teachings with the emerging scientific method. Al-Baghdadi's meticulous observations of Egypt from eight centuries ago illuminate its diverse flora, fauna, and cultural intricacies. At the same time, they chronicle the challenges of famine and societal disruption in Cairo. Through the lens of Tim Mackintosh-Smith, the talk also touches upon the enigmatic tales of al-Baghdad...

Connecting Worlds

October 24, 2023 07:18 - 43 minutes - 49.4 MB

Presenting two captivating works by director Ursula Biemann, explore the profound connections of Indigenous communities to their natural environments. In the enthralling oceanic journey titled "Acoustic Ocean," we are transported to the Arctic Islands of Lofoten. Here, a scientist delves into the realm of acoustic ecology, probing the mysteries of the oceans and forging connections across species. The film's poetic portrayal invites us to contemplate the ocean's hidden symphony—replete with ...

Shattered Glass of Beirut: Conserving Lebanese History Together

September 28, 2023 13:41 - 1 hour - 98.8 MB

The explosion at Beirut's port in 2020 wreaked havoc on the American University of Beirut (AUB) Archaeological Museum, shattering 72 valuable glass artifacts. This talk reveals the story of these vessels' journey from Beirut to the British Museum in London, through their recovery, conservation, and exhibition phases. And it underscores the pivotal role of international collaboration, training, and outreach in heritage conservation. Speakers Dr. Duygu Çamurcuoğlu, Senior Conservator and Resea...

The Power of Authenticity: A Conversation with Dr. Raja Al Gurg

September 21, 2023 15:14 - 54 minutes - 62.1 MB

Dr. Raja Al Gurg is one of the most successful businesswomen in the Arab world. Discover the insights behind her latest book, The Power of Authenticity: Three Principles of Leadership Success, as she unveils the challenges and triumphs that paved her path to becoming a prominent Emirati businesswoman. With a legacy as Chairperson and Managing Director of Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group, Dr. Al Gurg's journey embodies empowerment and leadership. Be inspired by her advocacy for Arab women entrepreneur...

The Wolf King: Ibn Mardanīsh and the Construction of Power in al-Andalus

July 07, 2023 15:33 - 59 minutes - 68.3 MB

Al-Andalus is often depicted as a site of particular religious tolerance, and the twelfth century as its denouement, with foreign interlopers locked in holy war. Ibn Mardanīsh (r. 1147-72), known as the Wolf King, complicates narratives of religious enmity and of al-Andalus' distinct culture. This talk, based on the recently published book The Wolf King: Ibn Mardanīsh and the Construction of Power in al-Andalus, explores Ibn Mardanīsh's brief rule. It then considers how the memory of this rul...

Surviving the Heat: The Struggle of Marine Turtles Against Climate Change

June 12, 2023 15:52 - 42 minutes - 48.2 MB

The life of a marine turtle is a struggle for survival from the day they hatch, facing obstacles, natural predators, and various anthropogenic threats. Climate change exposes marine turtles to even more significant existential threats. Our warming climate may be driving marine turtles into extinction. But what does this mean for turtles along the warmest sea in the world? This presenter will provide insight into marine turtle conservation in Abu Dhabi and their latest findings assessing clima...

The Way We Move: Can Information and Technology Change It?

June 12, 2023 15:50 - 58 minutes - 67.2 MB

This talk focuses on the issue of urban mobility and the associated traffic congestion that is a concern in cities worldwide. With the increasing urban population and motorization rates, it is expected that congestion levels will continue to rise, along with negative externalities. The talk explores whether it is possible to predict how congestion spreads in a city, to develop proactive mitigation strategies, and to alleviate congestion by promoting more sustainable transportation modes. The ...

The Tigris and Euphrates Rivers in the Ottoman Period

June 12, 2023 15:08 - 59 minutes - 67.9 MB

By 1535, the Ottoman Empire gained control of the Tigris and Euphrates rivers from mountain to sea. This talk discusses the ramifications of this drastic political transition in the history of the longest rivers in West Asia. Above all, the unification of the Tigris and Euphrates allowed the Ottomans to rebalance a deep natural resource disparity along their eastern frontier, enabling them to move grain, metal, and timber from upstream areas of surplus in Anatolia to downstream areas of need ...

Crystals in Health and Disease

May 16, 2023 14:03 - 57 minutes - 66.4 MB

This talk explores the fascinating world of crystals and their role in biology and medicine. Crystals have always been admired for their beauty and value, and many believe they have powerful, magic properties. They play critical roles in various biological processes, such as supporting bones, grinding food, protecting shells, and more. However, crystals can also lead to diseases like kidney stones, atherosclerosis, and gout. The speaker will explain the study of crystal formation, assembly, a...

The Intellectual Crossroads of Al-Andalus

May 16, 2023 12:49 - 1 hour - 69.1 MB

Living in a land situated in one of the edges of the Islamic world, the inhabitants of al-Andalus saw themselves as somewhat isolated, an island surrounded both by the sea and the Christians. Their scholars exerted themselves to keep contact with the central lands of Islam by performing the travel of study (riḥla fī ṭalab al-ʽilm), bringing back books and ideas produced elsewhere. The traveling of knowledge, however, was not unidirectional: from very early on, Andalusi scholars made important...

Urban Modernity in the Contemporary Gulf: Obsolescence and Opportunities

May 16, 2023 12:44 - 46 minutes - 53.4 MB

This panel delves into the 20th century architectural production in the modernization era of the Arabian Gulf and its impact on the notions of locality, cosmopolitanism, and modernity. The speakers will examine the initiatives that have re-engaged with the ville moderne and reflect on the role of the urban fabric in narrating social growth, East–West dynamics, and citizens’ memories. The panel explores the concept of modern heritage in the context of the contemporary city, interrogate the val...

What Should 6G Be?

March 09, 2023 15:01 - 52 minutes - 59.8 MB

The role of Internet and Communication Technology (ICT) in bringing about a revolution in almost all aspects of human life needs no introduction. It is indeed a well-known fact that the transmission of the information at a rapid pace has transformed all spheres of human life such as economy, education, and health to name a few. In this context, this talk aims to: provide an envisioned picture of 6G; serve as a research guideline in the beyond-5G era; and review some of the recently-proposed g...

Decoding Mars with the "Hope" Probe: Uncovering the Red Planet's Secrets of Life

March 09, 2023 14:52 - 1 hour - 69.5 MB

This talk will examine the question of whether life existed on Mars and its transformation from a warm, wet planet to a cold, dry desert world. The speaker will discuss the Emirates Mars Mission, also known as the "Hope" probe, which is providing insight into the surface and atmospheric processes of Mars. The Mars research group at NYU Abu Dhabi's Center for Space Science is analyzing data from the probe to uncover answers to questions about Mars and its potential for life. The speaker will p...

Can We Cure Aging?

March 09, 2023 14:28 - 52 minutes - 59.8 MB

Recent research has yielded a much better understanding of how aging happens and how it leads to the ills of old age. There is now a lot of interest in tackling human aging to prevent, delay, or compress the unhealthy period at the end of life. In laboratory animals it turns out to be possible to target aging with diet and with existing drugs to promote better health in late life. So, what if getting old did not mean getting frail and ill? Speakers Linda Partridge DBE, FRS, FRSE, FMedSci, Pr...

The Voyage of the Crooked: A Connected History of the Gulf and Indian Ocean

March 09, 2023 13:37 - 59 minutes - 67.9 MB

This talk charts out an oceanic microhistory, grounded in the voyages of the dhow called The Crooked from the port of Kuwait, captained by the Nakhoda ‘Abdulmajeed Al-Failakawi. It anchors itself in Al-Failakawi’s logbook and looks out from the deck of the dhow onto a world of texts, letters, accounts, and other writings by Nakhodas. From these writings we can gather histories that have been scattered along the coasts of Arabia, South Asia, and East Africa, and we can gain a sharper sense of ...

The Cairo Genizah as a Treasury of Arabic Literature

March 09, 2023 13:37 - 1 hour - 98.1 MB

The Cairo Genizah is a collection of Jewish manuscripts from the Middle Ages found in an ancient synagogue in Al-Fustat, Egypt. It is a valuable resource for understanding the history, culture, and everyday life of Jews in the medieval Islamic world. Recently, it has been recognized for its significance in the study of Arabic literature and culture, as Jews in the Genizah also wrote and copied poetry in Arabic for both sacred and leisurely purposes. This panel discusses the Genizah Collection...

Narratives of the Moriscos’ Expulsion in Spanish and Arab Thought (English)

February 22, 2023 16:05 - 45 minutes - 52.2 MB

This talk analyzes the different representations of the Moriscos’ history in Spanish and Arab thought from the early modern era to today. First, it examines the evolution of the presence of this history in the literature and historic texts of the Spanish golden age (XVIe-XVIIe centuries). Secondly, it studies Spanish and Arab treatment of the subject in the XVIIIe and XIXe centuries, which means through the newspapers, writings of a historical nature, travel literature, novels, plays, etc. Th...

Narratives of the Moriscos’ Expulsion in Spanish and Arab Thought (Arabic)

February 22, 2023 15:53 - 45 minutes - 52.4 MB

نحاول من خلال هذه المحاضرة تحليل مُختلف التمثلات الإسبانية والعربية للتاريخ الموريسكي منذ بداية الفترة الحديثة إلى اليوم. بدايةً، سنحاول البحث في تطور حضور هذا التاريخ في النصوص الأدبية والإخبارية الإسبانية للعصر الذهبي (القرنين 16 و 17). ثانياً، سندرس التناول الإسباني والعربي للمسألة في القرنين الثامن عشر والتاسع عشر، أي من خلال النصوص ذات الطبيعة التاريخية، الجرائد، أدب الرحلة، الروايات والمسرحيات. ثالثاً، سنبحث في التمثل العربي التاريخي والأدبي المعاصر للتاريخ الموريسكي وكيف تطور كمّاً ونو...

Waste Siege: The Life of Infrastructure in Palestine

February 22, 2023 15:35 - 39 minutes - 45 MB

Sophia Stamatopoulou-Robbins traces Palestinians’ experiences of waste to explore what their improvisations for mitigating the effects of what she calls a “waste siege” can tell us about Palestinians’ approaches to time and collectivity today. She describes a series of conditions: from smelling wastes to negotiating military infrastructures, from biopolitical forms of colonial rule to experiences of governmental abandonment, from obvious targets of resistance to confusion over responsibility ...

The Arrival of Late Modernism in Dubai

February 14, 2023 16:21 - 38 minutes - 44.4 MB

“Old” and “new” Dubai represent the city’s dual cosmopolitan context. The almost drastic stylistic evolution from “old” Dubai’s areesh, coral stone, and palm frond houses to “new” clean-cut whitewashed modernist buildings highlights a significant polar shift from tradition to modernism, not only as a mode of building, but also as a way of life. To understand architecture in Dubai in relation to the International Modern Movement, reflections on the context are essential: why was modernism intr...

The (Impossible) Decolonization of the Western Museum

February 14, 2023 13:50 - 36 minutes - 41.3 MB

For decades now, the “universal museum,” an institution invented in Western Europe, has been challenged, and its decolonization has become a subject of debate within the institution itself. Yet, Françoise Vergès argues that the decolonization of the Western museum is impossible if we adopt Frantz Fanon’s remark that "Decolonization is a program of absolute disorder” (1961). In this conversation, Vergès retraces the connection between collecting and colonialism, explores the capacity of neolib...

Love’s Grammar

February 14, 2023 13:29 - 37 minutes - 42.9 MB

Yasmine Seale presents The Dove’s Necklace, a fascinating text on the nature of love from 11th-century Cordoba, and reads from her translation in progress. A masterpiece of Arabic prose and poetry, a jewel of observation, and a window into the intimate life of Muslim Spain, The Dove’s Necklace was composed by the young Ibn Hazm before he became the towering jurist and theologian we know today. Though he later renounced the work, it was to have a deep and lasting influence on the literature of...

Tenth Anniversary of the Higgs Boson Discovery

January 05, 2023 14:32 - 1 hour - 79.5 MB

July 4, 2012 marked the discovery of the Higgs Boson (also known as the "God Particle") after its prediction almost 50 years prior. With a ten-year retrospective, this talk tells the inside story of one of the most significant discoveries made by humanity ever. What is the Higgs Boson, and what is its role in our existence? How do we search for the smallest particle with a giant machine? And where do we go from here? Speaker Eilam Gross, Professor of Physics, Weizmann Institute of Science

Photography as a Visual Record: Past, Present, Future

December 05, 2022 15:19 - 59 minutes - 67.7 MB

Published on the occasion of the UAE's 50th anniversary, 50U tells the story of the UAE in 50 portraits of people, plants and places. Acclaimed royal photographer Ramesh Shukla, who took some of the most iconic photographs of the union of the seven emirates in the 1970s, and contemporary photographer Charlie Koolhaas, who was commissioned to shoot a photo essay for 50U, discuss the role of photography as a visual record, especially in the context of this book which straddles past, present and...

Speaking English: Staging the Dialectics of Identity, Culture and Survival

November 15, 2022 15:34 - 40 minutes - 46.4 MB

The wildly successful world premiere of Iranian-American Sanaz Toossi’s award-winning play and production English (2022) captivated audiences who had never before seen their story captured in live performance. Set in a TOEFL classroom in Karaj, Iran in 2008, English occurs during a period of political transformation resulting in travel restrictions and family separations. The play focuses on the many personal, cultural and political questions raised by “foreign” language acquisition that are ...

Extremism: A Philosophical Analysis

November 15, 2022 14:46 - 49 minutes - 56.2 MB

We live in a world in which extremism is said to be on the rise. The 20th century was scarred by extremist movements and ideologies, and extremism continues to be a problem in the 21st century. But what exactly is extremism, and what is wrong with it? Martin Luther King Jr. famously asked whether we will be extremists for the preservation of injustice or for the extension of justice. Is there such a thing as "good" extremism or is extremism always a bad thing? Speaker Quassim Cassam, Profess...

Making Decisions in a World of Uncertainty

November 10, 2022 17:00 - 1 hour - 76.8 MB

Pandemic, war, rising oil prices, food shortages, … there is no uncertainty about how uncertain these times are. Yet, we have to make decisions at all scales—from individuals trying to decide how to financially invest to policy-makers trying to curb epidemics with sound public health interventions. Faced with many decision-making complexities, we look to technology with its promise of data-driven insights and artificial intelligence to come to our aid. This talk examines how prescriptive anal...

The Legacy of Al-Andalus: Material and Textual Sources

November 10, 2022 16:55 - 57 minutes - 65.9 MB

For almost eight centuries the Arabs dominated much of the territory of the Iberian Peninsula (711-1492 C.E.). They called that region al-Andalus and, although its territorial extension varied over the years, Arabic was its predominant language and Islam its majoritarian religion. Until the beginning of the 17th century, numerous Muslims or people of Muslim origin continued to reside in Spain. Likewise, material and textual legacy still remain and its knowledge is essential to writing the his...

Plagued Legacies: Rethinking Black Death Narratives

November 10, 2022 16:52 - 50 minutes - 57.5 MB

This talk addresses the lasting legacies of past plagues, in particular the Black Death, because they continue to shape the way we think about new pandemics. We must recognize pandemics as long-term processes and shift our focus beyond epidemic episodes of disruption to better understand how past societies learned to live with diseases. The talk also highlights persistent problems related to pandemics, such as European exceptionalism, triumphalism, and epidemiological orientalism that are not...

How the Muslims of Canton Saved China in 1582

November 10, 2022 16:49 - 1 hour - 84.4 MB

Traveling from Canton to Lisbon and back via Aden and Jiddah, Hormuz and the Straights of Malaka, this talk connects China, India, and the Philippines and the 16th century Indian Ocean in a tale of espionage, adventure, war and religion. Speaker Zvi Ben-Dor Benite, Professor of History, Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies, NYU

Legacies of Violence

November 10, 2022 16:45 - 52 minutes - 60.6 MB

Recent research in the social sciences suggests that families’ past experiences of violence –notably, war and displacement – shape descendants’ preferences and behaviors for generations and influence economic, political, and social decisions within these families over decades and, at times, centuries. This talk provides an overview of the cutting-edge research on the legacies of violence and describes what we know about the intergenerational effects of violence and the social processes by whi...

Prophet Muhammad's Timeless Gifts to Humanity

November 10, 2022 16:44 - 46 minutes - 53.3 MB

Prophet Muhammad has made a prodigious impact on the history of the world and continues to impact the contemporary world. How exactly did he manage to make a difference, and why are his enlightening teachings still germane today? In answering these questions, this talk counteracts the centuries-long Christian polemics demonizing the prophet. It offers a rare sociological overview of his life and enduring legacy and makes the case for Prophet Muhammad’s role as a “liberator” of human beings wh...

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