In this nimble, malleable, and responsive sphere, are artists enabled with an autonomy from art and its institutions? Could the Internet allow artists a means to jettison the formal structures and encourage a different kind of artistic expression? Or does it simply re-enforce real-world realities online? Read more »
Science & Technology
On MIT Media Lab: imagination realized
The Media Lab was founded almost thirty years ago in 1985, however it was reenergized following the appointment of Japanese venture capitalist and entrepreneur Joi Ito in 2011. Joi, who is also an activist and DJ, immediately embarked on a rebranding exercise bringing in ‘antidisciplinary’ individuals to the 400 person strong institution which had an annual budget of $55 million USD. The most important ingredient of the MIT Media Lab however is not the state of the art technology or my admirably professional peers but the very students we are meant to inspire. Read more »
BlackBerry Messenger: the UAE’s Fifth Estate
“This BlackBerry Messenger rumor mill in the UAE is getting out of hand.” I had posted this tweet several days before the UAE announced a ban last week on BlackBerry services by next October if Research In Motion (RIM), the smart phone’s manufacturer, didn’t meet the country’s regulatory conditions. Read more »
“1001 Inventions”: How Islamic Scientific History Can Combat Today’s Extremists
The exhibition, “1001 Inventions: Discover the Muslim Heritage in Our World,” was created with children in mind. The interactive displays are large and colourful, with cartoon-like characters guiding visitors as they explore the history behind some of Muslims’ greatest inventions. Read more »
The Complement Between Islam and Science
Dr Elias Zerhouni’s story was not so different from many Arab youths, growing up as he did in 1960s Algeria at a time in which his country was struggling for independence from French colonialists. In 1975, at the age of 24, he made his way to the United States where he joined Johns Hopkins University as a resident trainee and worked his way up to the executive vice presidency of the university. Read more »
Why Irena should find her home in Abu Dhabi
Over the past few months a quiet effort has been underway in one of the most recognizable buildings in Abu Dhabi. A team has been carefully assembled under specialized leadership and their mission identified. Their target has been established: her name, Irena, born in Bonn in January 2009 and now in need of a home. Read more »