Roots of Discovery: Sands of Knowledge

Roots of Discovery: Sands of Knowledge comes to the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences on Saturday, October 10, from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM. It's part of the museum's Roots of Discovery series, which gives different communities a platform to share their stories through hands-on science, artistic expression and cultural traditions, looking at the links between culture, nature and scientific discovery.

This particular session journeys through the cultures of the Muslim world and a legacy of curiosity, creativity and innovation. It focuses on the scholars, artists and thinkers who preserved ancient knowledge, built on it with new discoveries and passed on ideas that influenced Europe and helped shape the modern understanding of mathematics, astronomy, medicine, art, architecture and the natural world.

Two speakers lead the conversation. Fatma Wasel, born in Kuwait and raised in Yemen with Egyptian roots, holds a Doctorate in Executive Leadership focused on emotional intelligence and brings her own perspective to the table. Mohsen Zakaib, a physician-in-training and co-founder of RISE at the Islamic Association of Raleigh, traces the Muslim legacy in medicine and engineering through figures like Al-Zahrawi and Al-Jazari. Artist Ummah, a community-driven art organization that uplifts diverse Muslim voices, collaborates on the program.

The session runs in the SECU Daily Planet Theater at the museum, 11 West Jones Street in downtown Raleigh. It's free to attend.