Speakers Announced for New Open Lecture Series

The Al-Maktoum College of Higher Education has seven speakers lined up for its 2016/2017 Open Lecture series.

Since the free Open Lectures started six years ago, speakers from all over the world have accepted an invitation to deliver enlightening lectures on topics related to religion, Islam, Muslims and interfaith relations.

This year’s series – with speakers from Scotland, England, Wales, Ireland and the United States – begins in September and will continue until May, 2017, when the final lecture takes place.

The lecture series forms part of the College’s mission to establish a bridge between Muslim communities and societies and non-Muslim communities and countries.

Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the College, Dr Hossein Godazgar, said:

“Once again we are honoured that distinguished scholars and experts in their fields of study have agreed to come to Dundee to deliver what are always very interesting and thought-provoking lectures.

“Our speakers successfully generate lively Q&A sessions at the end of their talks, and this is hugely gratifying. Indeed, this time round, some of the lecture topics have been requested by audience members, so we are delighted that we could oblige.

“These events have been well attended and I feel sure our latest programme of lectures will stimulate interest once again.”

The dates, topics and speakers for the 2016/2017 programme are as follows:

September 29, 2016 – “Muslim Sects and Divisions: The Theological Puzzle of Islamic Diversity” with Dr Shabbir Akhtar, Centre for Muslim-Christian Studies, Oxford and Faculty of Theology and Religion.

October 20, 2016 – “Recent developments in the study of the Qur’an” with Professor Oliver Leaman, University of Kentucky.

November 17, 2016 – “The ‘Abrahamic Religions’ today” with Professor Hugh Goddard, University of Edinburgh.

February 16, 2017 – “Female Muslim Leadership and Authority in Europe” with Dr Yafa Shanneik, University of South Wales.

March 30, 2017 – “Islam, Ecology and Modernity” with Dr Fazlun Khalid, Islamic Foundation for Ecology and Environmental Studies.

April 21, 2017 – “Lives and Exemplars as ‘Texts’: Said Nursi from a Christian Theologian Perspective” with the Very Reverend Professor Martyn Percy, Christ Church College, Oxford University.

May 18, 2017 – “Pre-Israelite Jerusalem” with Professor Anne Fitzpatrick, Trinity College, Dublin.

All lectures are FREE to attend and open to the public. However registration is required due to capacity.

To register Email: openlectures@almcollege.org.uk