During my stay in NIAS, from September 2006 to January 2007, I finished my PhD dissertation entitled Books I and IV of Kushyar ibn Labban's Jami' Zij: An Arabic astronomical handbook by an eleventh-century Iranian scholar (its full text can be found in http://igitur-archive.library.uu.nl/dissertations/2007-0109-200521/index.htm ). I defended this dissertation on 20 December 2006 in Utrecht University and I was glad that the President, staff and fellows of NIAS participated actively in the ceremony. In NIAS I also worked on the remaining Books II and III of Kushyar's astronomical handbook, but more time was needed to finish them. Now in my limited free time I continue to work on them and meanwhile look for an opportunity (like that offered by NIAS) to finish this job, so that the whole work can be published (it will be the first complete English translation of an Arabic astronomical handbook).

I am a member of the History of Science Department of the Encyclopaedia Islamica Foundation (Tehran). I also teach history of Islamic period mathematics to Master students in the History of Science Institute of Tehran University and history of mathematics to undergraduate students of Sharif University of Technology Tehran). Since I think that we should invest on our young generation, I am also engaged in the activities of scientific NGOs in the field of astronomy and mathematics in different cities of Iran. We especially work in the field of "sundials" which provides an exciting research opportunity that mixes mathematics and astronomy with artistic creativeness, leading to concrete and applied results. I spend some time to encouraging young authors and translators of scientific articles by providing them with relevant sources and correcting their final works.

Academic activities have noticeably increased in Iran from a quantitative aspect (number of students, professors and universities), in recent decades. Regarding the qualitative aspect, it is not easy to judge on an unbiased basis. Of course the progress in quality is naturally influenced by the rapid increase in quantity. We regret that there are no substitutes for some high rank scholars that pass away or leave the country. On the other hand we have, so to say, "quality islands" such as the Institute for Theoretical Physics and Mathematics (IPM), which is financially supported by the government and is a leading provider of high level research with strong international connections.

The professor/student relationship in Iran is mostly modern, no longer based on the traditional master/disciple system. Almost all students in the universities and even high schools can use computers and the internet, so they are mostly open-minded with an international mentality and familiarity with modern life. Many qualified students leave the country in order to continue their studies in the West. Most students choose computer science, basic sciences, engineering and medicine as their main career, but there is also now an increasing tendency towards humanities and arts.

Supporting group excursions (to and from Iran) in which sightseeing is mixed with cultural and scientific activities can enhance mutual understanding of young scholars and motivate scientific co-operations. For example, two professors of Utrecht and Leiden Universities (Prof. Jan P. Hogendijk and Prof. Remke Kruk) and myself organised a workshop entitled "Geometrical patterns in Islamic art" in Leiden which was supported by the Lorentz Center in Leiden. We were able to persuade the authorities to support financially the participation of 10 Iranian students and the result from both scientific and spiritual aspects was extremely satisfactory.

Iranian scholars have been doing high level scientific work all around the world and I can especially mention their pioneering works in "String theory" and "Fuzzy logic". Iranian young scholars have had excellent achievements in the International scientific Olympiades. Just recently, a 16 years old Iranian boy (Erfan Esmaili) won a gold medal in the International Astronomical Olympiade held in Thailand. He is a member of an amateur astronomical society in Gilan province (near the Caspian Sea). I suggest that the organisers of scientific gatherings encourage the participation of young Iranian science-workers (including those in scientific NGOs) by providing them with financial and official support.

Lastly, one concrete occasion for promoting international scientific cooperation and understanding is to organise joint activities for observation of eclipses wherever on the earth they occur.

Interviewer: Inese Sviestina

Portrait of: Mohammad Bagheri