Hasan Ibn al-Haytham (Alhazen)

Born -c. 965 CE (354 AH) Basra, Buyid Emirate

Died — c. 1040 (aged 75) (430 H) Cairo, Egypt, Fatimid

“Father of modern Optics”

Was an Araban Arab scientist, mathematician, astronomer and philosopher. Ibn al-Ḥaytham made significant contributions to the principles of optics, astronomy, mathematics, meteorology, visual perception and the scientific method.

“Alhacen” and later “Alhazen” was a pioneering scientific thinker who made important contributions to the understanding of vision, optics and light. His methodology of investigation, in particular using experiment to verify theory, shows certain similarities to what later became known as the modern scientific method.

Paris, 19th January 2015: Nobel laureates, international dignitaries, leading scientists and representatives from governments, industry and academia were part of the 2,000 guests at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris that witnessed the launch of a global campaign titled “1001 Inventions and the World of Ibn Al-Haytham” to celebrate the scientific achievements of the renowned 11th century scientist Ibn al-Haytham and his work in optics.

Ibn al-Haytham was born during a creative period known as the golden age of Muslim civilisation that saw many fascinating advances in science, technology and medicine. In an area that spread from Spain to China, inspirational men and women, of different faiths and cultures, built upon knowledge of ancient civilisations, making discoveries that had a huge and often under appreciated impact on our world.