Arabis ideas hold key concepts in the formulation of the much needed new holistic epistemology which could balance the current dominant materialistic epistemologies & which had led to unsustainability issues; Ibn Arabis ideas, and philosophy teaches many lessons for the pro-motion of interreligious/civilisational harmony. Examples exemplified in the conference include dialogue between the Islamic and Christian civilizations; mechanisms and princi-ples for spiritual training which is one of the fundamentals of civilisa-tional growth which is richly covered in Ibn Arabis work of Fusus al-Hikam, for example.

The Seminar on Ibn Arab: The Relevance of His Thoughts In The Quest for Sustainability held on 24th June 2009 was organised by Centre for Civilisational Dialogue, University of Malaya and the Cul-tural Counsellorship, Embassy of Iran, Malaysia. The seminar was officiated by Professor Datuk Dr Jamil Maah, Deputy Vice Chancel-lor (Research and Innovation). The seminar was deemed important because Ibn Arabis philosophy contain a wealth of knowledge and information which, if articu-lated and researched properly, among others can give insights to how spiritual intelligence, a fast developing subject in the field of psychology, can be enhanced. Thus far, works on Ibn Arabi have come mainly from the west. As such the seminar aims to highlight the works of Iranian and Malay-

sian scholars that can add to the richness of the scholarly literature on Ibn Arabi. The objectives of the seminar include: to gather the results of research carried by Ira-nian and Malaysian scholars on the works of Ibn Arabi; to under-stand how the ideas of Ibn Arabi are relevant in some of todays concerns especially in the area of ethics and human spiritual devel-opment; and to look at contempo-rary applications of Ibn Arabis thoughts and ideas. Among topics explored throught the seminar were Basic philosophy and ideas of Ibn Arab in the context of hu-man development, Malaysian and Iranian scholars works and com-mentaries on Ibn Arab, and Case-studies of the relevance of Ibn Arabs thoughts in the contempo-rary world. Key elements of the papers presented included: Ibn

Seminar on Ibn Arabi

I N S I D E T H I S I N S I D E T H I S I N S I D E T H I S I N S I D E T H I S

I S S U E :I S S U E :I S S U E :I S S U E :

ActivitiesActivitiesActivitiesActivities

Seminar on Ibn ArabiSeminar on Ibn ArabiSeminar on Ibn ArabiSeminar on Ibn Arabi

Seminar on SustainabilitySeminar on SustainabilitySeminar on SustainabilitySeminar on Sustainability

Sixth Ordinary Session of Sixth Ordinary Session of Sixth Ordinary Session of Sixth Ordinary Session of the World Commission on the World Commission on the World Commission on the World Commission on the Ethics of Scientific the Ethics of Scientific the Ethics of Scientific the Ethics of Scientific Knowledge and Technology Knowledge and Technology Knowledge and Technology Knowledge and Technology (COMEST)(COMEST)(COMEST)(COMEST)

Public Lecture Mdm Suraya Public Lecture Mdm Suraya Public Lecture Mdm Suraya Public Lecture Mdm Suraya Sintang (Univ. Malaysia Sintang (Univ. Malaysia Sintang (Univ. Malaysia Sintang (Univ. Malaysia Sabah)Sabah)Sabah)Sabah)

Public Lecture Prof James Public Lecture Prof James Public Lecture Prof James Public Lecture Prof James Higham (New Zealand)Higham (New Zealand)Higham (New Zealand)Higham (New Zealand)

Public Lecture Dr. Vinoth Public Lecture Dr. Vinoth Public Lecture Dr. Vinoth Public Lecture Dr. Vinoth Ramachandra (Sri Lanka)Ramachandra (Sri Lanka)Ramachandra (Sri Lanka)Ramachandra (Sri Lanka)

Public Lecture Mr Yusof Ma Public Lecture Mr Yusof Ma Public Lecture Mr Yusof Ma Public Lecture Mr Yusof Ma (China)(China)(China)(China)

Dialogue by Dr. Akram Dialogue by Dr. Akram Dialogue by Dr. Akram Dialogue by Dr. Akram Nadwi (United Kingdom)Nadwi (United Kingdom)Nadwi (United Kingdom)Nadwi (United Kingdom)

Visit by Muslim Students Visit by Muslim Students Visit by Muslim Students Visit by Muslim Students Association of Sri LankaAssociation of Sri LankaAssociation of Sri LankaAssociation of Sri Lanka

1111

2222

2222

4444

5555

6666

7777

8888

8888

Visiting ScholarVisiting ScholarVisiting ScholarVisiting Scholar

Prof Dr Paul Morris (Univ Prof Dr Paul Morris (Univ Prof Dr Paul Morris (Univ Prof Dr Paul Morris (Univ

Victoria New Zealand)Victoria New Zealand)Victoria New Zealand)Victoria New Zealand)

9999

ResearchResearchResearchResearch

InterInterInterInter----cultural Dialogue in cultural Dialogue in cultural Dialogue in cultural Dialogue in

MalaysiaMalaysiaMalaysiaMalaysia

Muslim Women NGO in Muslim Women NGO in Muslim Women NGO in Muslim Women NGO in

MalaysiaMalaysiaMalaysiaMalaysia

Bioethics and Intercultural Bioethics and Intercultural Bioethics and Intercultural Bioethics and Intercultural

Dialogue in MalaysiaDialogue in MalaysiaDialogue in MalaysiaDialogue in Malaysia

10101010

11111111

12121212

Associated Events by Members Associated Events by Members Associated Events by Members Associated Events by Members

of the Centreof the Centreof the Centreof the Centre 13131313

University of Malaya UNESCO University of Malaya UNESCO University of Malaya UNESCO University of Malaya UNESCO

ClubClubClubClub 14141414

MiscellaneousMiscellaneousMiscellaneousMiscellaneous 15151515

PublicationsPublicationsPublicationsPublications 16161616

P U B L I C A T I O N C O M M I T T E EP U B L I C A T I O N C O M M I T T E EP U B L I C A T I O N C O M M I T T E EP U B L I C A T I O N C O M M I T T E E

EDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIALEDITORIAL Professor Datin Dr. Azizan Baharuddin Professor Datin Dr. Azizan Baharuddin Professor Datin Dr. Azizan Baharuddin Professor Datin Dr. Azizan Baharuddin

Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr. Osman Bakar Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr. Osman Bakar Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr. Osman Bakar Professor Emeritus Datuk Dr. Osman Bakar Assoc. Professor Dr. Raihanah AbdullahAssoc. Professor Dr. Raihanah AbdullahAssoc. Professor Dr. Raihanah AbdullahAssoc. Professor Dr. Raihanah Abdullah

CONTRIBUTORSCONTRIBUTORSCONTRIBUTORSCONTRIBUTORS

Chang Lee Wei, Zazren IsmailChang Lee Wei, Zazren IsmailChang Lee Wei, Zazren IsmailChang Lee Wei, Zazren Ismail Siti Rukiah Othman, Sumitra a/p RajanSiti Rukiah Othman, Sumitra a/p RajanSiti Rukiah Othman, Sumitra a/p RajanSiti Rukiah Othman, Sumitra a/p Rajan

Jasni NakmanJasni NakmanJasni NakmanJasni Nakman

LAYLAYLAYLAY----OUT & DESIGN OUT & DESIGN OUT & DESIGN OUT & DESIGN Mohamed Azmi bin Mohd Rasheed KhanMohamed Azmi bin Mohd Rasheed KhanMohamed Azmi bin Mohd Rasheed KhanMohamed Azmi bin Mohd Rasheed Khan

ADDRESS & CONTACT DETAILSADDRESS & CONTACT DETAILSADDRESS & CONTACT DETAILSADDRESS & CONTACT DETAILS

Centre for Civilisational DialogueCentre for Civilisational DialogueCentre for Civilisational DialogueCentre for Civilisational Dialogue

2nd Floor, Siswarama Building2nd Floor, Siswarama Building2nd Floor, Siswarama Building2nd Floor, Siswarama Building University of Malaya, University of Malaya, University of Malaya, University of Malaya,

50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Tel: 603Tel: 603Tel: 603Tel: 603----79675697796756977967569779675697 Fax: 03Fax: 03Fax: 03Fax: 03----79675692796756927967569279675692

EEEE----mail: dialog@um.edu.mymail: dialog@um.edu.mymail: dialog@um.edu.mymail: dialog@um.edu.my Website: http://civilisationaldialogue.um.edu.my Website: http://civilisationaldialogue.um.edu.my Website: http://civilisationaldialogue.um.edu.my Website: http://civilisationaldialogue.um.edu.my

BULLETINBULLETINBULLETINBULLETIN

A P R I LA P R I LA P R I LA P R I L J U N E 2 0 0 9J U N E 2 0 0 9J U N E 2 0 0 9J U N E 2 0 0 9 N O . 1 1N O . 1 1N O . 1 1N O . 1 1

U N I V E R S I T Y O F M A L A Y A , C E N T R E F O R C I V I L I SU N I V E R S I T Y O F M A L A Y A , C E N T R E F O R C I V I L I SU N I V E R S I T Y O F M A L A Y A , C E N T R E F O R C I V I L I SU N I V E R S I T Y O F M A L A Y A , C E N T R E F O R C I V I L I S A T I O N A L D I A L O G U EA T I O N A L D I A L O G U EA T I O N A L D I A L O G U EA T I O N A L D I A L O G U E

2222 FUTURE DIRECTION ON SUSTAINABILITY SCIENCE RESEARCH

A seminar on Future Directions On Sustainability Science (SuSci) in Malaysia was held on 29th April 2009. This event was jointly organized by the Sustain-ability Science(SuSci) Research Cluster UM, Centre for Civilisa-tion Dialogue and the Depart-ment of Science & Technology

Studies, Faculty of Science. This one-day seminar aims to provide a plat-form for SuSci members to ex-change views, participate in constructive de-bates and finally,

to reach some level of agreement on the future direc-tions of this cluster, and the ways in which members can work together as a group. The one day event also provides excellent networking oppor-

tunity. It was hoped that by the end of

event, the group will be able to pro-duce a feasible and workable cluster-level framework that will not only enhance individual research, but also increase the visibility of UMs overall intellectual and practical contributions in local, national, regional and interna-tional efforts on sustainable develop-ment. The objectives of the event can