Which scientists and mathematicians should we encourage?

Perhaps you've read here or at a similar site about Charles Bolden's interview with Al-Jazeera. His mission (which he has apparently accepted) includes "find(ing) a way to reach out to the Muslim world and engage much more with dominantly Muslim nations to help them feel good about their historic contribution to science, math, and engineering."

Now, the disclaimer. I am not Muslim, and never will be. I'm not a historian or a theologian. My interest in this subject stems from 1) a childhood spent within sight of NASA's Kennedy Space Center and 2) a strong interest in math and science.

I was curious just what contributions the Muslim world might have made to science and math. Woring from Bolden's quote, "historic" to me means that a focus on the distant past; no need to worry about recent developments in the last hundred years. Mohammad lived in the latter part of the 6th century AD and the early part of the 7th century AD. I looked only for those contributions that happened since Mohammad (or Mohammed) coalesced the various tribes into the religion of Islam we all know today.I am defining "Muslim nations" as pretty much all of the Middle East".

I found some information pretty easily:

• Many feel Al-Khwarizimi made substantial contributions to the field of algebra, including its practical applications. Some historians feel the concepts were not so substantial. He does consistently receive credit for the first use of zero as a place-holder.
• Ibn Sina authored Al-Qanun fi al-Tibb, or The Canon of Medicine. "Among the Canon's contributions to modern medicine was the recognition that tuberculosis is contagious; diseases can spread through water and soil; and a person's emotional health influences his or her physical health. Ibn Sina was also the first physician to describe meningitis, parts of the eye, and the heart valves, and he found that nerves were responsible for perceived muscle pain. He also contributed to advancements in anatomy, gynecology, and pediatrics."

Then I found some sites that focused on more than just individuals, but instead the Islamic culture as a whole.

• This author claims the Quran predicted flight, DNA's use in criminal investigations, and the idea that the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean are very different in composition.
• This site asserts that just about everything important or substantial was first discovered by a Muslim; many of those statements are refuted here (as "printed" by frontpagemag.com, responding to a speech given by Carly Fiorina in 2001).

After just a short time, I quit searching. There was plenty of information; too much, in fact. When I taught in the states a few years back, "multiculturalism" was intended to encourage both boys and girls, both white and "non-white" students to succeed in math and science. However, a simple search for "islam math contributions" (or science) reveals many sites--such as this one--to help teachers educate their students. Have things changed so much in just the last decade that we now need to teach children the "successes" of Muslim scientists and mathematicians?

Wouldn't it be better to spend the time to teach kids the math they need so that they can succeed? Our schools, and our kids' futures, should be about the contributions young American citizens can make as they grow into national and world leaders.