Samar Mushtaq Headteacher - Neeli Mosque & Islamic Centre
My name is Samar Mushtaq, and I am the headteacher of the Neeli Mosque Madrasah. We have actively participated in Rochdale Science Initiative activities since the last Science Extravaganza at the Riverside building in March 2023. The event left such an impact on everyone who attended that I thought this event needed to be held in the heart of the community at Neeli Mosque and be part of our Eid celebrations.
Whilst the Eid Extravaganza was taking shape, I was kindly asked by Mohammed Rahman to speak at the Climate Change conference at BACP, and students from Neeli Mosque were invited to participate in a Chemistry, Climate Change and Sustainability session led by Dr Tim Gabriel from Manchester Metropolitan University. When the Rochdale Science Eid Extravangza did take place, it was an awe-inspiring event. Every member of the community had their highlights, such as the creepy crawlies, the planetarium, the energy-saving tips from United Utilities, the sound workshop, and the magnificent Golden Age of Science exhibition from the Rochdale Islamic School. For me, it was the discussions with all the scientists, such as Phil from the Institute of Physics, Melissa from the Catalyst Museum, and the Manchester Lit and Phil Society. For everyone who attended, it was an unforgettable experience that made a lasting impression. The most oft-repeated comment exceeded expectations in every way.
As it was the summer holidays and with people's enthusiasms at all-time highs, trips for the whole community were arranged to the Daresbury Laboratory (where I had worked in the '90s!) and the Catalyst Museum, where all the staff and trustees went the extra mile to host us.
Neeli Mosque is working in partnership with RSI on a series of groundbreaking workshops called ‘Our World, Our Collective Future’. We have been highly impressed with the calibre of scientists who have participated in the event, such as Geraldine Cox and Mahamoud Mubarak from Imperial College London, Dr Tim Gabriel from the Manchester Metropolitan University, Prof Sarah Bridle from the University of York, and young scientists Hilma Janwar and Iqra Choudhry.
I want to emphasise that I have been pleasantly surprised by the positive outcomes Neeli Mosque has achieved through our engagement with RSI. Even though I have worked for two decades as a scientist and many years as a headteacher, this experience has led to personal growth and made a positive impact on life, with memorable and invaluable experiences. I would personally encourage others who may be considering engaging with RSI to do so and be confident of a positive experience. I also believe further involvement of the community is needed to imbed science within our community, and we shouldn’t see science as something separate. Muslims have a rich scientific heritage.
