Assistant Professor Taha Yasin Arslan, head of the Department of the History of Technology at our institute, gave a talk titled ‘Mirror of the Universe: The Evolution of the Astrolabe’ in Oxford by the invitation of the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies. Dr Arslan described the transformation of the astrolabe -an instrument of observation and calculation- in parallel to the development of scientific knowledge in the Islamic world, and how it became multi-functional and complex tool. He also discussed the cultural basins that were influential on the evolution of the astrolabe and the results of this development within the Mamluks and the Ottomans. The seminar attracted attention of many from different backgrounds. Professor Robert Iliffe (History of Science, Oxford University) and Dr Silke Ackermann the director of the History of Science Museum, Oxford was also present.