Waqās Ahmed

About
Waqās is the author of the internationally acclaimed book The Polymath (Wiley 2019) and founder of the DaVinci Network. He has edited several volumes for international organisations such as the UNESCO Universal Declaration of Cultural Diversity book (2022). He holds a BSc in Economics (SOAS) and postgraduate degrees in International History (LSE) and Neuroscience (King's College London). Waqas has been Visiting Scholar at the University of Cambridge and Visiting Fellow at the Open University Business School, with research interests including comparative theology, non-Western art, cognitive flexibility and interdisciplinary leadership. Outside of academia, he has been a diplomatic journalist, charity director and entrepreneur.
News
Produced the **DaVinci Masterclass:** Exploring the Mind & Methods of Leonardo da Vinci. Delivered by the world's leading expert on Leonardo, Professor Martin Kemp FBA.
Created the Polymath Festival: The World's First Ideas Festival Dedicated to harnessing the legacy of Leonardo da Vinci to inspire a new generation of 21st century polymaths.
Teaching
The Neuroscience behind Inequality: A Disciplinary Perspective - Problems 1a
Global Thinking: Placing Context Problems in their International Contexts
Waqas is also an academic tutor, coach and leads the LIS Fellowship programme.
Research
Selected Publications
BOOK:
The Polymath: Unlocking the Power of Human Versatility - Wiley 2019
EDITED VOLUMES:
UNESCO Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity: Marking the 20th Anniversary (Khalili 2021)
Holy Makkah: A Celebration of Unity (FIRST 2017)
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings: Official Reports (FIRST 2011-2015)
ACADEMIC:
Representation of Non-Western Cultural Knowledge on Wikipedia: The Case of the Visual Arts - Volume 13 • Issue 1 • 2023 • Digital Studies/le champ numérique (DSCN) Open Issue 2023
The Multidisciplinary Approach to the Treatment of Chronic Pain: A Qualitative Study - Indian Practitioner, 2020, Vol 73, Issue 8, p26
The Demise of the post-WWII Movement for a World Government - The Federalist Debate, ISSN 1591-8483, Nº. 1, 2011, págs. 37-39
MEDIA:
Cognitive Flexibility: The Skill Needed for Success in the 21st Century – Fast Company
The Mind of Leonardo da Vinci - Philosophy Now
A Visual History of British Versatility - BBC Arts
Interdisciplinary Approaches to International Affairs – The World Today (Chatham House)
A (Non-Western) History of Versatility – The Historian (Historical Association)
Lifelong Learning in the Age of Specialisation FE News
The Rise and Evolution of the Liberal Arts Movement in the UK – FE News
Dubai: The 21st Century Florence? FIRST Magazine
The medieval art of Alhambra: how Nasrid art influenced Europe's artists – Europeana
Kimono: the women’s garment shaping cross-cultural exchange – Europeana
Mecca in many mediums: representations of the holy cities of Islam – Art UK