The Nahrein Network: New Ancient History Research for Education in Iraq and its Neighbours
Lead Research Organisation:
University College London
Department Name: History
Abstract
Nahrein is the Arabic word for Mesopotamia - the ancient "land between two rivers", centred on modern-day Iraq and northern Syria. The literate, urban cultures of Sumer, Babylonia and Assyria together represent the vital first half of history, millennia before Greece and Rome. Yet they are also a new antiquity, rediscovered archaeologically in the 19th and 20th centuries, irrevocably entangled in the region's messy politics of colonialism and dictatorship, and now threatened by the conflicts tearing the region apart.
Millions of dollars of international aid are being pumped into the documentation, digitisation and conservation of threatened and war-damaged cultural heritage sites across the Middle East, with little thought for local interests and impacts. The Nahrein Network by contrast will enable local people to reclaim this heritage as local history, and to put it to constructive use for local communities and economies. It aims to harness interdisciplinary humanities research and education to help Middle Eastern universities, museums, archives and cultural heritage sites build their capacity to contribute to their countries' economic, cultural and social development in the years ahead.
The wars in Iraq and Syria spread their deadly effects far beyond the immediate conflict zones. But much-needed emergency relief should not be at the expense of planning for longer-term economic and social regrowth. Network partner UNESCO Iraq identifies education and culture as two key Areas of Action, with gender equality and academic isolation as of particular concern, while UNAMI aims to aid social reconciliation though cultural dialogue.
Centred initially on southern Iraq and Kurdistan, Nahrein will run a Research Centre directed by Dr Saad Eskander at the University of Kurdistan Hewler (Erbil) and two collaborative hubs at the University of Baghdad and Basrah Museum. In year 3 it will expand into Turkey, Lebanon and--if safe--Syria and Iran with help from the British Institute at Ankara, the Council for British Research in the Levant and, we hope, the British Institute of Persian Studies.
With support from the British Institute for the Study of Iraq, in Strand 1 we will welcome humanities educators and researchers back into the international fold by offering varied options for international, interdisciplinary collaboration, training, mentoring and peer-group support, especially for women, minorities, and early career researchers.
In Strand 2 we will issue six-monthly funding calls for interdisciplinary, collaborative projects open to academics, cultural heritage professionals, NGOs and community groups. Each call will address a different selection of five overall themes, related to the core team's own research, chosen to address the Network's five primary Aims (see Objectives). This sequencing will allow research projects to learn from and build on prior findings, and enable Network participants to respond flexibly to new developments in the region. We aim to strike a balance between providing appropriate support and expertise from the project team and allowing Network participants to take the lead on their own research and development. We will encourage a wide range of traditional and innovative methodologies and outputs, both theoretical and practice-based. However, the emphasis will be on open-access, peer-reviewed online publication, for instance via UCL Press and the Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (oracc.org). In this way we will maximise accessibility of the Network's findings while providing authors and readers with the reassurance of high academic quality.
In Strand 3 we will set up five working groups, one for each Aim, to evaluate, share and embed good practice, and make policy recommendations across the network's full geographical range. With partners we will secure funding to develop a sustainable new generation of high quality humanities research in and for the benefit of the wider Middle East.
Millions of dollars of international aid are being pumped into the documentation, digitisation and conservation of threatened and war-damaged cultural heritage sites across the Middle East, with little thought for local interests and impacts. The Nahrein Network by contrast will enable local people to reclaim this heritage as local history, and to put it to constructive use for local communities and economies. It aims to harness interdisciplinary humanities research and education to help Middle Eastern universities, museums, archives and cultural heritage sites build their capacity to contribute to their countries' economic, cultural and social development in the years ahead.
The wars in Iraq and Syria spread their deadly effects far beyond the immediate conflict zones. But much-needed emergency relief should not be at the expense of planning for longer-term economic and social regrowth. Network partner UNESCO Iraq identifies education and culture as two key Areas of Action, with gender equality and academic isolation as of particular concern, while UNAMI aims to aid social reconciliation though cultural dialogue.
Centred initially on southern Iraq and Kurdistan, Nahrein will run a Research Centre directed by Dr Saad Eskander at the University of Kurdistan Hewler (Erbil) and two collaborative hubs at the University of Baghdad and Basrah Museum. In year 3 it will expand into Turkey, Lebanon and--if safe--Syria and Iran with help from the British Institute at Ankara, the Council for British Research in the Levant and, we hope, the British Institute of Persian Studies.
With support from the British Institute for the Study of Iraq, in Strand 1 we will welcome humanities educators and researchers back into the international fold by offering varied options for international, interdisciplinary collaboration, training, mentoring and peer-group support, especially for women, minorities, and early career researchers.
In Strand 2 we will issue six-monthly funding calls for interdisciplinary, collaborative projects open to academics, cultural heritage professionals, NGOs and community groups. Each call will address a different selection of five overall themes, related to the core team's own research, chosen to address the Network's five primary Aims (see Objectives). This sequencing will allow research projects to learn from and build on prior findings, and enable Network participants to respond flexibly to new developments in the region. We aim to strike a balance between providing appropriate support and expertise from the project team and allowing Network participants to take the lead on their own research and development. We will encourage a wide range of traditional and innovative methodologies and outputs, both theoretical and practice-based. However, the emphasis will be on open-access, peer-reviewed online publication, for instance via UCL Press and the Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (oracc.org). In this way we will maximise accessibility of the Network's findings while providing authors and readers with the reassurance of high academic quality.
In Strand 3 we will set up five working groups, one for each Aim, to evaluate, share and embed good practice, and make policy recommendations across the network's full geographical range. With partners we will secure funding to develop a sustainable new generation of high quality humanities research in and for the benefit of the wider Middle East.
Planned Impact
The Network will first centre on southern Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan, expanding to Syria and northern Iraq (under appropriate circumstances, risk analysis permitting), Lebanon, eastern Turkey and we hope, western Iran in year 3. All five countries are on the DAC list of ODA recipients, four classed as Upper Middle Income and the Syrian Arab Republic as Lower Middle Income. In addition, OECD's States of Fragility Framework 2016 lists Iraq and Syria amongst the 56 countries and economies in 'fragile situations'. Nahrein aims to contribute to the economic development of these countries by legitimating, enabling, and harnessing high-quality, interdisciplinary humanities research on local antiquity in the region. The return of local heritage to local owners, from experts to enthusiasts, will benefit industries from sustainable tourism to documentary media. Improved graduate employability and leadership, especially for women and minorities, will facilitate the growth of a modern workforce to attract internal, regional and international investment in economic development.
Beyond our academic beneficiaries, we have targetted impact on the following groups:
a) cultural heritage professionals in museums, archives, and NGOs such as Nature Iraq and UNESCO
While a lot of international training is on offer for the physical preservation of material culture, there is much less support for facilitating Middle Eastern cultural heritage organisations to connect meaningfully with local publics, leaving challenging questions about who cultural heritage is actually for. Through fellowships, collaborative research projects, and mentoring, we aim to help museums, archives and NGOs to understand their audiences better, and to develop effective strategies and resources for education, knowledge exchange and public engagement, online, in traditional media and face- to-face. Likewise, their counterparts in UK institutions with Middle Eastern holdings will benefit from local expertise on this material.
b) humanities graduates in the Middle East
As in many countries world wide, Middle Eastern governments have been slow to recognise and support the huge economic, social and cultural benefits that effective humanities education can provide. At the same time, the region is grappling with ever larger, ever younger populations. By facilitating, testing, and embedding practice-based research into locally effective undergraduate pedagogies, we will help young adults across the region benefit from enhanced employability and leadership, with consequent economic impact.
c) NGOs and community groups, such as UNAMI and Al-Amal, working on post-conflict reconciliation
Decades of dictatorship and sectarian conflict in the region have led to grievances, stereotypes, and the domination and exclusion of many communities. Since 2014 Da'esh's systemic persecution of minorities in northern Iraq has amounted in many cases to cultural genocide. The Network will contribute to ongoing community-based post-conflict reconciliation by using the ancient past as a politically neutral 'safe' space for public discussion of difficult issues in contemporary society.
d) local publics interested in the Middle Eastern past
Ancient and modern pasts are key components of the construction of secure, tolerant, forward-looking personal and social identities. Yet over the past two centuries colonial and dictatorial regimes have tried to shape and control ancient Middle Eastern history to their own ends. We will facilitate local educators and NGOs to restore access to local pasts, for self- knowledge, community-building, and sheer enjoyment.
e) government agencies and policy-makers in the UK and Middle East
In recent years global academia has lobbied hard to articulate the manifold benefits of the humanities to cultural, social and economic development. We will build on that advocacy by demonstrating the utility of building the humanities and culture into development planning.
Beyond our academic beneficiaries, we have targetted impact on the following groups:
a) cultural heritage professionals in museums, archives, and NGOs such as Nature Iraq and UNESCO
While a lot of international training is on offer for the physical preservation of material culture, there is much less support for facilitating Middle Eastern cultural heritage organisations to connect meaningfully with local publics, leaving challenging questions about who cultural heritage is actually for. Through fellowships, collaborative research projects, and mentoring, we aim to help museums, archives and NGOs to understand their audiences better, and to develop effective strategies and resources for education, knowledge exchange and public engagement, online, in traditional media and face- to-face. Likewise, their counterparts in UK institutions with Middle Eastern holdings will benefit from local expertise on this material.
b) humanities graduates in the Middle East
As in many countries world wide, Middle Eastern governments have been slow to recognise and support the huge economic, social and cultural benefits that effective humanities education can provide. At the same time, the region is grappling with ever larger, ever younger populations. By facilitating, testing, and embedding practice-based research into locally effective undergraduate pedagogies, we will help young adults across the region benefit from enhanced employability and leadership, with consequent economic impact.
c) NGOs and community groups, such as UNAMI and Al-Amal, working on post-conflict reconciliation
Decades of dictatorship and sectarian conflict in the region have led to grievances, stereotypes, and the domination and exclusion of many communities. Since 2014 Da'esh's systemic persecution of minorities in northern Iraq has amounted in many cases to cultural genocide. The Network will contribute to ongoing community-based post-conflict reconciliation by using the ancient past as a politically neutral 'safe' space for public discussion of difficult issues in contemporary society.
d) local publics interested in the Middle Eastern past
Ancient and modern pasts are key components of the construction of secure, tolerant, forward-looking personal and social identities. Yet over the past two centuries colonial and dictatorial regimes have tried to shape and control ancient Middle Eastern history to their own ends. We will facilitate local educators and NGOs to restore access to local pasts, for self- knowledge, community-building, and sheer enjoyment.
e) government agencies and policy-makers in the UK and Middle East
In recent years global academia has lobbied hard to articulate the manifold benefits of the humanities to cultural, social and economic development. We will build on that advocacy by demonstrating the utility of building the humanities and culture into development planning.
Organisations
- University College London (Lead Research Organisation)
- Thi Qar University (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF READING (Collaboration)
- University of Tikrit (Collaboration)
- School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) (Collaboration)
- Friends of Basrah Museum (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- University of Sheffield (Collaboration)
- University of Pennsylvania (Collaboration)
- University of Anbar (Collaboration)
- University of Babylon (Collaboration)
- University of Kufa (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE (Collaboration)
- The British Library (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD (Collaboration)
- Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL) (Collaboration)
- MIDDLESEX UNIVERSITY (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW (Collaboration)
- University of Misan (Collaboration)
- Ninevah University (Collaboration)
- University of Al-Qadisiyah (Collaboration)
- Sulaimani Polytechnic University (Collaboration)
- Kurdish Textile Museum (Collaboration)
- Museum of London Archaeology (Collaboration)
- Al-Mustansiriya University (Collaboration)
- Kingston University London (Collaboration)
- University of Mosul (Collaboration)
- Basrah Museum (Collaboration)
- University of Diyala (Collaboration)
- The National Archives (Collaboration)
- University of Bristol (Collaboration)
- University College London (Collaboration)
- UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER (Collaboration)
- Sirince Archaeological Association (Collaboration)
- University of Kurdistan Hewler (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF BEIRUT (Collaboration)
- British Institute for the Study of Iraq (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Iran Heritage Foundation (Collaboration)
- Nature Iraq (Collaboration)
- Chatham House (Collaboration)
- United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- British Institute at Ankara (Collaboration, Project Partner)
- Safina Projects CIC (Collaboration)
- University of Baghdad (Project Partner)
- University of Pennsylvania (Project Partner)
- UN Assistance Mission to Iraq (Project Partner)
- Iraqi Al-Amal Association (Project Partner)
- University of Glasgow (Project Partner)
- Birmingham Museums Trust (Project Partner)
- University of Reading (Project Partner)
- British Library (Project Partner)
- University of Manchester (Project Partner)
- Council for British Research in the Levant (Project Partner)
- National Archives (Project Partner)
Publications
A Naji Attiyah, C Sandes
Handbook on Sustainable Heritage
A Naji Attiyah, C Sandes
(2022)
Handbook on Sustainable Heritage
Andrews, S
(2020)
Iraqi Jews and Heritage under Threat: Negotiating and Managing Identity from Afar
in Diaspora
Collins, P
(2018)
Museums and the Ancient Middle East: curatorial practice and audiences
Kareem, D
(2023)
The Mandaeans in Iraq Today: Perceptions, Stereotypes, Prejudices, and Exclusion
in Journal Of Babylon Center for Humanities Studies
Kathem M
(2020)
Decolonising Babylon
in International Journal of Heritage Studies
Kathem, M
(2018)
Heritage peacebuilding in Iraq
Kathem, M
(2019)
Cultural (dis)continuity, political trajectories and the state in post-2003 Iraq
in International Journal of Heritage Studies
| Title | Owning the Past: From Mesopotamia to Iraq |
| Description | A dual language (Arabic and English) exhibition at the Ashmolean Museum, University of Oxford (12 December 2020 - 22 August 2021) that highlights the long-lasting impact of the past on the present. It explores how the borders of the state of Iraq were established following the First World War when British control of the region included a fascination with its ancient past - one that led to a colonisation of Mesopotamian antiquity as much as the living communities. It questions what is meant by heritage and introduces voices and stories of people not previously visible in displays devoted to the very histories and heritage of their homelands. The development of the exhibition was informed by projects supported by the Nahrein Network, which features in the concluding section of the display |
| Type Of Art | Artistic/Creative Exhibition |
| Year Produced | 2020 |
| Impact | The development of the exhibition was informed by projects supported by the Nahrein Network, including workshops: The Station, Baghdad, exploring heritage perceptions among Iraq's youth (April 2018); best practice among managers of Iraq's museums (Nov. 2018); as well as discussions with Nahrein/BISI Visiting Scholars. The displays were co-curated with people from across the Middle East living in Oxford and their voices and opinions made visible in quotes throughout the exhibition. The Museum employed paid 'Community Ambassadors' to reach out to Arab and Kurdish speakers. It is the Ashmolean's first completely dual language exhibition. The exhibition was advertised via the Ashmolean's website, a number of blog articles, and a through a short film. |
| URL | https://www.ashmolean.org/event/owning-the-past |
| Description | As the project reaches the final stages of its current funding, the overarching findings are that: * in order to put heritage and history to work in local contexts, it is not enough to "engage communities". Serious, sustained, equitable partnerships are need with regulatory bodies, funders, expert researchers and practitioners, so that local complexities and priorities can be fully understood and acted on. * Similarly, in-depth research is needed into the barriers to success, and past reasons for failure. Those challenges go far beyond simplistic explanations of terrorism and reach into the heart of local political and economic forces, as well as neo-colonialist attitudes to heritage by international funders and institutions * within Iraq, researchers choose to prioritise local heritage over nationally or internationally important icons. There is huge devastation to be contended with, due to decades of violence, political corruption and neglect. Equally local voices have important things to say, that have been ignored both nationally and internationally. Hyper-local projects can do a great deal to build a sense of community, pride and shared understanding, and are likely to be more sustainable than those on a larger scale. * online connectivity since the start of the pandemic has given valuable increased visibility and connectivity to isolated research communities. However, nothing beats on-the-ground collaborations for building trust relationships |
| Exploitation Route | Funders and designers of international heritage research should shift their focus to people: not just "communities" (a belittling term) but the intellectual and social infrastructures of heritage. Experts on the ground need to set the research agenda and decide what heritage counts in their particular context; we at the privileged end of the partnership should deploy that privilege to obtain the best outcomes for our partners, as defined by them. This entails a complex, long-term process of listening, responding, and adjusting expectations on both sides. |
| Sectors | Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| URL | http://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein |
| Description | On 21 June 2021, the European Council adopted the conclusions of Dr Kathem's policy paper written for the EU External Actions Service (see . As a result, the EU now recognises cultural heritage as a vector for peace, reconciliation, mutual understanding, intercultural dialogue and sustainable development. The Conclusions and the Concept provide key principles and an operational approach for EU strategic engagement throughout all the conflict cycle: from preventive actions to safeguarding measures and recovery processes. (https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage_en/100345/%20Building%20peace%20by%20cultural%20heritage%20-%20a%20new%20EU%20approach%20in%20conflicts%20and%20crises) Covid-19 and the ODA budget cuts made it very difficult to assess the project's impact in Iraq and its neighbours, as devolved projects ran late, and was not possible to travel to see work on the ground. |
| First Year Of Impact | 2020 |
| Sector | Creative Economy,Education,Leisure Activities, including Sports, Recreation and Tourism,Culture, Heritage, Museums and Collections |
| Impact Types | Cultural,Societal,Economic,Policy & public services |
| Description | ALIPH Foundation (International Alliance for Protection of Heritage in Conflict Areas): membership of Scientifc Committee - Eleanor Robson |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://www.aliph-foundation.org/en/governance |
| Description | EAMENA Advisory Board - Eleanor Robson |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| URL | https://eamena.org/advisory-board |
| Description | European Union on the Protection and Enhancement of Cultural Heritage |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Dr Mehiyar Kathem of the Nahrein Network was lead researcher for the EU assignment on a new initiative to develop the basis for a strategy for the EU on conflict and cultural heritage. Mehiyar with three other colleagues worked on the conceptual framing of the report as well as the case-study, which focused on Iraq. Over 40 interviews were conducted with EU officials, the EU delegation in Iraq and researchers and other key stakeholders. The project was a key milestone as the EU is working to devise a new framework that combines both conflict analysis as well as cultural heritage. The report culminated in a two-day conference on 12 and 13 November 2020. The report, for the EU External Action Service (EEAS), is now considered to constitute an important point of reference for the delivery of a new framework, which is being discussed and will most likely evolve into an operational policy for the EU and Member States in 2021/2022. |
| URL | https://www.cultureinexternalrelations.eu/cier-data/uploads/2020/10/Report-Cultural-Heritage-1Oct202... |
| Description | Informing ALIPH - an internaitonal heritage fund - about good practices in heritage related development work in Iraq |
| Geographic Reach | Multiple continents/international |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Kurdish Cultural Heritage Network |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Description | Nimrud Stabilisation Project |
| Geographic Reach | Asia |
| Policy Influence Type | Participation in a guidance/advisory committee |
| Impact | Robson served on the advisory board of the Smithsonian Institute-funded project to train Iraqi archaeologists to document the damage caused by ISIS to the northern Iraqi archaeological site of Nimrud. This project enabled the trainees to preserve from further damage a major cultural asset of northern Iraq, which also has potential to bring a great deal of economic benefit to the area in future. |
| Description | Society in the Wind project PI invited to serve on the Central Committee for renovation of Mosul |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Policy Influence Type | Membership of a guideline committee |
| Description | Thesiger's Tarada project |
| Geographic Reach | Local/Municipal/Regional |
| Policy Influence Type | Influenced training of practitioners or researchers |
| Impact | Mr Rashad Salim, PI of the Thesiger's Tarada project, reports a concrete change within Nature Iraq and other stakeholders in southern Iraq marshland tourism from perceiving traditional boats as old-fashioned and irrelevant towards recognising them as an important asset for the tourism and heritage sector. This shift has potential to create sustainable livelihoods for boatbuilders beyond the life of the projects. New orders have already come in. The projected growth in the use of traditional boats will also have a direct environmental benefit by reducing the pollution, erosion and noise impact resulting from the use of motorboats for Marsh tourism. On a broader level, the project plays a role in cultural and environmental advocacy, using an iconic traditional watercraft to bring attention to the challenges of the rural economy and environment, and to the opportunities that Iraq's distinctive heritage can contribute towards in sectors such as tourism, sports and leisure, arts and design. At another level altogether, the appointment of project Co-I Dr Abdulameer Al-Hamdani as Minister of Culture, has - while slowing down the delivery of the project's written outputs - enabled the Ministry to start considering sustainable approaches to archaeology and other aspects of its work. |
| Description | An Ark for Iraq - further funding awarded to devolved project Safina Projects/Thesiger's Tarada from the Cultural Protection Fund |
| Amount | £99,246 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 01/2019 |
| Description | British Council in Iraq ad hoc funding (Letters from Baghdad) |
| Amount | £3,600 (GBP) |
| Organisation | British Council |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2018 |
| End | 04/2018 |
| Description | The British Academy Writing Workshops 2020 |
| Amount | £19,410 (GBP) |
| Organisation | The British Academy |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 03/2019 |
| End | 12/2019 |
| Description | The Nahrein Network: the Next Ten Years |
| Amount | £10,000,000 (GBP) |
| Organisation | Arts & Humanities Research Council (AHRC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 10/2021 |
| End | 09/2031 |
| Description | UCL Public Policy Expert Engagement Award: Heritage and State-Building in Post-conflict Iraq |
| Amount | £3,900 (GBP) |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Start | 09/2019 |
| End | 07/2020 |
| Description | A Cultural Heritage Network for the Kurdistan Region: Challenges and Opportunities |
| Organisation | Sulaimani Polytechnic University |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a large grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Paul Collins. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr. Saad Bashir Eskander, Dr. Rozhen Kamal Mohammed - Amin, Dr. Alan Faraydoon Ali (Sulaimani Polytechnic University); Prof. Roger Matthews (University of Reading, UK); Dr. Ruth Young (University of Leicester) Duration: Funded for 12 months from 1st of September 2018 The project team will establish a local cultural heritage network and centre based at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, bringing together cultural heritage stakeholders and experts from academia, the NGO sector, and policy-making, as well as the local communities. Structured and semi-structured focus groups and workshops will identify and analyse cultural heritage challenges and opportunities. A series of seminars and lectures by local and international experts will explore best cultural heritage practices, while increasing connection and interaction among the network members. |
| Impact | *Sevencapacity building and training workshops (a total of 15 hours) and seminars (a total of 3.5 hours) that informed, connected, and trained a total of 273 locals from cultural heritage and many other fields across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. *Two training courses (a total of 48 hours) on "Writing Grant Applications & Project Management" that trained a total of 20 CHN, DCH, and SPU faculty and staff. *Two focus groups (a total of 6 hours) that brought together a total of 28 local stakeholders and cultural heritage decision-makers for data collection. *Sixnetworking and community engagement events (a total of 7 full days and 7 hours) brought together over3,668locals from the local community across the cultural heritage and many other fields inthe Kurdistan Region of Iraq. *Three TV interviews in three programs (several other TV and radio interviews during the previous events). *A draft research paper based on 2 of the 3 focus groups (The State of Antiquities Management in Kurdistan in Light of Iraqi legislation and International Conventions & Cultural Heritage Management During Peace and Conflict). Wewill submit to a journal upon the completion of the internalreviews. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | A Cultural Heritage Network for the Kurdistan Region: Challenges and Opportunities |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a large grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Paul Collins. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr. Saad Bashir Eskander, Dr. Rozhen Kamal Mohammed - Amin, Dr. Alan Faraydoon Ali (Sulaimani Polytechnic University); Prof. Roger Matthews (University of Reading, UK); Dr. Ruth Young (University of Leicester) Duration: Funded for 12 months from 1st of September 2018 The project team will establish a local cultural heritage network and centre based at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, bringing together cultural heritage stakeholders and experts from academia, the NGO sector, and policy-making, as well as the local communities. Structured and semi-structured focus groups and workshops will identify and analyse cultural heritage challenges and opportunities. A series of seminars and lectures by local and international experts will explore best cultural heritage practices, while increasing connection and interaction among the network members. |
| Impact | *Sevencapacity building and training workshops (a total of 15 hours) and seminars (a total of 3.5 hours) that informed, connected, and trained a total of 273 locals from cultural heritage and many other fields across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. *Two training courses (a total of 48 hours) on "Writing Grant Applications & Project Management" that trained a total of 20 CHN, DCH, and SPU faculty and staff. *Two focus groups (a total of 6 hours) that brought together a total of 28 local stakeholders and cultural heritage decision-makers for data collection. *Sixnetworking and community engagement events (a total of 7 full days and 7 hours) brought together over3,668locals from the local community across the cultural heritage and many other fields inthe Kurdistan Region of Iraq. *Three TV interviews in three programs (several other TV and radio interviews during the previous events). *A draft research paper based on 2 of the 3 focus groups (The State of Antiquities Management in Kurdistan in Light of Iraqi legislation and International Conventions & Cultural Heritage Management During Peace and Conflict). Wewill submit to a journal upon the completion of the internalreviews. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | A Cultural Heritage Network for the Kurdistan Region: Challenges and Opportunities |
| Organisation | University of Reading |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a large grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Paul Collins. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr. Saad Bashir Eskander, Dr. Rozhen Kamal Mohammed - Amin, Dr. Alan Faraydoon Ali (Sulaimani Polytechnic University); Prof. Roger Matthews (University of Reading, UK); Dr. Ruth Young (University of Leicester) Duration: Funded for 12 months from 1st of September 2018 The project team will establish a local cultural heritage network and centre based at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, bringing together cultural heritage stakeholders and experts from academia, the NGO sector, and policy-making, as well as the local communities. Structured and semi-structured focus groups and workshops will identify and analyse cultural heritage challenges and opportunities. A series of seminars and lectures by local and international experts will explore best cultural heritage practices, while increasing connection and interaction among the network members. |
| Impact | *Sevencapacity building and training workshops (a total of 15 hours) and seminars (a total of 3.5 hours) that informed, connected, and trained a total of 273 locals from cultural heritage and many other fields across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. *Two training courses (a total of 48 hours) on "Writing Grant Applications & Project Management" that trained a total of 20 CHN, DCH, and SPU faculty and staff. *Two focus groups (a total of 6 hours) that brought together a total of 28 local stakeholders and cultural heritage decision-makers for data collection. *Sixnetworking and community engagement events (a total of 7 full days and 7 hours) brought together over3,668locals from the local community across the cultural heritage and many other fields inthe Kurdistan Region of Iraq. *Three TV interviews in three programs (several other TV and radio interviews during the previous events). *A draft research paper based on 2 of the 3 focus groups (The State of Antiquities Management in Kurdistan in Light of Iraqi legislation and International Conventions & Cultural Heritage Management During Peace and Conflict). Wewill submit to a journal upon the completion of the internalreviews. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | A Scoping Study of the Post-Conflict Textile Crafts of Iraq - The case of Samawa and Erbil |
| Organisation | Kurdish Textile Museum |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a smal grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Paul Collins. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr Neelam Raina, Dr Janroj Yilmaz Keles (Middlesex University) Duration: Funded for 6 months starting with 30th of June 2018 This research questions the impact of the longstanding conflict in Iraq on the crafts of the State from the perspective of the Iraqi and Kurdish crafts people. It looks at the socio-economic changes in Iraq's craft tradition, with a special focus on the crafts women of the region. This research explores the potential that crafts have as a means of sustainable income generation that in turn could contribute towards reconstruction and development of this post conflict region. The research hopes to build on the resulting outputs in a meaningful way by providing relevant training and capacity building interventions to promote the craft practices of the region. |
| Impact | Outcomes will be reported in depth after the conclusion of the project. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | A Scoping Study of the Post-Conflict Textile Crafts of Iraq - The case of Samawa and Erbil |
| Organisation | Middlesex University |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a smal grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Paul Collins. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr Neelam Raina, Dr Janroj Yilmaz Keles (Middlesex University) Duration: Funded for 6 months starting with 30th of June 2018 This research questions the impact of the longstanding conflict in Iraq on the crafts of the State from the perspective of the Iraqi and Kurdish crafts people. It looks at the socio-economic changes in Iraq's craft tradition, with a special focus on the crafts women of the region. This research explores the potential that crafts have as a means of sustainable income generation that in turn could contribute towards reconstruction and development of this post conflict region. The research hopes to build on the resulting outputs in a meaningful way by providing relevant training and capacity building interventions to promote the craft practices of the region. |
| Impact | Outcomes will be reported in depth after the conclusion of the project. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | A Society in the Wind - Call to Rehabilitate a War Torn Community - Mosul |
| Organisation | Ninevah University |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a small grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Professor Eleanor Robson. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr Husham Swadi Hashim, Dr Ahmed Sabaawi (Ninevah University); Prof Harith Hazim Ayoub, Dr Abdulrazzaq Kh. Mahommed (Mosul University) Duration: Funded for 14 months starting with 1st of January 2019 The project aims to identify the patterns of relations between Mosul community constituents in different historical periods, look at the impact of the architecture of old Mosul and how this was reflected on the community cohesion. This approach will help with citizens' rehabilitation by conveying the spirit of hope as well as reassert the purpose of the legal concepts, general ideas of equality and the rule of the judiciary inside the community. |
| Impact | Project terminated - unable to start due to political challenges and pandemic. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | A Society in the Wind - Call to Rehabilitate a War Torn Community - Mosul |
| Organisation | University of Mosul |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a small grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Professor Eleanor Robson. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr Husham Swadi Hashim, Dr Ahmed Sabaawi (Ninevah University); Prof Harith Hazim Ayoub, Dr Abdulrazzaq Kh. Mahommed (Mosul University) Duration: Funded for 14 months starting with 1st of January 2019 The project aims to identify the patterns of relations between Mosul community constituents in different historical periods, look at the impact of the architecture of old Mosul and how this was reflected on the community cohesion. This approach will help with citizens' rehabilitation by conveying the spirit of hope as well as reassert the purpose of the legal concepts, general ideas of equality and the rule of the judiciary inside the community. |
| Impact | Project terminated - unable to start due to political challenges and pandemic. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Babylon - Modern Heritage or Ancient Ruin? |
| Organisation | Museum of London Archaeology |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a large grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Professor Eleanor Robson. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Ruth Young, Harjinder Sambhi (University of Leicester); Haider Almamori, Ibrahim Algadi, Kadhum Salman (University of Babylon), Mudhar Salim (Iraqi Oragnization for the Conservation of Nature and Culture); Emma Dwyer (Museum of London Archaeology) Duration: Funded for 18 months from 1st of March 2018 The aims of the research project are to better understand the current heritage position of Babylon and threats to its physical state; raise the profile of local expertise through provision of teaching and teaching materials for the analysis and interpretation of archaeology and heritage; help heritage organisations better serve local needs; increase the skills and capacity of archaeologists and students in Hillah province; help build more stable post-conflict communities. |
| Impact | Outcomes will be reported in depth after the conclusion of the project. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Babylon - Modern Heritage or Ancient Ruin? |
| Organisation | University of Babylon |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a large grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Professor Eleanor Robson. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Ruth Young, Harjinder Sambhi (University of Leicester); Haider Almamori, Ibrahim Algadi, Kadhum Salman (University of Babylon), Mudhar Salim (Iraqi Oragnization for the Conservation of Nature and Culture); Emma Dwyer (Museum of London Archaeology) Duration: Funded for 18 months from 1st of March 2018 The aims of the research project are to better understand the current heritage position of Babylon and threats to its physical state; raise the profile of local expertise through provision of teaching and teaching materials for the analysis and interpretation of archaeology and heritage; help heritage organisations better serve local needs; increase the skills and capacity of archaeologists and students in Hillah province; help build more stable post-conflict communities. |
| Impact | Outcomes will be reported in depth after the conclusion of the project. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Babylon - Modern Heritage or Ancient Ruin? |
| Organisation | University of Leicester |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a large grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Professor Eleanor Robson. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Ruth Young, Harjinder Sambhi (University of Leicester); Haider Almamori, Ibrahim Algadi, Kadhum Salman (University of Babylon), Mudhar Salim (Iraqi Oragnization for the Conservation of Nature and Culture); Emma Dwyer (Museum of London Archaeology) Duration: Funded for 18 months from 1st of March 2018 The aims of the research project are to better understand the current heritage position of Babylon and threats to its physical state; raise the profile of local expertise through provision of teaching and teaching materials for the analysis and interpretation of archaeology and heritage; help heritage organisations better serve local needs; increase the skills and capacity of archaeologists and students in Hillah province; help build more stable post-conflict communities. |
| Impact | Outcomes will be reported in depth after the conclusion of the project. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Creating an Intangible Cultural Heritage teaching module for Iraq's national undergraduate university curriculum |
| Organisation | University of Al-Qadisiyah |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a small grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions named and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Mehiyar Kathem. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr Salah Hatem (University of Al-Qadisiyah); Dr Hussain Al-Najim (Mosul University); Dr Mahdi Hussain (University of Samara); Dr Alaa Jasim (University of Kufa); Dr Faris Al-Khalidi (University of ThiQar), Ms Clara Arokiasamy (ICOMOS-UK) Duration: Funded for 8 months from 1 October 2019 This project is a collaborative effort to create a module on Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH). In the past, curriculum reforms have been ineffective, mostly due to a top-down, externally designed approach. The team, led by Al-Qadisiyah University, aims to strengthen and further develop the existing syllabus of a teaching module entitled Local Heritage, which the Ministry of Higher Education spearheaded in five Iraqi universities in 2017. The new module will frame the topic within the 2003 UNESCO Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage and the Operating Guidelines. In practice, it emphasizes collaboration between practising communities, heritage, arts practitioners and universities. It will be the first such initiative since 2003. The project has two parts. In part one, a symposium will identify and explore key issues and concerns associated with defining and safeguarding local ICH. Local practicing communities, NGOs, government departments, museums, archives, libraries, artists, and participating universities will be invited to send representatives. This stage will also gather the data needed to direct the development of a new ICH module. It will conclude by issuing a report on the process and findings, produced in collaboration with the Ministry of Higher Education. In part two will the team will develop the new module and pilot it for one academic year at the five participating universities. |
| Impact | Outcomes: *documentation of the Bedouin heritage *intangible heritage curriculum proposal to be embedded in the current higher education curriculum |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Developing the Iraqi Marshland Tourist Experience |
| Organisation | Thi Qar University |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The team a Thi Qar University were awarded a Small Research Grant |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Raheem Hameed Abed Al-Abdan, Zeyad Wahab Ahmed (University of Thi-Qar), Taher Kewin Eneid Al Ali (Thi-Qar Directorate of Archaeology and Heritage), Eoghan Darbyshire (The Conflict and Environment Observatory) Duration: funded for 12 months from 15 December 2019 The Iraqi Marshlands of the Mesopotamian Plain consider one of the largest wetland ecosystems and unique historical and ecological environment. In the last three decades, the Marshlands witnessed actions of draining and reviving of water and military processes which resulted of changes in its environmental and economic aspects. The main objective of this project is promoting the tourism reality of Marshlands as part of the ancient Civilization of Marshlands of Iraq. The key importance to perform that is by assessing the environmental background and cultural values based on investigating past and present environmental studies to close research gaps and mapping its current status, therefore it can assist to build up and establishing a tourism model in the region. Furthermore, improving tourist content is another major aim. This could be achieved by educating students at universities and preparing trained and fully qualified tour guides whose must obtain knowledge in history of Marshlands from the perspective of their cultural heritage which is relevant to the nature, viability and traditions of the society of southern Iraq. Consequently, this decreases the limited awareness of the environmental, economic and cultural value of the marshlands which could enhance towards a better tourism future. It also can assist to provide job opportunities for graduate students through providing job opportunities in tourism sector. This proposal introduces, for instance tourism maps of marshlands and its archaeological sites using Geographical Information system (GIS) programs and Remote Sensing Platforms which will be a brand new attempt in the region in this category of knowledge. As well, citizen science that can open up science to the public in conflict zones. Not only, but the project also aims to raise the awareness of local governments and decision-makers about the importance of tourism in marshlands region to attract tourists on a global scale. |
| Impact | Project has produced: *hydrological maps of the region *brochure *report of environmental changes in the area *booklet showcasing the region *a tour guide programme |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Dictionary of the colloquial and Marsh Arab dialects in Southern Iraq |
| Organisation | Thi Qar University |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Network awarded a 10000 GBP research grant to the Thi Qar team |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Hussein Mohammed Ridha, Basim Olaiel Khalaf, Faris Ajeel Jassem, Ali Raheem Abu Alhail Al Jaberi (University of Thi-Qar) Duration: funded for 6 months from 1 January 2021 The Marsh Arabs are a minority group of the Marshlands of southern Iraq, with Sumerian and Bedouin origins. They have their own specific culture and architecture, way of life and dialect, all rooted in and shaped by their environment: the marshes. Their way of life and their tangible heritage, such as the reed architecture and their boats, have been well documented. However, their dialect was not. It now could be lost forever, as only a small number of elders still speak it, and they are now at risk due to Covid-19. The Marsh Arabs have suffered considerably over many generations, and their dialect is generally looked down upon by other Arabic speakers. They also suffered destruction and attacks during Saddam Hussein's time in power. Despite some investments in restoring it, the region has continued to suffer. Past and current threats include the 2003 US/Coalition occupation and conflict, oil industry interests and, increasingly, the climate crisis. Dams in Turkey reduce water flow and endanger the Marshes' existence, which in turn, endangers the Marsh Arabs' way of life. The project aims to record the Marsh Arab dialect and work towards producing a dictionary in Arabic. The dictionary will be published in print and online and later translated into English. The team hopes their work will help preserve and allow a better understanding of the Marsh Arab dialect. |
| Impact | Outputs: *recorded interviews with native Marsh Arab speakers *dictionary of Marsh Arab *academic papers under review for publication *symposium |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Digital Humanities approaches to Middle Eastern antiquity |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Department | College of Arts |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | A key goal of the Nahrein Network is to reduce Middle Eastern academics' international isolation, identified by Network partner UNESCO Iraq as an urgent matter of cross-cutting concern. Another is to research locally appropriate ways to train the next generation of academics in ancient Middle Eastern history, cultural heritage, and related fields. A third is to help local audiences make meaning of local heritage, in local languages and local contexts. In the Middle East, access to traditional print media is often prohibitively expensive or practically challenging in other ways, but almost everyone uses smartphones and other handheld devices, every day. This collaboration is therefore developing the means to create Open-access, reusable online outputs as a natural solution to increasing the accessibility of academic research, pedagogical materials, and resources for interested publics. It is led by PI Professor Eleanor Robson, who is working with UCL's Research Software Development Group (RSDG) and Kings Digital Lab (KDL) to lay the technical groundwork for left-right script input and display for Oracc.org (see below) and its bespoke editing software Nammu (enabling Arabic, Farsi and Kurdish), and for data analysis of cuneiform spelling habits. This will enable the generation much more specific vocabularies, grammars, and sign lists specific to particular times, places, and genres. Students and researchers can more straightforwardly focus on particular periods or aspects of antiquity rather than feeling they have to master the whole 3000 years over which cuneiform is attested. We are scheduled to finish this phase of development by July 2019. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Penn Museum has hosted Oracc.org, the Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus, since its inception in 2010. Oracc is a field-leading international cooperative which provides facilities and support for the creation of free online editions of cuneiform texts and educational 'portal' websites about ancient cuneiform culture. It comprises a workspace and toolkit for the development of a complete corpus of cuneiform sources whose rich annotation and open licensing support the next generation of scholarly research. Its goal is to provide standards-based, well-documented resources that are as simple, flexible and adaptable to user needs as possible, and supported by free server space, backup, and personal contact with Oracc liaison staff. In development since 2010, Oracc now comprises over 85,000 text editions amounting to nearly 15 million words, plus around 3000 educational content pages totalling over 2 million words. Professor Steve Tinney, founder of Oracc and now Penn Museum's deputy director, contributes regular advice and consultation to the development of bidirectional script capability for Oracc and Nammu. Penn Museum also hosts Oracc's public server and build server. From later in 2019 Professor Laith Hussein of the University of Baghdad and Eleanor Robson will together produce online-to-print Arabic-English editions of two cuneiform corpora (his from Tell edh-Dhiba'i in Baghdad, hers from Tell Khaiber in southern Iraq), beta-testing the Oracc software with RSDG and KDL. We will use these academic outputs to develop and trial online Open Access resources for teaching ancient Babylonian history, script and languages to Iraqi university students; and to engage local publics with the ancient historical sites of the Baghdad region. We will also collaborate on a series of Digital Humanities workshops at the University of Baghdad. |
| Impact | ongoing |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Digital Humanities approaches to Middle Eastern antiquity |
| Organisation | University of Pennsylvania |
| Department | The University of Pennsylvania Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology |
| Country | United States |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | A key goal of the Nahrein Network is to reduce Middle Eastern academics' international isolation, identified by Network partner UNESCO Iraq as an urgent matter of cross-cutting concern. Another is to research locally appropriate ways to train the next generation of academics in ancient Middle Eastern history, cultural heritage, and related fields. A third is to help local audiences make meaning of local heritage, in local languages and local contexts. In the Middle East, access to traditional print media is often prohibitively expensive or practically challenging in other ways, but almost everyone uses smartphones and other handheld devices, every day. This collaboration is therefore developing the means to create Open-access, reusable online outputs as a natural solution to increasing the accessibility of academic research, pedagogical materials, and resources for interested publics. It is led by PI Professor Eleanor Robson, who is working with UCL's Research Software Development Group (RSDG) and Kings Digital Lab (KDL) to lay the technical groundwork for left-right script input and display for Oracc.org (see below) and its bespoke editing software Nammu (enabling Arabic, Farsi and Kurdish), and for data analysis of cuneiform spelling habits. This will enable the generation much more specific vocabularies, grammars, and sign lists specific to particular times, places, and genres. Students and researchers can more straightforwardly focus on particular periods or aspects of antiquity rather than feeling they have to master the whole 3000 years over which cuneiform is attested. We are scheduled to finish this phase of development by July 2019. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Penn Museum has hosted Oracc.org, the Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus, since its inception in 2010. Oracc is a field-leading international cooperative which provides facilities and support for the creation of free online editions of cuneiform texts and educational 'portal' websites about ancient cuneiform culture. It comprises a workspace and toolkit for the development of a complete corpus of cuneiform sources whose rich annotation and open licensing support the next generation of scholarly research. Its goal is to provide standards-based, well-documented resources that are as simple, flexible and adaptable to user needs as possible, and supported by free server space, backup, and personal contact with Oracc liaison staff. In development since 2010, Oracc now comprises over 85,000 text editions amounting to nearly 15 million words, plus around 3000 educational content pages totalling over 2 million words. Professor Steve Tinney, founder of Oracc and now Penn Museum's deputy director, contributes regular advice and consultation to the development of bidirectional script capability for Oracc and Nammu. Penn Museum also hosts Oracc's public server and build server. From later in 2019 Professor Laith Hussein of the University of Baghdad and Eleanor Robson will together produce online-to-print Arabic-English editions of two cuneiform corpora (his from Tell edh-Dhiba'i in Baghdad, hers from Tell Khaiber in southern Iraq), beta-testing the Oracc software with RSDG and KDL. We will use these academic outputs to develop and trial online Open Access resources for teaching ancient Babylonian history, script and languages to Iraqi university students; and to engage local publics with the ancient historical sites of the Baghdad region. We will also collaborate on a series of Digital Humanities workshops at the University of Baghdad. |
| Impact | ongoing |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Digital documentation of heritages sites that affected by armed conflicts in Anbar Province, Western Iraq |
| Organisation | University of Anbar |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Network awarded 10000 GBP to the Anbar team and supports them in implementing |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr. Khalil Khalaf Hussein, Dr. Mustafa Mohsen Mohammed Aljubory, Dr. Ammar Subhy Khalaf, Dr. Faris Nejers Hassan (University of Tikrit) Duration: funded for 6 months from 1 January 2021 This project intends to create a sustainable plan for the documentation and promotion of the cultural heritage of Tikrit province in northern Iraq. The region's rich and diverse cultural history has been neglected and degraded over the past few decades. The project will work with Iraqi Christian and Shi'i groups, including the Shia Endowment, and local and provincial authorities, to document and help preserve the many heritage sites present. |
| Impact | outputs will be reported in due course |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Digital documentation of heritages sites that affected by armed conflicts in Tikrit Province, Northern Iraq |
| Organisation | University of Tikrit |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Network awarded a 10000GBP grant to the Tikrit team |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr. Khalil Khalaf Hussein, Dr. Mustafa Mohsen Mohammed Aljubory, Dr. Ammar Subhy Khalaf, Dr. Faris Nejers Hassan (University of Tikrit) Duration: funded for 6 months from 1 January 2021 This project intends to create a sustainable plan for the documentation and promotion of the cultural heritage of Tikrit province in northern Iraq. The region's rich and diverse cultural history has been neglected and degraded over the past few decades. The project will work with Iraqi Christian and Shi'i groups, including the Shia Endowment, and local and provincial authorities, to document and help preserve the many heritage sites present. The project will have four phases: Using materials from phase 2 and 3 to raise awareness in the community by organising workshops, meetings and curating exhibitions galleries. The outreach effort hopes to reach tribes, farmers and other groups to educate them about the importance of the cultural heritage. Use information from phase 2 to put together a proposal for a local museum; Collating the information from phase 1 in an easily accessible and comprehensive format for future use; Identifying and mapping heritage sites in Tikrit province. |
| Impact | outputs and outcomes will be reported in due time |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Heritage Buildings of Kufa |
| Organisation | University of Kufa |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a small grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Professor Eleanor Robson. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr Ali Naji Attiyah; Dr Muhsin Al Dhalimi; Dr Hayder Al Hamdany (University of Kufa) Duration: funded for 14 months from 1 October 2019 The city of Kufa lies in the east of the Najaf governorate in southern Iraq. The project "Heritage Buildings of Kufa" aims to enhance awareness of heritage buildings in the city, and to promote sustainable protection among the community and local authorities. Implementation will involve documenting buildings, recording structural and architectural elements, setting up an inventory database, as well as promoting knowledge among students, local politicians, and the local community. |
| Impact | Outcomes will be reported in-depth after the conclusion of the project. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Heritage and State-Building in Post-conflict Iraq |
| Organisation | Chatham House |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | Chatham House's Middle East and North Africa Section's Iraq Initiative is developing policy proposals on reconstruction, federalism, and the public sector within Iraq's state-building programme. This context offers a globally unique opportunity to bring heritage into the state-building conversation. Our immediate goals are to: • Co-convene 3 roundtables over two years in London, bringing together policymakers, corporate leaders, analysts, academics, and civil society activists. • Co-author one Chatham House research paper addressing some of the key findings on heritage and reconstruction, to be published in English and Arabic. Our overarching aims are to: • Enable think tanks such as Chatham House to include heritage and social cohesion in their work on state-building • Translate UCL-led research on the role of heritage in state-building into policy debate in the UK, Iraq and, eventually beyond • Provide policy recommendations for policy-makers in the UK (such as the FCO), Iraq (such as the Prime Minister's Office, which has primary responsibility for post-conflict reconstruction), and international agencies (such as UNESCO) • Establish and maintain a network of policy-makers, corporate individuals, analysts, academics, and civil society activists, who all work in varying capacities and extents on the challenges to re-building the Iraqi state • Provide models for other post-conflict societies, elsewhere in the Middle East and beyond, to integrate heritage into state-building |
| Collaborator Contribution | Where we bring heritage expertise, Chatham House provides the route to integrating this work into sustainable state-building by helping us communicate more effectively with the large constituency of key politicians, dipomats and decision-makers. They also organise and publicise the events, co-ordinate the report-writing. |
| Impact | * Well attended panel discussion at Iraq in Transition conference, October 2019 at Chatham House. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Historical Memory, Heritage, and Cultural Identification amongst Displaced Communities in Cilicia and the Northern Levant |
| Organisation | Sirince Archaeological Association |
| Country | Turkey |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Network awarded the Association a Small Research Grant. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Tevfik Emre Serifoglu (Sirince Archaeological Association and Koç University); Güldem Baykal Büyüksaraç (Istanbul University), Ilmon Hançer (Association for the Protection of Cultural Heritage), Anna Collar (University of Southampton), Oya Topdemir Koçyigit (Istanbul University), Ulas Bayraktar, Bediz Yilmaz Bayraktar (Maya Association of Education, Culture, Research, Charity, and Solidarity) Duration: funded for 18 months from 01 January 2020 Forced displacement is one of the most pressing issues in the Middle East, a region long marked by political unrest, war and violence. Many communities across the region have been forced to leave their homelands throughout the recent and more distant past. Forced migration is an extremely painful process, which alienates people from their cultural landscape and disrupts their sense of place, belonging and identity. Displaced people must find ways of maintaining cultural ties to their places of origin, as well as relating to cultural elements in their new homes to begin to identify with a new heritage. This project will engage with these processes for contemporary migrants and the descendants of past migrants, focusing on Cilicia (modern day Adana and Mersin provinces) in southern Turkey. Cilicia has always been home to a diversity of Muslim and non-Muslim communities, and has experienced ebbs and flows in these communities. We will work with two groups of forced migrants, to engage with their identification with cultural heritage sites in Cilicia: the Armenian and other Christian communities in Lebanon, as descendants of Christians forced to leave Cilicia in the early 20th century; and Syrian migrants of varying ethnic and religious backgrounds, including Christians, who have recently made Cilicia their new home. The project will examine how these two groups perceive the cultural heritage of Cilicia, particularly the Christian and Muslim heritage landmarks of the region to which they can directly relate. The local Christians of Cilicia will also be included to study their perceptions of cultural heritage. We aim to bring together the previous and current inhabitants for a series of community-involved heritage preservation and management activities (workshops, trainings in methods of documentation and dissemination of knowledge), and work on ways of utilising cultural tourism for economic vitality and cultural integration. |
| Impact | The project's main goal was to have an impact on the economic developmentand welfare of concerned communities both living in Turkey and Lebanon,through activities and projects in the fields of cultural heritage management and cultural tourism. Having a positive contribution to the process of integration of mainly Syrian and also other Middle Eastern immigrants from surrounding countries to the socio-economic systems in these countries is the main objective.The project worked on ways of helping immigrant communitiesto develop ties with local elements of cultural heritage and also with members of communities living in Lebanon with roots in the same region. This feeling ofattachment is expected to contribute to the process of integration to the newsocial, economic and cultural environments they are living in. Besides thelong-term socio-economic impact, the project's main outcome is a web-based platform, through which the members of concerned communities can interact,collaborate and develop new projects, but also a database of elements oflocal cultural heritage can be formed and developed. The web-based platformis expected to function as a tool for a lively community of immigrants, peoplewith family roots in the region, local enthusiasts, experts, and representatives of organisations to communicate,share ideas and knowledge, and organiseevents and activities. Besides channels of social media, the project outcomes will also be disseminated through publications and public meetings, and weexpect an increasing number of people to start using and contributing to the platform in the long run.Training in core research skills in identification,decipherment and analysis of archaeological remains, ancient images and objects, and basic concepts related to cultural heritage management wereprovided during the project period which is hoped to have helped with raisingthe profile of local expertise on these subjects.The project team also aimed to help younger generations develop an attachment to cultural heritage, andguide them in potential careers in archaeology, anthropology or culturalstudies which will have a long-term impact not only in terms of personaldevelopment but also on the local economy mainly through cultural tourism. |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Integrating Comprehensive, Cross-community History with Reconciliation and Heritage Protection |
| Organisation | University of Al-Qadisiyah |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a small grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Mehiyar Kathem. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr Ahmed M. Tanash Mohaebs, Dr Jaafar Jotheri (Qadissiya University); Sam Andrews (Arab Human Rights Academy) Duration: Funded for 6 months starting with 1st of September 2018 This project will investigate and write a comprehensive history of a politically contested shrine using documentary and oral sources from Iraqi Shia, local Iraqi and Iraqi Jewish communities. It will also recognise that the contested history of the shrine means that effective preservation requires community political mobilisation from stakeholder communities. The project then also looks to the creation of a joint forum for both steering the research, so that competing narratives are negotiated and reconciled with the historical record and by both sides, and for creating and implementing an action plan for mobilising to preserve the shrine in both its Jewish and Islamic role. The forum will prioritise sustainable development and create a model for future projects. |
| Impact | Outcomes will be reported in depth after the conclusion of the project. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Iraqi Museums network |
| Organisation | British Institute for the Study of Iraq |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| PI Contribution | Network Co-Investigator Dr Paul Collins is leading a collaborative research strand in this project to help Iraqi museums to develop a mutual support network and to develop their capacities to better serve the needs of local visitors and communities. He has co-organised two major workshops so far, one at Basrah Museum in January 2018 and one at the Imam Hussein Museum in November 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Friends of Basrah Museum is at the forefront of rethinking local museums in Iraq. In January 2018 they co-organised a multi-day training workshop for Iraqi museum staff, in Basrah, with the British Institute for the Study of Iraq, in which Collins participated. In November 2018 Collins and Imam Hussein Museum co-organised a workshop for Iraqi museum directors and staff, focused on visitor research, hosted at the Museum in Karbala. |
| Impact | After initial meetings, the collaboration was thwarted by the Covid 19 outbreak and the ODA cuts. However, it did bring together museum professionals from across Iraq to assess the current situation and explore opportunities for knowledge exchange, especially around best practice. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Iraqi Museums network |
| Organisation | Friends of Basrah Museum |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | Network Co-Investigator Dr Paul Collins is leading a collaborative research strand in this project to help Iraqi museums to develop a mutual support network and to develop their capacities to better serve the needs of local visitors and communities. He has co-organised two major workshops so far, one at Basrah Museum in January 2018 and one at the Imam Hussein Museum in November 2018. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Friends of Basrah Museum is at the forefront of rethinking local museums in Iraq. In January 2018 they co-organised a multi-day training workshop for Iraqi museum staff, in Basrah, with the British Institute for the Study of Iraq, in which Collins participated. In November 2018 Collins and Imam Hussein Museum co-organised a workshop for Iraqi museum directors and staff, focused on visitor research, hosted at the Museum in Karbala. |
| Impact | After initial meetings, the collaboration was thwarted by the Covid 19 outbreak and the ODA cuts. However, it did bring together museum professionals from across Iraq to assess the current situation and explore opportunities for knowledge exchange, especially around best practice. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Open Cultural Heritage Resources and Education (OCHRE): Open Educational Resources as a Platform to Raise Academic Skills and Public Awareness of Cultural Heritage in Iraq |
| Organisation | University of Bristol |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a small grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Professor Eleanor Robson |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr Robin Shield (University of Bristol); Dr Ahmed Al-Imarah (University of Kufa), Dr Waad Ibraheem Khaeel Abad (University of Mosul) Duration: funded for 11 months starting 1 November 2019 The research will investigate the use of Open Educational Resources (OER), such as Massive Online Open Courses, podcasts, and so on, to improve awareness of Iraq's cultural heritage. The study will look at changes in staff attitudes towards online learning and competencies, including course design and content creation. The project will train eight Iraqi university experts in cultural heritage in the design of online courses and help them to design and deliver a new OER. Using questionnaires and focus groups, it will seek to identify topics, outreach strategies, and learning design approaches that promote engagement with and completion of the OER. Taken together, the study of academic staff and OER learners will provide an evidence base of how OER can be used to develop critical engagement with cultural heritage in Iraq. It will also provide a base of skilled professionals and initial content that can motivate future work on OER and open educational resources in Iraq. |
| Impact | Outputs: *journal article under review for publishing |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Plural heritage and local perspectives of Baghdadi cultural heritage |
| Organisation | Al-Mustansiriya University |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a small grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Professor Eleanor Robson. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr Zainab Alwaeli, Dr Ghaith Farham (Al Mustansiriya University); Father Rami Marisho (Convent of the Dominican in Baghdad); Rafah Al-Hitali (Yardina Charity Court Baghdad) Duration: funded for 10 months from 1 October 2019 This research plans to provide a strategy for protecting and preserving the tangible and intangible cultural heritage of minority groups. The project will bring together academics, architects and students, heritage professionals, policy-makers, religious and minority groups leaders, media and the civil society in an effort to raise awareness and advance a pluralist collective Iraqi identity. The team will research a group of at least five sites in Baghdad which reflect the city's historic and present post-conflict topography of heritage and will include the 12th century Abbasid Palace, the Meir Taweig Synagogue, a Mandean owned park, the historic Armenian orthodox Church of the Virgin Mary, as well as another church and a Sufi shrine. In practice, they will focus on: creating a detailed map of tangible and their intangible cultural heritage; developing method that can be used in future to identify and record other lost, threatened or abandoned heritages. The project will involve communities at the grassroots level and propose measures at the policy level. The team brings together academics and researchers from minority communities, as well as researchers who have experience in documenting and preserving cultural heritage in conflict and post-conflict scenarios. |
| Impact | Outcomes will be reported in depth after the conclusion of the project. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Post-ISIS Identity (Re)construction in the War- torn Areas: Karma as a Case Study |
| Organisation | University of Kufa |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Network awarded a 1000 GBP research grant to the Kufa team |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr. Dhiaa Kareem Ali (University of Kufa), Dr. Alaa Mohammed Al-Halbosy (Al-Iraqia University), Dr. Abdul Kareem (University of Diyala) Duration: funded for 6 months from 1 January 2021 The proposed research looks at changes in the social identity and intangible heritage of the people of Al-Karma, Anbar province, Iraq, in the wake of recent conflict. They experienced ISIS control, the subsequent liberation by Iraqi forces and resultant disruption. Over 98% of the population of Al-Karma city were displaced. A large proportion of them settled in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, which has a different culture and language. As a result, their traditions, socio-cultural identity and heritage were transformed. The project aims to collect data on this transformation and how the merged cultural practices were brought back to Al-Karma upon the return of the displaced. The team will seek to discern the reasons behind these changes and their impact on the social and cultural fabric of the people of Al-Karma. |
| Impact | Outputs: *book comprising the results of the research undertaken |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Postgraduate Teaching Programme: A Scientific, Historical and Intercultural Dialogue |
| Organisation | University of Kurdistan Hewler |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a small grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Paul Collins. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr Olga Babenko, Dr Anwar Anaid (University of Kurdistan Hewler) Duration: Funded for 12 months starting with the 2nd of January 2019 The project Postgraduate Teaching Programme: A Scientific, Historical and Intercultural Dialogue is aimed at: -at the primary level-designing an internationally competitive, contextually adapted and culturally aware Postgraduate Teaching Programme (with Postgraduate Teaching Certificate as the final award), which will be offered by University of Kurdistan Hewlêr to the graduates with Master's degree in order to empower them with the best international teaching practices, adapt their teaching methodology to post-ISIS and post-conflict context, and promote historical, cultural and artistic heritage of the Kurdistan Region. This project will enhance local teaching expertise at a tertiary level in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, promote understanding and better collaboration between countries and cultures in the field of higher education, and induce internationalisation of local teaching staff as well as better adaptation of international teaching staff to the local environment and culture; -at the minor level-honouring and bringing up attention to the Kurdish history, art and culture; establishing the postgraduate teacher training ground for upbringing patriotic Kurdish elite in the sphere of higher education and beyond. |
| Impact | Project unable to finish due to unforeseen circumstances at host institution. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Recall the Social Fabric of Al Farouk Street, Mosul City |
| Organisation | University of Mosul |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a small grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Mehiyar Kathem. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr Alaa Hamdoon; Mr Sabah H. Ali; Dr Abdalrahman R Qubaa (Mosul University); Al-Mosul Center for Culture and Sciences Duration: Funded for 18 months from 1 September 2019 Al Farouk Street is located in the heart of the historic old city of Mosul. It is home to three famous religious buildings: the Grand Mosque, also known as Al-Nuri Mosque; the Clock Tower or Latin Church; and the Jewish temple. There are also several other buildings belonging to religious communities. The recent conflict left the street badly damaged. The team will research the history of the street. It will encourage local communities to reconcile and put forward plans for restoration. It will provide access to workshops and training for the local community throughout the project's life. The project will create an open-access interactive online database and map of Al Farouk Street. It will also help increase community knowledge of cultural heritage and its importance as well as direct participation and interest in local history. |
| Impact | Project terminated - unable to start due to political situation, pandemic, etc. |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | Revive the Spirit of Mosul |
| Organisation | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization |
| Country | France |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supporting and enabling UNESCO's "Revive the Spirit of Mosul" (RSM) initiative by: * offering Visiting Scholarships to Mosul academics in the area of sustainable development of cultural heritage, history and humanities; * offering funding for collaborative research projects in the area of sustainable development of cultural heritage, history and humanities; * advising UNESCO Iraq on the academic, historical and archeological aspects of the RSM initiative; * facilitating collaboration between UNESCO Iraq and the British diplomatic community around the RSM initiative. Advising on other aspects of UNESCO's work on higher education and on cultural heritage, on request. In addition, supporting capacity building at the College of Archaeology of Mosul, through funding and/or facilitating training events, research projects and visiting scholarships. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Director of UNESCO Iraq, Ms Louise Haxthausen, serves on the project's Management Committee, offering valuable operational and strategic advice. Through the Revive the Spirit of Mosul initiative the collaboration raise the project's international profile, extend its reach, and opens doors to potential future award recipients, donors, and collaborators. |
| Impact | Three Visiting Scholarships funded: Professor Nasser Jassem, director of the Centre for the Study of Orientalism at the University of Mosul (history); Dr Alaa Hamdon of the Remote Sensing Unit, University of Mosul (heritage site management) and Dr Mohammed Jasim, director of Mosul University Libraries (information sciences). Two Research Projects funded: OCHRE (Bristol University, Kufa University and Mosul University); and Community Heritage of Mosul (Mosul University). |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Revive the Spirit of Mosul |
| Organisation | University of Mosul |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | Supporting and enabling UNESCO's "Revive the Spirit of Mosul" (RSM) initiative by: * offering Visiting Scholarships to Mosul academics in the area of sustainable development of cultural heritage, history and humanities; * offering funding for collaborative research projects in the area of sustainable development of cultural heritage, history and humanities; * advising UNESCO Iraq on the academic, historical and archeological aspects of the RSM initiative; * facilitating collaboration between UNESCO Iraq and the British diplomatic community around the RSM initiative. Advising on other aspects of UNESCO's work on higher education and on cultural heritage, on request. In addition, supporting capacity building at the College of Archaeology of Mosul, through funding and/or facilitating training events, research projects and visiting scholarships. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The Director of UNESCO Iraq, Ms Louise Haxthausen, serves on the project's Management Committee, offering valuable operational and strategic advice. Through the Revive the Spirit of Mosul initiative the collaboration raise the project's international profile, extend its reach, and opens doors to potential future award recipients, donors, and collaborators. |
| Impact | Three Visiting Scholarships funded: Professor Nasser Jassem, director of the Centre for the Study of Orientalism at the University of Mosul (history); Dr Alaa Hamdon of the Remote Sensing Unit, University of Mosul (heritage site management) and Dr Mohammed Jasim, director of Mosul University Libraries (information sciences). Two Research Projects funded: OCHRE (Bristol University, Kufa University and Mosul University); and Community Heritage of Mosul (Mosul University). |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Rural Heritage Recovery and Post-Conflict Development in Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG): The Case of Erbil's Rural Periphery |
| Organisation | American University of Beirut |
| Country | Lebanon |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a small grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Paul Collins. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr Howayda Al-Harithy (American University of Beirut); Dr Jala Makhzoumi (Ecological Landscape expert); Prof Camillo Boano (UCL); Salahaddin Yasin Baper (Salahaddin University) Duration: funded for 18 months from 1 September The project looks at rural-urban heritage in Erbil as a catalyst for socio-economic development in a post-conflict environment. Villages in Erbil's rural peripheries are repositories of ancient and vernacular practices which form the cultural identity of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI). They include buildings, networks of seasonal and perennial watercourses, forested lands, rangeland, and rain-fed agriculture. However, the rich heritage of these villages is neglected and its inhabitants subject to mass displacement. The research team proposes that, by understanding how rural-urban heritage is conceptualized and practiced by locals and internally displaced people (IDPs), heritage recovery becomes an aid to socio-economic development. In practice, the project will focus on research, citizen science, and capacity building. The early pilots will take place in the villages of Gazna, Quretain, and Bartoroq. It will train citizen scientists from the periphery of Erbil to participate in the research and co-design a long-term, bottom-up, participatory, socially just, and inclusive framework for heritage recovery. Additionally, the team will design and conduct a capacity building workshop in Erbil. |
| Impact | Outputs: *webinar series *report on the findings *training of citizen scientists |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | The Shrine of Prophet Uzayr |
| Organisation | University of Misan |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Misan Team was awarded a Nahrein Network Small Research Grant |
| Collaborator Contribution | eam: Prof. Abdulrahim H. Atia, Asst.Prof. Ghufran Mohammed, Asst.Prof. Alaa Dhafer Amer (University of Misan); Asst.Prof. Saad Salman Fahad (University of Baghdad); Muntadher Majed Aloda (The State Board of Antiquities and Heritage) Duration: funded for 12months from 15 December 2019 Through this project, University of Misan is basically aims at planning, documentation and conservation of the shrine of the Prophet Uzair. It is one of the Iraqi Jewish heritage in Misan Province. It has an archaeological environment of cultural value which is, like other archaeological sites, subject to a great risk of loss due to several social, economic, religious and cultural changes of far-reaching effects that Iraq has been undergoing since the last five to six decades. The project will work with the Protective Machinery in the Conservation of the Heritage of the Shrine, notably Directorate of Antiquities, Directorate of Planning, Ministry of Awqaf, Research and Educational Centres and even Tourism Administration. As a sacred place which has a distinct position in Iraq for both Muslims and Jews, the shrine can be revived, reconstructed and developed to be a tourist source in Misan in addition to the marshes. |
| Impact | Outputs: *academic papers under review for publication *booklet showcasing the history and the shrine *series of webinars |
| Start Year | 2019 |
| Description | The heritage of Diwaniyah and Samawah |
| Organisation | University of Al-Qadisiyah |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Network awarded a 75000GBP research grant to the Al-Qadisiyah team |
| Collaborator Contribution | -Diwaniya and Al-Samawa are cities integral to people's cultural heritage in Southern Iraq; they are rich with many historical buildings and structures including shrines, churches, and synagogues. These buildings date back to hundreds of years and have been inhabited by many families over the centuries, from early Islamic times to the Ottoman Empire time and the early 20th century Iraq. However, these monumental sites are neglected and unstudied, and are at great threat of destruction. Moreover, the abundant stories of the people previously occupying these buildings are absent from the current cultural and popular discourse of the local people of Al-Diwaniya and Al-Samawa. Departing from this, our project aims to preserve the history of these buildings, as societal assets, by using a people-focused approach which aims at centering storytelling to bridge the gap between the people who reside in these communities with those of the past. To achieve this, the project will progress in two steps: Studying the most important buildings in both cities, documenting their significance to the wider public, recording the stories of the people who lived in them - and their connections and relationships to society - and discussing the particular history of these buildings. Presenting the collected data in story form: the stories will focus on people, and we will share said stories with the locals to create a historical continuity to preserve the old cities' statues as key symbols of people's heritage. The project is carried out by: Leader and PI: Asst. Prof. Jaafar Jotheri Researchers from the University of Al-Qadisiyah and the University of Al-Muthanna In addition, and to reiterate our people-focused approach, we will work closely with community-based organisations in both cities to ensure raising local awareness of the people's heritage in the old cities as we carry out the project. |
| Impact | Outputs: *three academic papers under review for publication *one book under review for publication *brochures featuring the endangered buildings *report on the heritage buildings in Diwaniyah and Samawah |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | The impact of armed conflicts on the cultural heritage in Diyala Province, Northern Iraq |
| Organisation | University of Diyala |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Network awarded a 10000 GBP research award to the Diyala team |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Dr. Abdulazez Khudhair Abbas (University of Diyala), Dr. Ali Ahmad Abdulatif, Mr. Ahmed Abduljabbar Khammas (SBAH Diyala) Duration: funded for 6 months from 1 January 2021 The project seeks to address the significant destruction of heritage and archaeological sites by ISIS and its military operations in Diyala province of Iraq, as well as the impact of Iraqi army camps built there. The team will investigate residents' opinions about these events and involve them in discussing the future of cultural heritage in the province. The first step will be to survey and document the current state of the sites. The results will facilitate the understanding of local heritage, its importance and how to protect it in the future. A second step will be to open a dialogue with the Ministry of Culture and other government institutions and inform them of the findings. A third component concerns the general public. The team plans to reach them through conferences, meetings and other events designed to raise awareness. |
| Impact | outputs: *book on the impact of armed conflict on cultural heritage in Diyala - which reviews the history of the conflict in Diyala, its types, the extent of damage to cultural heritage, the importance of these archaeological sites, and the number of damaged sites |
| Start Year | 2020 |
| Description | Thesiger's Tarada: Using art to reconnect the archival, local, and archaeological strata of memory of Iraq's vernacular watercraft heritage |
| Organisation | Basrah Museum |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a large grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Mehiyar Kathem. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Rashad Salim, Hannah Lewis (Safina Projects CIC), Abdulamir Hamdani Al-Dafar (Nature Iraq) Duration:Funded for 6 months starting with 18th of June 2018 Led by renowned Iraqi artist Rashad Salim, this project examines the relationship between recent Iraqi marshland boats like the tarada canoe made for Wilfrid Thesiger in 1952 and ancient boats of comparable form, known from the archaeological record. Current and recent information about Iraq's marsh canoes-gathered through oral history work with today's marsh communities, as well as exploring Thesiger's archive-will be analysed together with available archaeological data on similar boats, aiming to shed new light on the development of a boat form and craft tradition that endured for millennia but is now endangered. |
| Impact | Outcomes will be reported in depth after the conclusion of the project. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Thesiger's Tarada: Using art to reconnect the archival, local, and archaeological strata of memory of Iraq's vernacular watercraft heritage |
| Organisation | Nature Iraq |
| Country | Iraq |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a large grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Mehiyar Kathem. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Rashad Salim, Hannah Lewis (Safina Projects CIC), Abdulamir Hamdani Al-Dafar (Nature Iraq) Duration:Funded for 6 months starting with 18th of June 2018 Led by renowned Iraqi artist Rashad Salim, this project examines the relationship between recent Iraqi marshland boats like the tarada canoe made for Wilfrid Thesiger in 1952 and ancient boats of comparable form, known from the archaeological record. Current and recent information about Iraq's marsh canoes-gathered through oral history work with today's marsh communities, as well as exploring Thesiger's archive-will be analysed together with available archaeological data on similar boats, aiming to shed new light on the development of a boat form and craft tradition that endured for millennia but is now endangered. |
| Impact | Outcomes will be reported in depth after the conclusion of the project. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Thesiger's Tarada: Using art to reconnect the archival, local, and archaeological strata of memory of Iraq's vernacular watercraft heritage |
| Organisation | Safina Projects CIC |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a large grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Mehiyar Kathem. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Rashad Salim, Hannah Lewis (Safina Projects CIC), Abdulamir Hamdani Al-Dafar (Nature Iraq) Duration:Funded for 6 months starting with 18th of June 2018 Led by renowned Iraqi artist Rashad Salim, this project examines the relationship between recent Iraqi marshland boats like the tarada canoe made for Wilfrid Thesiger in 1952 and ancient boats of comparable form, known from the archaeological record. Current and recent information about Iraq's marsh canoes-gathered through oral history work with today's marsh communities, as well as exploring Thesiger's archive-will be analysed together with available archaeological data on similar boats, aiming to shed new light on the development of a boat form and craft tradition that endured for millennia but is now endangered. |
| Impact | Outcomes will be reported in depth after the conclusion of the project. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Thesiger's Tarada: Using art to reconnect the archival, local, and archaeological strata of memory of Iraq's vernacular watercraft heritage |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Department | Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The Nahrein Project awarded a large grant to the project team members affiliated with the institutions above and continue to support it through the project liaison, Dr Mehiyar Kathem. |
| Collaborator Contribution | Team: Rashad Salim, Hannah Lewis (Safina Projects CIC), Abdulamir Hamdani Al-Dafar (Nature Iraq) Duration:Funded for 6 months starting with 18th of June 2018 Led by renowned Iraqi artist Rashad Salim, this project examines the relationship between recent Iraqi marshland boats like the tarada canoe made for Wilfrid Thesiger in 1952 and ancient boats of comparable form, known from the archaeological record. Current and recent information about Iraq's marsh canoes-gathered through oral history work with today's marsh communities, as well as exploring Thesiger's archive-will be analysed together with available archaeological data on similar boats, aiming to shed new light on the development of a boat form and craft tradition that endured for millennia but is now endangered. |
| Impact | Outcomes will be reported in depth after the conclusion of the project. |
| Start Year | 2018 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | British Institute at Ankara |
| Country | Turkey |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | British Institute for the Study of Iraq |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Learned Society |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | Council for British Research in the Levant (CBRL) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | Iran Heritage Foundation |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | Kingston University London |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | School of Oriental and African Studies (University of London) |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | The British Library |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | The National Archives |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Public |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | University College London |
| Department | Bartlett School of Graduate Studies |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | University of Cambridge |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | University of Glasgow |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | University of Oxford |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | University of Reading |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Description | Visiting scholarships |
| Organisation | University of Sheffield |
| Country | United Kingdom |
| Sector | Academic/University |
| PI Contribution | The project co-ordinates and funds a Visiting Scholarships scheme for researchers from Iraq, Iran, Lebanon, and Turkey in the sustainable development of heritage, history and the humanities, in conjunction with these four Learned Societies. Network Co-ordinator Dr Mehiyar Kathem heads the scheme. Together with our London administrator he co-ordinates and services six-monthly application rounds, selection committees, and promotional media for the scheme, and of the scholars on placement. In 2018 the Visiting Scholarships scheme was only open to Iraqi applicants but from 2019 applicants from all four countries are eligible. |
| Collaborator Contribution | The four learned societies promote the Visiting Scholars scheme amongst their own audiences, attend the six-monthly selection committees to give expert advice on appointable candidates for the project's Management Committee, and manage the successful scholars' placements, as appropriate. They also promote the project's other activities, events and funding opportunities, and provide region-specific advice on request. The UK museums, archives, libraries and universities, etc. have all acted, or have agreed to act in future as hosts for our Visiting Scholars. |
| Impact | Expanding the scheme to Iran, Lebanon and Turkey enabled us to fund a further six Visiting Scholarships in the 12 months covered by this reporting period: three from Iraq, two from Turkey and one from Lebanon. Four Visiting Scholars were hosted at UK institutions during this time, working across the full range of our remit: Dr Alaa Hamdon (Mosul University) at the University of Oxford on remote sensing of war-damaged heritage sites and supporting local communities; Dr Maher al-Helli (Mustansiriyah University) at the University of Sheffield on developing university history teaching; Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) at SOAS on Turkish heritage music; and Mr Mohammed Jasim (Mosul University) at the British Library on post-conflict university library management. As we highlighted in our original funding application, Iraq's universities have suffered for many decades now from continuing academic isolation. Our Visiting Scholars scheme was designed to help individual researchers forge meaningful links with UK host institutions but in many cases, they are also proving to be gateways to larger-scale inter-university relationships. For instance: Dr Alaa Hamdon's VS at the University of Oxford in February-March 2019 led to two return visits to the UK that summer with the newly appointed President of Mosul University to explore possible collaborations with the universities of Bradford, Liverpool and Newcastle Dr Maher Al-Helli's VS at the University of Sheffield in April-May 2019 led to a senior delegation from Sheffield paying a visit to Mustansiriyah University to discuss studentships and other collaborations Career developments following the scholarships: *Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi's Visiting Scholarship at the University of Reading in Autumn 2018 led to employment on a Cultural Protection Fund project led by the University of Reading in the Iraq Museum. He is responsible for the Iraq part of the project, working in close coordination with Museum staff. *In 2019, 2018 Visiting Scholar & Grant recipient Dr Mohammed-Amin became a member of the UKRI's International Development Peer Review College *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al-Helli was promoted to Professor of History at Mustansiriyah University *In 2019, 2019 Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon was promoted to Director of the Remote Sensing Unit at Mosul University *At the end of this reporting period, Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin became a member of the Network's Management Committee Four Visiting Scholars were selected in February 2018 and a further four in August. The first two came to the UK for 2-month placements in 2018, the remainder arrived in 2019: * Dr Rozhen Mohammed, an architect and urban planner and head of the Digital Cultural Heritage Research Group at Sulaimani Polytechnic University, collaborating with the EMOTIVE project at Glasgow University to develop research on a storytelling project for the Slemani Museum in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. * Mr Ali al-Makhzomi, who runs the Bil Weekend tour group in Iraq, to research the development of a web-based application on tourism in Iraq. * Dr Alaa Hamdon, of the Remote Sensing Unit at the University of Mosul, to develop a community management plan for the Daesh-damaged heritage site of Hatra. * Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries, hosted by the British Library, to work on a management plan for Mosul University Libraries. * Professor Nasser Jassem, the director of the University of Mosul's Orientalism Unit, based at University College London to research the history of British Orientalism in Iraq. * Dr Maher Al-Helli, of the History Department of Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, at Sheffield University, to develop university teaching skills for the effective study of history * Dr Olcay Muslu-Gardner, Assistant Professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey, hosted by SOAS, University of London, to identify dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey * Dr Mustafa Dogan, Associate Professor at Batman University, Turkey, hosted by the Archaeology Department, University of Reading, to research the role of eco-museums in cultural heritage and sustainable development Early in 2020, 2 more scholars from the early rounds arrived in the UK: * Dr Ali Naji of the University of Kufa, hosted by the Bartlett, University College London, to research the role of intangible cultural heritage in the revival of Najaf's tangible heritage * Mr Sadiq Khalil of the Iraqi Prime Minister's Office, hosted by Kingston University, to build effective advocacy through case-study analysis of Iraqi religious and non-religious heritage in crisis For the remainder of 2020, we will be looking forward to the visits of: * Mr Shazad Jaseem Tofiq, of the Directorate of Antiquities of Sulaimaniyah, hosted by the Ashmolean * Dr Laith Hussein, of Baghdad University, hosted at UCL * Dr Lina Tahan, of the Lebanese University, hosted at the Cambridge Research Centre |
| Start Year | 2017 |
| Title | Bidirectional script functionality in Nammu cuneiform text editor |
| Description | Nammu is a multi-platform desktop GUI that enables Assyriologists to edit, check and upload lemmatised transliterations and translations of cuneiform texts in multiple ancient Middle Eastern languages. It designed for contributors to the Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus (oracc.org). Oracc is a field-leading international cooperative which provides facilities and support for the creation of free online editions of cuneiform texts and educational 'portal' websites about ancient cuneiform culture. It comprises a workspace and toolkit for the development of a complete corpus of cuneiform sources ,whose rich annotation and open licensing support the next generation of scholarly research. Its goal is to provide standards-based, well-documented resources that are as simple, flexible and adaptable to user needs as possible, and supported by free server space, backup, and personal contact with Oracc liaison staff. In development since 2010, Oracc now comprises over 85,000 text editions amounting to nearly 15 million words, plus around 3000 educational content pages totalling over 2 million words. The major contribution to the development of this software under this project is to add bidirectional script functionality, enabling translations to be produced in modern Middle Eastern languages such as Arabic, Kurdish and Farsi. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2019 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | A key goal of the Nahrein Network is to reduce Middle Eastern academics' international isolation, identified by Network partner UNESCO Iraq as an urgent matter of cross-cutting concern. Another is to research locally appropriate ways to train the next generation of academics in ancient Middle Eastern history, cultural heritage, and related fields. A third is to help local audiences make meaning of local heritage, in local languages and local contexts. In the Middle East, access to traditional print media is often prohibitively expensive or practically challenging in other ways, but almost everyone uses smartphones and other handheld devices, every day. Open-access, reusable online outputs are therefore a natural solution to increasing the accessibility of academic research, pedagogical materials, and resources for interested publics. When completed, this work on Nammu will enable Middle Eastern researchers to contribute to the international, discipline-standard Oracc platform in their own languages, for local users, to address many of the challenges articulated above. |
| URL | https://github.com/oracc/nammu |
| Title | Bidirectional script functionality, improved search and small-screen responsive design for Oracc.org - Eleanor Robson |
| Description | Oracc.org, the Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus, is the discipline's collaborative, co-operative platform. It now houses millions of words of historical resources from the ancient Middle East, edited and translated by researchers all over the world - except, ironically, from/in the Middle East itself. That is in part because Oracc's infrastructure was built over fifteen years ago, before small screens or responsive design, and with no capacity for modern right-to-left scripts such as Arabic, Farsi and Kurdish. Working with UCL's Research Software Development Group (RSDG), Professor Robson has implemented a suite of technical updates, to make the increasingly huge corpus properly searchable, to display the results nicely on small screens running on 3G or 4G, and allow the input and correct display of modern left-to-right scripts. This work is currently in advanced beta-testing. |
| Type Of Technology | Webtool/Application |
| Year Produced | 2022 |
| Impact | This work contributes to significantly lowering the barriers for Middle Eastern researchers and academics to use, and teach with the scripts, languages and huge written evidence base of the ancient Middle East. The region's universities and research institutes are desperately underfunded and neglected so open-access, reusable online resources are a natural solution to increasing the accessibility of academic research, teaching materials, and resources for interested publics. |
| URL | https://build-oracc.museum.upenn.edu/new/ |
| Title | Nisaba cuneiform text editor - Eleanor Robson with UCL's Research Software Development Group |
| Description | Nisaba is a new text editor that enables researchers to edit cuneiform texts from the ancient Middle East, translate them into any modern European or Middle Eastern language, and publish them on Oracc.org, the Open Richly Annotated Cuneiform Corpus. It supersedes Nammu, last updated in 2019. |
| Type Of Technology | Software |
| Year Produced | 2021 |
| Open Source License? | Yes |
| Impact | Alongside updates to Oracc.org itself, Nisaba significantly lowering the barriers for Middle Eastern researchers and academics to use, and teach with the scripts, languages and huge written evidence base of the ancient Middle East. The region's universities and research institutes are desperately underfunded and neglected so open-access, reusable online resources are a natural solution to increasing the accessibility of academic research, teaching materials, and resources for interested publics. |
| URL | https://github.com/oracc/nisaba |
| Description | "Multaka" Museum Touring in Arabic Workshop University of Oxford - Ali Al-Makhzomy VS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This project trained volunteers to create Arabic tours across four museums in the city. Multaka is Arabic for "meeting point". The aim of the Oxford and Berlin projects is to create places where people can meet and share their experience, knowledge and skills to improve understanding and engagement with the collections, whilst also supporting people to build confidence, gain work experience and support community integration. I participated as guest and I didn't expected to have as many as benefits that I got when I participated in Multaka Project. I developed my skills and knowledge when I practiced as a tour guide in the museum. In Iraq I work as a tour operator and practiced the tour guiding but I gained a lot new and and detailed information from Oxford especially at one of the Oxford University Museums - The History of Science Museum. It was very nice experience and opportunity for me to be in Oxford and to meet the director of museum and to speak about objects from Baghdad as well as to discuss the development of infrastructure in heritage sites and museums in Iraq. Reached 10 tour guides in Iraq working with me in Iraq, 20 people with me in the training program in Oxford and many Media coverage and general public in the UK. It can be described as change of policy in my project in Iraq developing the tour operation from a tour guide perspective which means many future plans regarding the engagement of people and the participants in our tours. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://hsm.ox.ac.uk/multaka-oxford |
| Description | "Talk to Sarai" Digital Exhbition - SPU |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | see link tps://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/1040109666552261 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/1043131986250029 |
| Description | "Talk to Sarai" Digital Exhbition- Majidi Mall (SPU) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | see link |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/1021050878458140 |
| Description | "Talk to Sarai" Telling stories digitally |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 29 November 2021 talk to saray The "Talk to Sarai" is a self-guided mobile exhibition that utilizes interactive mobile AR technology. It cognitively and emotionally engages users with the establishment, difficult heritage, and multi-cultural community of the city of Sulaimani, the cultural capital of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, and a UNESCO Creative City in literature. This engagement involves the city's most iconic and symbolic historic building, Sarai, which was restored as a museum in 2014. In this interactive experience, mobile AR brings the Sarai Museum and eyewitnesses back to life to recount their memories of important historic events from the period of British colonialism after the first World War and the early post-colonial era. Through a blend of despair and hope stories from influential local historical figures, TSE aims at eliciting cross-generational and cross- cultural awareness and dialogue for peacebuilding. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://caravelmagazine.com/2021/11/the-talk-to-sarai-or-tse-is-a-self-guided-mobile-exhibition-that... |
| Description | (G)hosting: a conversation with Michael Rakowitz, Whitechapel Gallery, London, July 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In June-August 2019 the Whitechapel Gallery hosted an exhibition of work by the renowned Iraqi-American artist Michael Rakowitz, including many of his artistic responses to the destruction fo cultural heritage in Iraq. At this public event, Rakowitz, Professor Eleanor Robson, and Gareth Brereton of the British Museum held discussions exploring concepts of history and narrative, cultural heritage and appropriation, postcolonial displacements and the rehabilitation of archaeological sites in Iraq. Some 60 members of the public were in the audience, and many reported a richer understanding of the role of Iraqi expertise in cultural heritage work (including members of the Nahrein Network) as a result of the afternoon. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.whitechapelgallery.org/events/michael-rakowitz-ghosting/ |
| Description | 2. 1st International Conference on the Enhancement of the Archaeological Heritage in Iraq, University of Kufa, Iraq. Dr P Collins, Lecture: The Nahrein Network; encouraging sustainable development of antiquity and cultural heritage |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Description, Purpose and Outcomes/Impacts: lecture/dissemination of information/public engagement/engagement with potential researchers and partners |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | 4. UK Defence Academy Advanced Command and Staff Course, Ashmolean Museum. Dr P Collins Lecture: The Nahrein Network; encouraging sustainable development of antiquity and cultural heritage |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Description, Purpose and Outcomes/Impacts: lecture/dissemination of information/engagement with potential partners |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | 6th Landscape Archaeology Conference (LAC 2020+1) - Historical Memory, Heritage, and Cultural Identification Amongst Displaced Communities in Cilicia and the Northern Levant / Tevfik Emre Serifoglu / Sirince Archaeological Association |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was an annual conference on landscape archaeology (held also for 2020 in 2021) held in Madrid (8-11 June 2021) and it was organized by several Spanish universities and institutes besides the International Association of Landscape Archaeology. Project co-investigator Güldem Baykal Büyüksaraç participated in the conference with a paper on heritage landscapes and also briefly talked about the project and the outcomes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://lac2020-1.csic.es |
| Description | A Cultural Heritage Network for the Kurdistan Region - Project opening |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In order to publicize the Nahrein-funded CHN project, encourage networking, and gaining support, we added an opening ceremony, announcement, and press release to the originally planned as a round-table consultation meeting for identifying and prioritizing regional cultural heritage research themes for CHN project. In addition to local stakeholders across the region, we also invited foreign delegates in Kurdistan Region of Iraq. A total of 100 people attended the opening ceremony and project announcement. Through a paper-based survey, we consulted the attendees on selecting and prioritizing 5 most important cultural heritage research themes to be undertaken during the funded life of the project. As this was a high-profile announcement, several regional media covered the event. The event resulted in informing about the existence of the project which primary focuses on networking. Impressed by the project objectives and scope, during the project announcement the Director General of Culture offered CHN offices for its events in the iconic historic building of Sarai in the city center of Sulaimani city, the cultural capital of Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The post-event written feedback suggests a high level of interest in and support for the project by the attendees. The event also promises developing new collaboration and partnership even by those who could not attend the event due to their circumstances or heard about the project from the invitations and/or media. We received and still receive emails and calls from local and international organizations expressing interest in collaborating with us. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.spu.edu.iq/ku/12697?fbclid=IwAR1ze51AnbCvqtuLOyRuHKwjnStMOkPE1ysB2mwRudjQM2vJaIZ-kU7DURk |
| Description | A King from the Trenches |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Curator Paul Collins takes us on a journey with a 3000 year old king uncovered by an Indian soldier digging a trench in World War I, and explore what he has to tell us about the formation of Iraq as a nation state https://www.buzzsprout.com/1906450/10041554-4-a-king-from-the-trenches |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://open.spotify.com/episode/5FseNBXH62Jb9KZgpSx6i4?si=6d323c58bdcb4bf0 |
| Description | A visit to Iraq: Planning for the future |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Blog post about recent visit to Iraq of the Nahrein Network leadership team |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/2022/12/06/a-visit-to-iraq-planning-for-the-future/ |
| Description | AHRC Heritage and Global Challenges workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | AHRC Heritage Priority Area ran a day-long workshop at the British Academy for potential applicants to GCRF funding schemes on heritage-related projects. PI Eleanor Robson contributed to the session on Strengthening capacity for challenge-led heritage research in the UK and developing countries with a presentation on the lessons learned from her experience of the Network + application process. Eleanor aimed to demystify the GCRF application process, and many audience members reported that she had done so. She also disseminated information about the Nahrein Network's own funding schemes, which led directly to at least three applications to our devolved funding scheme, one of which was successful. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://heritage-research.org/events/heritage-global-challenges-workshop/ |
| Description | An Interview with Dr Hossam Mahdy |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Nahrein Network spoke with Dr Hossam Mahdy, conservation architect, who is working to rethink and reform the ways in which conservation activity is pursued in the Middle East. Dr Mahdy speaks about the significance of community and intangible cultural heritage to sustainability and cultural continuity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/hossam |
| Description | An interview with Dr Ali Naji |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Nahrein Network interviews scholarship awardee, Dr Ali Naji. Ali completed a Nahrein Network - British Institute for the Study of Iraq (BISI)scholarship at University College London. In this podcast Ali speaks about heritage challenges in Najaf and Kufa in Iraq and his research at Kufa University into the connections between tangible and intangible heritage in the country. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/an-interview-with-dr-ali-naji |
| Description | An interview with Mr Dlshad A. Mutalb of the Directorate of Antiquities, Soran, Erbil |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Nahrein Network had the pleasure of interviewing Mr Dlshad A. Mutalb, heritage manager of the Directorate of Antiquities in Soran, in Iraqi Kurdistan, who completed a scholarship at Cambridge University under the support and supervision of Professor Graeme Barker. Dlshad speaks about Northern Iraq's important neanderthal site, Shanidar Cave. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/interview-with-mr-dlshad-a-mutalb-of-the-directorate-of-antiqu... |
| Description | An interview with Professor Nasser Jassem - University of Mosul |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An interview with Professor Nasser Jassem of the University of Mosul. Professor Nasser Jassem, previous head of Mosul University Library (2003-2011) and former director of the Unit for the Study of Orientalism, completed a scholarship at University College London in 2019. Professor NasserJassem speaks about Edward Said and Orientalism, the future of scholarship in Iraq and life under the Islamic State in Mosul. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/nasserjassem |
| Description | An interview with Sir Terence Clark as Chairman of the Friends of Basrah Museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Sir Terence Clark, former British Ambassador to Iraq and until recently, chair of the Friends of Basrah Museum, spoke about his work in establishing the Basrah Museum. To learn more about the Friends of Basrah Museum and its work, go to: friendsofbasrahmuseum.org.uk/ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/podcasts |
| Description | Ancient Egypt and Middle East Society, Lincoln. Dr P Collins Lecture: Telling Stories in Basra: a new museum for Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Description, Purpose and Outcomes/Impacts: lecture/dissemination of information/public engagement |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Arab Marsh dialects in Southern Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 5activities/sessions were held. Activities were workshops titled "Arab Marsh dialects inSouthern Iraq". Local events, attendance 20and the audience mainly consisted of university teachersof Thi-Qar University-College of Archaeology. The aims of the workshops were explanationsof the meaning for vocabularies of Marsh dialects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/archaeologyDep/photos/pcb.1457359881270258/1457359374603642 |
| Description | Ashmolean Museum Public Research Seminar: Dr P Collins "New Ancient History Research for Iraq and its Neighbours" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Description, Purpose and Outcomes/Impacts: public talk/dissemination of information/public engagement/engagement with potential partners |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | At the Iraqi Site of Assur, Ancient History Stands at Risk of Destruction |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Article featured in the Smithsonian Magazine |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/iraqi-site-assur-ancient-history-stands-risk-disappearing-180... |
| Description | BP Archive: A Source for the Study of the Contemporary Economic, Social and Cultural History of Kirkuk |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Nahrein talk to Dr Dilshad Oumar Abdul Aziz, Head of the History Department at the University of Kirkuk. Throughout September and October 2022, he held a Nahrein - BISI Visiting Scholarship at the BP Archive and History Department, University of Warwick. He talks about his experience as a Visiting Scholar here in the UK. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/2022/12/05/bp-archive-a-source-for-the-study-of-the-contemporary-eco... |
| Description | Babylon: modern heritage site or ancient ruin? - Media exposure |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Media exposure overview: Interviews on Iraqi TV, social media activity Indirectly via TV = c.3 million; indirectly via twitter = c400 (personal accounts of team members, both Iraqi and UK, and University of Leicester account) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Babylon: modern heritage site or ancient ruin? - Initial scoping meeting on site |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The purpose of these meetings was to discuss the aims and methods of the project, begin training in the three main methodological approaches, and hold open discussions at the University of Babylon. We met with key figures for the project, e.g. the newly elected Governor of Babil District and the Director of Babylon site, with some extremely useful and supportive discussion around the project, including steps to encourage female staff and students to take part in the project |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Babylon: modern heritage site or ancient ruin? - Small group training in satellite imagery, buildings analysis and heritage interviews |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Students were introduced to the basic concepts and principles of satellite imagery analysis and standing buildings analysis. The aim of this training was to provide an introduction that would be then be consolidated in the planned November 2019 fieldwork. We also developed the first set of interview questionnaires for the heritage strand, and had interesting discussions around bias and received wisdom in heritage and oral interview work. This project contributes to the development of heritage in Iraq in two main ways: firstly, by providing training in three methods for heritage recording and management (standing buildings analysis, satellite imagery analysis, heritage understandings and interview analysis) and secondly by collecting and analysing new data (on the central palace at Babylon, on changes to the site of Babylon in the last 5-60 years, and heritage understandings of Babylon) Staff and students from the Universities of Babylon and Leicester will benefit from the work through training and knowledge exchange. Staff from the local government Dept of Archaeology and staff from the NGO (IOCNH) will benefit from training, and in turn, share their knowledge with the staff and students from the universities. We will all benefit from listening to the different local communities through the heritage interviews and open discussions. The student body comprised equal numbers of male and female (self-identifying) students; each of the training strands was led by a female (UK) academic, offering positive female role models. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Babylonian lions made of bricks during the period of Nebuchadnezzar II |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The online symposium was organised in cooperation with the University of Misan was also about the heritage of Maysan, was held on Thursday, 13-8-2020 via ZOOM. The keynote speaker was Dr Elizabeth Knott from Yale University. The international participants included academics, professionals, and students from the departments of History in several universities of Iraq as well as international universities. 87 people attended. The aim of this seminar was to showcase the Babylonian lions and the shrine in religious, historical and archaeological context with particular reference to the interpretation, analysis, and translation of the Hebrew primary sources. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/educationcollege1/posts/2914364792123994/ |
| Description | British Association of Near East Archaeology Annual Conference - University of Liverpool |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Mehiyar Kathem presented a paper on state-access infrastructures, a concept used to better understand how heritage is used in politics and by politicians. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | CHN - Training Workshops Series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The webinars covered themes such as: When Digital Technologies Meet Cultural Heritage Challenges in 3D Modeling of Historic Buildings and Archaeological Site Introduction to Photogrammetry and Laser Scanning Fort Conger, Laser Scanning to the Rescue Land Use Bylaws and Cities Activating Museums and Historic Sites with Augmented Reality Technology The "Holistic Sustainable City Planning: Opportunities for fostering Mental and Physical Wellness" Webinar The "Digitization and Preservation of Library Collection" Webinar More details available at: https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/videos/2766645300248183/ "https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/videos/675110346472159/ http://www.spu.edu.iq/ku/20956" https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/videos/294301485278831/ https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/videos/381921806414790/ https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/videos/260652478729071/ https://drive.google.com/drive/u/2/folders/1OYmMZFXyOitVbcXbo_Ml16cEU3mxV7yg https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/videos/1622157594649215/?__cft__[0]=AZXm3gTmnQPaZKwEPuybt-MKVVh_93N19yBabjqn_P3mOAS8SN_5sRAeLdpZ6Evt8lBdTi07OEQ3n6etMsEBjoy2YfZ-J4AipQvaios-86DDdG3Cgh6CzrHTMe4YrXf_GWErr9Op1DdnGIL0ejjoHZEUQtCCrTOrQwsRKkTNbpB4POiwhUMgL47l3VPpuVomt-c&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/videos/1177515412704936/?__cft__[0]=AZVtmq-e82Wuz_y7O5wvfjCNrGjwTV8_LNRo9Tri__8vHjzkyGvuOEC1HRQvVwTAYDE4VFFE6FYdB2SbxU-V4FSggjeiElM46vrH-nj4lZSVqRBRV2GqCnKJGrjV5cGWGHBysoIl-Wc47cs3CMqNIApef3KLQh3BOtsFk0_ahn5sQ3TZ3J6agi2xBkUNniIyVYA&__tn__=%2CO%2CP-R And reached audiences from Iraq, Yemen, USA, The Netherlands, Turkey, Syria, Saudi Arabia, Palestine, UAE, Egypt and Tunisia. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Chatham House Research Paper Launch event, Cultural heritage predation in Iraq: The sectarian appropriation of Iraq's past |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Launch event for the Chatham House research paper "Cultural Heritage Predation in Iraq" |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Chatham House event on water and conflict in Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The event organised by Chatham House was focused on conflict and the water crisis in Iraq, where Nahrein Network members Professor Eleanor Robson and Dr Mehiyar Kathem participated in. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.chathamhouse.org/event/conflict-and-water-crisis-iraq?utm_source=Chatham%20House&utm_med... |
| Description | Citizen science in conflict zones |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Online workshop titled "Citizen science in conflict zones" streamed on 10th Sept 20 to an audience of around 100 at the time, composed of citizen science practitioners, academics and enthusiasts and more thereafter once published on the conference YouTube channel |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.ecsa-conference.eu/programme |
| Description | Colloquium on the sustainable development of cultural heritage and archaeology in Iraq, London February 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Professor Eleanor Robson chaired a colloquium featuring presentations by two of the Nahrein Network's current Visiting Scholars: Dr Sadiq Khalil on heritage management in Iraq: a case study of Rasheed Street, Baghdad; and Dr Ali Naji or the role of cultural heritage in Najaf. The aim was to showcase the theories and approaches of two very thoughtful expert practitioners, to highlight the infrastructural and institutional challenges of meaningful work on the ground, and to propose solutions. A very mixed British-Iraqi audience of c.40 members of the general public, professional practitioners and students gave very considered and thoughtful responses in the discussion section. Lively conversation afterwards, at the reception and on social media, demonstrated a new-found respect for the richness of cultural heritage work happening in Iraq, led by Iraqi experts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Conference on Heritage and Archaeology: Symbol of Civilisation and National Identity, Karbala, iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In November 2018, project PI Professor Eleanor Robson and Co-I Dr Paul Collins attended a large national conference in Karbala on the role of heritage and archaeology in Iraqi national identity. It was hosted by the Holy Shrine of Imam Hussein in Karbala Iraq. Dr Collins co-organised a workshop for Iraqi museum directors and staff (described elsewhere in this submission) and Professor Robson gave a plenary talk, introducing participants to the aims and practices of the Nahrein Network, under the theme "Iraqi ideas with British support". As hoped, the talk generated a lot of interest in applying for the Network's visiting scholarships and grants funding scheme amongst Iraqi academics and cultural practitioners. It also helped them and policy-makers better understand the Network's vision and ethos. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Cross-Community Heritage Protection project - Meeting with local stakeholders |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Meeting with local stakeholders to present and discuss the research, and gain perspectives of locals on the changing state of the site (which cannot be named until the project is over). The meeting allowed for the engagements of locals in the research process. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Cross-Community Heritage Protection project - Meeting with the public committee for protecting antiquities and heritages in Iraq (NGO) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Supporters |
| Results and Impact | A meeting with a local NGO concerned with protecting heritage in Iraq. Presented the research and encouraged the involvement of local stakeholders. Allowed for local buy in and awareness of the situation at the site concerned. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Cultural Heritage Network - "Writing Grant Applications & Project Management I" Training Course |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Cultural Heritage Network project staff members, academics and staff Digital Cultural Heritage research group, Research Center, Career & Development Center, Technical College of Engineering, Technical College of Informatics, and others at Sulaimani Polytechnic University attended the workshop to help improve their Writing Grant Applications & Project Management skills |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Cultural Heritage Network for Kurdistan workshop:"Inter-disciplinary approaches to the past: how archaeology can address important issues of today" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Raising awareness and sparking questions and discussions about the importance and role of archaeology, history, and heritage in solving today's problems across different disciplines. Informing about CHN project and its "Pay it forward" program that encourages the participants to pass their newly gained knowledge and workshop experience to their peers. Several people already signed up tot the program. Developing new connections and networking among the participants from different fields in topics that they found out are shared among them. In addition to high level of engagement and discussions during the workshops that we observed (which resulted with extending the time of the workshops), post-workshops written, and verbal feedback suggest a high increase in the participants' understanding, awareness, and connection for the topics with contemporary challenges and well-being of their communities. The feedback also shows high appreciation for the project and workshop topics to a degree that we received many requests for offering more of similar workshops and increasing the duration of the workshops. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.spu.edu.iq/ku/13167?fbclid=IwAR0uEg9IUSnPnGY8ZYVdsNdXjW5EXduyMaQ_zeP7BqrZ6dlwsWrCJFcQc3Q |
| Description | Cultural Heritage Network in Kurdistan: Poster presentation at UKRI Global Engagement Meeting in Thailand |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | As part of my participation in UKRI's Global Engagement Meeting (as a member in the International Development Peer Review College), in the poster session, we were given an opportunity to introduce our research interest and ongoing projects to the other college members to encourage collaborations. I used the opportunity to talk about CHN (among my other projects). The after-presentation discussions and networking with interested delegates promise developing new collaboration. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.spu.edu.iq/ku/13180?fbclid=IwAR3v9ju91klWYa5YVj0GQDx4e4lpnsWsJTrEA4aQ6MAOGpPuVXnIQfdZzSc |
| Description | Cultural Heritage in War-Torn Cities Focus Group (Iraqi Ministry of Culture) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Project Co-I Dr Saad Eskander ran a one-day focus group in Baghdad with the directors of 25 of the Iraqi Ministry of Culture's "cultural houses" in post-conflict cities such as Mosul, Falluja and Ramadi, sharing ideas about how to integrate heritage and culture into postconflict rebuilding, advocacy with local politicians, media and funders, and establishing a network of specialists. An immediate outcome was a workshop, delivered the next week by Eskander, PI Eleanor Robson and postdoc Mehiyar Kathem on applying for project funding, in response to requests from focus group members. We haven't listed this event separately. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| Description | Cultural Heritage: Projects and Partnerships in Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | An event that took place in Baghdad, while Prof Eleanor Robson and Dr Mehiyar Kathem were on site, visiting with our local partners. The one day conference showcased perspectives from partners in Anbar, Nineveh, Baghdad, Diyala, Najaf, Babylon, Salahadeen, Qadissiyah and Thi Qar |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/NahreinNetwork/status/1526536333488963584/photo/1 |
| Description | Culture Under Fire philosophy forum and podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Forum for Philosophy is a charity based at the London School of Economics which organises weekly debates on matters of topic interest, addressed from a philosophical perspective. In January 2018 PI Eleanor Robson was one of four panel members debating the ethics of protection of cultural property during armed conflict. Robson argued that the material infrastructure of heritage was only worth saving if similar investment was made in its local intellectual infrastructure, and gave examples from the Nahrein Network's work to support her point. The debate was released as a podcast later that week There was a great deal of lively discussion from the audience, with many people expressing their appreciation that their views on the subject had been widened. The podcast is now on the "reading list" of the MA module in Heritage Ethics and Archaeological Practice in the Middle East and Mediterranean at UCL's Institute of Archaeology, for the MA in Critical Heritage Studies. This year the module is taken by nearly 30 students. Robson will be leading an MA discussion seminar based on the podcast in early March 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://blogs.lse.ac.uk/theforum/culture-under-fire/ |
| Description | DCHN Capacity building and training workshops |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | DCHN organised Seven capacity building and training workshops (a total of 15 hours) and seminars (a total of 3.5 hours) that informed, connected, and trained a total of 273 locals from cultural heritage and many other fields across the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | DCHN Focus Groups |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | DCHN organised Two focus groups (a total of 6 hours) that brought together a total of 28 local stakeholders and cultural heritage decision-makers for data collection. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | DCHN Networking and Community engagement events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | DCHN organised six networking and community engagement events (a total of 7 full days and 7 hours) brought together over3,668locals from the local community across the cultural heritage and many other fields in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | DCHN Training courses on Writing Grant Applications & Project Management |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | DHCN organised Two training courses (a total of 48 hours) on "Writing Grant Applications & Project Management" that trained a total of 20 CHN, DCH, and SPU faculty and staff. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | DHCN media appearances |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The DCHN team attended three TV interviews in three programs, as well as several other TV and radio interviews during the other events. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Decolonising the Excavation Licence in Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The heritage law in Iraq was written in 1936 and then rewritten in 2002, but in these two versions, the Iraqi heritage authority was incapable of issuing a heritage law that can serve the nation's needs. In 1936 Iraq was still a young independent state with little experience managing its heritage sector; fast forward to 2002, with Iraq under international sanctions, heritage was not foremost among the state's priorities. After that, Iraq endured the civil war and the ISIS invasion. In the last few years, the Iraqi academics and the heritage authority have held several meetings to reform and explore a new version of the excavation licence. As a result of these meetings, several proposals were suggested to the excavation licence such as: Selecting sites for excavation based on Iraqi opinion and considerations: Iraqi academics and heritage authorities should maintain a list of the sites that excavations are allowed in. This list should be prepared by Iraqis based on their priorities such as critical condition of the site or knowledge. Currently, Iraqis have little contribution in selecting sites for survey or excavation. Involving the local Iraqi experts in excavations: Iraqi academics and members of heritage authority should be fully involved in all the steps and in each phase of the excavation process. At present, there is limited or no involvement of Iraqis in excavation work. Some investigators from the heritage authority might take part but they are likely to be inexperienced and are not experts. Training Iraqi staff and students: Students from Iraqi universities and members of the Iraqi heritage authority should receive proper training in each excavation phase. Currently, there is no stipulation in place to train Iraqis. Using advanced techniques in surveying and excavation: Excavation teams should conduct some environmental, geoarchaeological, bioarchaeological and geophysical work on site and train Iraqis in the process. Outdated excavations methods should not be applied anymore; for example, some teams are using cheaper, outdated methods and ignoring new technologies. Utilise social media for projects: To increase the engagement of the local people with the projects, the excavation teams should make use of social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, website etc) to share news, events, progress - basically anything related to the project or the team. Conservation after excavations: After each phase of excavation, sites should be preserved, and conservation should be applied for the structures that have been dug and subjected to weathering and erosion. As it stands, there are no obligations on the excavation team to preserve the sites. It is not unusual for buildings and artefacts to be left abandoned and/or subjected to destruction. Hosting conferences and exhibitions in Iraq: After or during each excavation phase, the team should host conferences and workshops, and publicise their work, findings, and results. Presently, most excavation teams keep the results confidential. Publishing results in Arabic in Iraqi journals: At the present, teams are publishing results in international journals which Iraqis have limited access to and leaving Iraqis with few or no idea about the sites. Instead, some results of each phase of excavations or the new findings, artefacts and objects should be published in Arabic in the local Iraqi journals. Developing Iraqi museums: The excavation team should also contribute to helping Iraqi museums to have the required space and capacity to restore the artefacts properly and present them to the public. The situation currently is unfortunate as Iraqi museums are facing a lack of space to store the artefacts and discovering more artefacts are exasperating the problem of storage - and possibly subjecting them to damage or destruction. Cooperation with other excavation teams: To better understand the whole picture and narrative, the excavation teams that working in the same region, province, or occupation periods should have a way of cooperation and their plans should be integrated. Now, each team works separately without any coordination. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/2021/12/08/decolonising-the-excavation-licence-in-iraq/ |
| Description | Developing Heritage Tourism in Iraq, Challenges and Opportunities - Reading University - Ali Al-Makhzomy VS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I presented about my project and how tourism can be sustainable in Iraq also I discussed my vision for enhancing cultural tourism in Iraq through engaging with archaeological sites and using technology such as creating contents online as well as using new applications and virtual reality platforms in museums or heritage sites. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/RASHID_Internat/status/1054709988659265536 |
| Description | Developing cultural projects with the Nahrein Network, The Station, Baghdad, March 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This interactive workshop, run by Dr Mehiyar Kathem and Professor Eleanor Robson with former grantees Dr Jaafar Jotheri and Mr Ali Al-Makhzomi, helped participants to develop grant proposals for cultural heritage work, including applications to the Network's own Visiting Scholars and Research Grants schemes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Developing e-collections for University of Mosul Central Library |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Interview with Dr MOhammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, Central Library, University of Mosul and Nahrein Network Visiting Scholar |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/2022/12/05/developing-e-collections-for-university-of-mosul-central-... |
| Description | Displaying the Ancient Middle East: challenges and opportunities. EANES Seminar, Oriental Institute, Oxford (23 November 2021) - Paul Collins |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Lecture |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | EAMENA conference in Agadir, December 2019. |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Mehiyar Kathem, Nahrein Co-ordinator, presented a paper on his current research on state-access infrastructures of heritage in Iraq. Dr Alaa Hamdoon, Nahrein-BisiVisiting Scholar awardee also presented his Nahrein-funded research project on Al Farouk Street in Old Mosul Protecting the Past 2019, Agadir, Morocco, 10- 13 December 2019 The conference is jointly organised by the Endangered Archaeology in the Middle East and North Africa (EAMENA) project (Universities of Oxford, Leicester, and Durham), Global Heritage Fund (GHF), and the ICCROM-ATHAR Regional Conservation Centre in Sharjah. The conference is in partnership with Souss-Massa Region of Morocco, the University of Ibn Zohr, Institut National des Sciences de l'Archéologie et du Patrimoine (I.N.S.A.P.), and Centre of Jacques-Berque (CJB), and Bonzai Agency. The event will take place at the University of Ibn Zohr in Agadir, Morocco at the Amphithéâtre, Faculté de médecine d'Agadir (Avenue Tamsoult, Quartier Tilila, Agadir 80000) from Tuesday 10th December to Thursday 12th December 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://eamena.arch.ox.ac.uk/protectingthepast/ |
| Description | EMOTIVE Project User Workshop Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin VS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This was two-full days international workshop by EMOTIVE project partners for consulting international experts on user evaluation of EMOTIVE prototypes. In addition to my participation as an expert and contribution to the discussions along the rest of the invited international experts, I also helped with planning and running the Glasgow team's session in the workshop. The diverse interdisciplinary expert discussions have raised interesting insights and perspectives on evaluating and measuring emotional reactions to cultural heritage from using emotional storytelling and digital tools. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://emotiveproject.eu/index.php/2019/02/08/workshop-diary-day-one-second-emotive-user-workshop-a... |
| Description | Environmental sustainability for monuments and marshes of southern Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The audience mainly consisted of University professors and teachers, employees of Thi-Qar Archaeology Directorate, students from the universities of Thi-Qar, Qadisiyah, Babylon and Al-Mustansiriya. VIP of attendance Director of Thi-Qar Tourism and the Dean of Arts Faculty at Thi-Qar University on 21/08/2020. The symposium aimed to raise awareness about the reality of the environmental and cultural diversity of the Marshes, which qualified them to enter the World Heritage List. As well as to demonstrate the economic importance of the need to invest in the Marshes in the tourism aspects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://art.utq.edu.iq/2020/08/20/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%af%d8%a7%d9%85%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%8... |
| Description | Erbil Centre Launch Event |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | We organised the launch event for the Research Centre in Erbil, which is meant to promote the Nahrein Network programmes, including the grants and visiting scholars schemes. Presentations and brief talks by the Director of the Centre, Dr Anwar Anaid and the Nahrein Network Principal Investigator, Professor Eleanor Robson of UCL were presented to the audience and media present. The event included a Q&A session about the network and grants scheme, so that a broader understanding of it's aims and way of work can be achieved. Following the main event, the day concluded with a short networking session to build and strengthen both new and existing local and international relations. The immediate outcome of the event was making public the setting up of the Centre as part of the School of Social Sciences, University of Kurdistan Hewler and to spread the word about the available grants and scholarships available for Iraqi scholars from the Nahrein Network. External Links: https://www.ukh.edu.krd/school.php?scid=2 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.ukh.edu.krd/newsdetail.php?n=298 |
| Description | Ethics In International Cultural Heritage Interventions. What We Can Learn from Humanitarian Principles |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Since the devastation wrought on cultural heritage in Syria, Iraq and many other countries, international donors have ploughed hundreds of millions on cultural heritage related projects in crisis affected contexts throughout the Middle East, Asia and Africa. As an outcome, cultural heritage is fast becoming appreciated by governments and funding agencies as an integral component of international assistance programmes. Yet, in light of its growing importance, international responses to cultural heritage in situations of violent conflict and instability have not seen a commensurate discussion about ethics and principles of interventions. Considering the emerging field of heritage related international assistance and the projects that it offers support to, established humanitarian and development principles need to be considered and integrated into the work of donors, state agencies, cultural operators, contractors and a growing array of cultural heritage actors. Whether in the form of disaster, long-term conservation or emergency activities, support to cultural heritage can assist societies to recover. In the UK for example, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport allocated over £30m to the British Council's Cultural Protection Fund to support cultural heritage in Yemen, Libya, Iraq, amongst other countries. The British Museum alone received £3.2 million for what it said to be post-ISIS emergency support in Iraq, focusing on excavations and training. Since 2017, UNESCO in Iraq has secured over $100m for the 'Revive the Spirit of Mosul' initiative, with the European Union and the US similarly offering large amounts for cultural heritage. In Iraq alone, over $500m in recent years has been or is in the process of being spent based on cultural heritage, with the US, the United Arab Emirates, the European Union and its Member States leading in funding projects. Cultural heritage programmes are also being funded through the private sector. The newly established private donor organisation for cultural emergencies and conservation, ALIPH, which is supported by France, China, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE, and other countries, has similarly spent tens of millions on Iraq and Afghanistan, as well as other countries affected by conflict and instability. Cultural operators that are involved in direct implementation such as the World Monuments Fund and the US-government institution, the Smithsonian, have also secured similar amounts for cultural projects from private funders. While there have been no detailed studies of these interventions and their size and impact, particularly on beneficiaries and communities, a common factor amongst donors and operators however is that none of this work has been guided by a code of conduct and charter of principles. Some institutions do of course have a code of ethics but these are not as relevant or applicable when projects are implemented outside their home countries. Rather than viewing cultural heritage as a separate field of activity to peacebuilding and humanitarianism, donors and international operators need to urgently focus on learning about the full impact of their interventions on societies that they work in and hold their work to the highest degree of accountability, not least by the minimum standards of their home countries. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/2021/12/01/what-we-can-learn-from-humanitarian-principles-ethics-in-... |
| Description | Facebook @NahreinNetwork |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Our FaceBook page now has nearly 400 followers. We use it to promote our grants and share news of our work, and that of the devolved projects. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/nahreinnetwork/ |
| Description | Father Rami Simoun - representative of the Dominican Covenant and Latin Church in Iraq - Podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Father Rami Simoun - representative of the Dominican Covenant and Latin Church in Iraq speaks to Dr Mehiyar Kathem about the Christian community in the country today. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/podcasts |
| Description | Festival participation: Sulaimany Day, Space 21, Coexistence on Yalda Night |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Events are accessible at: https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/830144970882066 https://space21.nu/ https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/808324159730814 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | From the Ruins of Perservation - A symposium on Rethinking Heritage through Counter-Archives |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Mehiyar Kathem participated in the symposium by presenting a paper on cultural heritage destruction in Mosul and the loss of its archives as a result of the war from 2014-2017. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Guidance for applicants to the Visiting Iraqi Scholarships Scheme |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Director of the Nahrein Network, Professor Eleanor Robson, provides advice on how to apply to the Visiting Iraqi Scholarships Scheme. For further information and to download the application visit the Nahrein Network website on www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/visiting-scholarships Information on previous successful candidates go to www.ucl.ac.uk/history/history-neships-first-awards Send any queries to nahrein@ucl.ac.uk The Nahrein Network is funded by the UK Arts and Humanities Research Council and the Global Challenges Research Fund |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/guidance-for-applicants-to-the-visiting-iraqi-scholarships-sch... |
| Description | Heritage and State Building in Post Conflict Iraq - event at Chatham House |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The Nahrein team organised a break-out session on the Role of Cultural Heritage in the Reconstruction of Iraq, as part of a conference on Iraq in Transition on 2 October 2019, which was organised in partnership by The Nahrein Network and Chatham House. The panel was composed of Dr Abdulameer Al Hamdani, Minister for Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, Republic of Iraq, Dr Kossay Alahmady, President and Chancellor, University of Mosul, Alice Walpole OBE, Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General, UN Assistance Mission for Iraq and was moderated by Eleanor Robson, Director, Nahrein Network, University College London The reconstruction of Iraq's heritage is an essential though often neglected component of state-building. The integration of heritage in state-building has the potential to build trust between fragmented communities, provide the building blocks for cultural healing and produce tangible benefits, including jobs and benefits to the development of sustainable local economies. Cultural heritage can also be a site for the negotiation of political settlements based on shared histories and the knowledge that a society that has come to terms with its past is much more likely to develop durable peace and cohesive state structures. For these reasons, heritage can serve as a site for national dialogue, active participation and discussion about the future of Iraq and support its reconstruction in meaningful and equitable ways. This panel examined the challenges facing Iraq's heritage from the perspectives of local, national and international experts and look at ways in which Iraq and its partners can harness the potential of heritage as a resource for inclusive national development and reconstruction. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Heritage for Global Challenges Praxis Nexus Event Lebanon - University of Leeds "Changing the Story" event on Heritage Practices |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | "Heritage and Global Challenges" Praxis brought together an international group of delegates to engage in 3 days of workshops and group activities to address the question of how the collective learning from AHRC-GCRF projects on heritage has shaped global challenges in the past four years, and how it should continue to do so in the future. The 3-day event included brief lightning talks by all delegates, as well as a session at the end of each day for the collective writing of a briefing report that will emerge from the event and be co-authored by all those present. The Nahrein Network was represented by Dr Mehiyar Kathem, the network coordinator. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://changingthestory.leeds.ac.uk/heritage/ |
| Description | In Person training - SPU (Dec-March 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Item no/Title/Date/Location/Link 1 Why did the Czech economy lag, and how did it return to the developed worlds 7-December-2021 "Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Chwarchra Campus" : "https://fb.watch/bAPJYq8fEx/ ; https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/1031711807392047 " 2 Economic growth: Lessons from Japan and South Korea 8-December-2021 "Presidency of Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Qirga" "https://fb.watch/bAPNXm1LiU/ ; https://fb.watch/bAPOVimHiB/ ; https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/1031758920720669 " 3 Immersive storytelling training workshop 19-January-2022 Online https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/1056522184911009 4 Social Cohesion and Disability Inclusion Awareness 2-Mar-2022 , 3-Mar-2022 "Presidency of Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Qirga" "https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/1082772902285937 ; https://www.spu.edu.iq/ku/28471?fbclid=IwAR0yJjEHWuBx1dpLAjsyiZy5mtBGmKFdSOAKt0Mf_9YhEFdAbXPoxNl0JA0" ; |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | International Conference: Archaeology and Heritage, Imam Hussein Holy Shrine, Karbala, Iraq. Dr P Collins Lecture: The role of museums in building inclusive societies |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Description, Purpose and Outcomes/Impacts: lecture/dissemination of information/public engagement/ engagement with potential partners |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Interview with Dr Mustafa Dogan, Nahrein Visiting Scholar on his work with ecomuseums |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The podcast covers Dogan's research in the UK and his plans to establish an eco-museum in the Southeastern Anatolia Region of Turkey |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/podcasts |
| Description | Interview with Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner (Mustafa Kemal Hatay University) - Podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Olcay Muslu Gardner speaks about musical traditions, sustainability and the scholarship she undertook at the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS). Dr Olcay is assistant professor at the Mustafa Kemal Hatay University, Turkey. She is the first recipient of the Visiting Scholars Scheme to be jointly supported by the British Institute at Ankara. Her work is concerned with identifying dimensions of sustainability for traditional music in the region of Sanlurfa, Turkey. The visiting scholarship enabled her to conduct research at UK academic libraries and to develop relationships with traditional Turkish music groups in and around London. Olcay's scholarship was managed by the Nahrein Network and the British Institute at Ankara and funded by the Global Challenges Research Fund and the Arts and Humanities Research Council. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/podcasts |
| Description | Interview with Dr Robert Bewley, Director of EAMENA - Podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Nahrein Network interviews Oxford University-based archaeologist Dr Robert Bewley, Project Director and Co-founder of the EAMENA project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/podcasts |
| Description | Interview with Professor Graeme Barker about Shanidar Cave - Podcast |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Nahrein Network had the pleasure of speaking with one of the world's foremost archaeologists, Professor Graeme Barker. Professor Barker, Senior Fellow of the McDonald Institute for Archaeological Research, speaks here about his recent work in the Shanidar Cave in the province of Erbil. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/podcasts |
| Description | Invasion, Kurdish Culture and Human Science |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Rozhen Mohamad Amin gave a seminar at her University. The seminar was attended by local academics, professionals and third sector organisations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/555072918266976/posts/1077260319381564/ |
| Description | Iraq British Business Council workshop on development of Iraqi Higher Education |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Industry/Business |
| Results and Impact | Project PI Professor Eleanor Robson participated in the Iraq British Business Council's summer retreat in July 2018, contributing to a panel discussion with British and Iraqi diplomats, and British and Iraqi university leaders, on the growth and development of Iraqi higher education. Audience members expressed much interest in, and support for, the aims of the Nahrein Network. There were several subsequent enquiries about collaborations and funding opportunities. Existing relationships with IBBC, the British Embassy in Iraq, the British Council in Iraq, and Mosul University were significantly strengthened by this event. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Iraqi Civilization and its Impact on Heritage: Maysan Heritage as a Model |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | t was held in cooperation with the University of Misan on Thursday, 6-8-2020 via ZOOM platform. The keynote speaker was dr. Nadia Ghanem- British Academy Postdoctoral fellow at the University of SOAS/ London. The seminar dealt with the heritage of Maysan: the churches. There was a full description about them. Being also an important heritage of maysan, the seminar also explored the shrine of Uzair. The members of the team were presenters. They explained everything about the shrine of Prophet Uzair to be known for all. The participants were many over (107) for it was international and included academics, professionals, and students from the departments of History in several universities of Iraq as well as international universities like SOAS/ London in addition to media and general public. The purpose of this seminar is to give a full description about this site, its structure, and its history. There was a reference to its damages due to neglect and ignorance on the part of the government. The basic findings of this seminar were that the shrine needed rebuilding, reconstruction, and maintenance. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/educationcollege1/posts/290570027299044%206 |
| Description | Iraqi cultural heritage: youth practitioners' focus group |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In April 2018 PI Eleanor Robson and visiting scholarship recipient Ali Al-Makhzomy co-organised and co-chaired a two-hour discussion workshop at Baghdad NGO "The Station", titled "Iraqi Cultural Heritage: Perceptions from Iraqi Youth". In it some 30 young cultural heritage practitioners shared their own understandings and values of Iraqi cultural heritage, and articulated their concerns and hopes for future developments, in a mix of English and Arabic. It was |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Iraqi premiere of the documentary film Letters from Baghdad and associated events |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The award-winning documentary film Letters from Baghdad is a biography of Gertrude Bell, archaeologist, key figure in the construction of Mandate Iraq, and founder of the Iraq Museum. Released in 2016 it has had showings worldwide, almost everywhere except Iraq - until now. In a collaboration with the Iraqi Ministry of Culture, the US Embassy in Iraq and British Council in Iraq we subtitled the film in Arabic and Kurdish, and organised a series of events about the film in Baghdad. These included: a screening of the film at the Iraqi National Theatre; a Q & A session with the film's directors Zeva Oelbaum and Sabine Krayenbuhl; a workshop on heritage documentary-making at the City of Arts for Film in Baghdad, led by Krayenbuhl and Oelbaum; and a visit to Gertrude Bell's grave in Baghdad. A series of screenings across Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan continued later in the year, organised by British Council Iraq. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Iraqi readings of British Orientalism talks by Professor Nasser Jassem, Nahrein-Bisi Visiting Scholar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Prof Nasser Jassem, Nahrein Network Scholar from Mosul University, four lectures about Iraqi readings of British Orientalism at the Aga Khan Centre in London, SOAS, the University of Cambridge and the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford in November 2019 as part of the engagement activities planned for the duration of his scholarship. Professor Nasser also gave a talk on the cultural impact of the US occupation in Iraq and in Mosul in particular, at LSE's Millenium conference, 20th October 2019. The title of the conference at LSE, London, was Extraction, Expropriation, Erasure? Knowledge Production in International Relations. Event attendees 20 people in the audience |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ashmolean.org/event/hamilton-gibb-and-saladin-oxford-scholar-and-muslim-hero |
| Description | Jumjuma, the Skull Village in Babylon |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Nahrein Network Research Grant Awards researcher Ammar Al-Taee discusses Jumjuma village its long history |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/2022/11/30/jumjuma-the-skull-village-in-babylon/ |
| Description | Keynote address to Research Software Engineers conference |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In September 2018 project PI Professor Eleanor Robson gave the opening keynote address to the third annual conference of the UK's Research Software Engineers, in Birmingham. She spoke about her collaboration with UCL's Research Software Development Group to develop bidirectional script functionality for Nammu, an open-access cuneiform text editor (described further under Software). She explained that the past few years of conflict in Syria and Iraq have drawn worldwide attention to the terrorist destruction of archaeological sites and historic buildings in the region. Large international projects are now working to protect, conserve and document these places that are so fundamental to understanding Middle Eastern and global history. But that is a solution to only one part of the problem, however important it is in itself. The Nahrein Network tackles the human side of this tragedy, helping local heritage experts, academic historians and history-lovers contribute meaningfully to the long-term social and economic development of post-conflict Iraq and its neighbours. Open-access, reusable online resources are a natural solution to increasing the accessibility of academic research, teaching materials, and reliable information for interested publics, in a region where everyone has a phone but libraries are scarce and massively under-resourced. As part of this effort UCL's Research Software Development Group is adapting open-access tools for Arabophone ancient historians to work with. Nammu is an easy-to-use text-editor for cuneiform inscriptions, the millions of witnesses to the first three millennia of Middle Eastern and world history. Oracc is a collaborative online publishing platform for these editions, and for educational websites about ancient Middle Eastern history. In this talk I will explain how Nammu and Oracc are key components of a programme designed to reduce Middle Eastern academics' international isolation, train the next generation of experts in ancient Middle Eastern history, cultural heritage, and related fields, and to help local audiences make meaning of local heritage, in local languages and local contexts. She also talked through the how the project is working in practice, from the involvement of the RSEs in London in the initial research design through to the implementation with researchers, teachers and students in Baghdad and beyond. There was a full discussion afterwards and many audience members, from senior Microsoft executives to academic editors to university employees, reported that the talk had been transformational in helping them understand the role that academic computing can play in addressing key development challenges and contributing to the sustainable development of intellectual production in the global south. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://rse.ac.uk/conf2018/programme/ |
| Description | Kurdish Cultural Heritage Network - "Heritage and Community Engagement" workshop |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | "Heritage and Community Engagement" workshop was set up and organised by the Cultural Heritage Network, the Nahrein funded project based at the Sulaimani Polytechnic University in Iraki Kurdistan. It was conducted by invitation to 12 people, with participants represented by cultural heritage academics, professionals, & decision-makers in Kurdistan Region of Iraq, being of regional importance with international participation. It was aimed at training workshop for academics and professionals in cultural heritage domain and others/3 hours. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.spu.edu.iq/ku/13167?fbclid=IwAR0uEg9IUSnPnGY8ZYVdsNdXjW5EXduyMaQ_zeP7BqrZ6dlwsWrCJFcQc3Q |
| Description | Kurdish Cultural Heritage Network - series of workshops, talks and presentations related to Heritage |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Nahrein-funded Kurdish Cultural Heritage Network (PI: Dr Rozhen's Mohammed-Amin) has been very active in both disseminating their work as well as being directly involved in activities to raise awareness and expertise level in heritage project writing, research and policy, with more than 38 events, of which a number were media appearances or opening events with media involvement. Over 4000 people in the Kurdish Region of Iraq were involved directly over 2019 and it has engaged targe audiences from academics and cultural heritage professionals to NGOs and students. As a result, Dr Rozhen's Cultural Heritage Network has become a focal point of the region and they have successfully expanded their network and efforts beyond what was initially envisioned. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Kurdish Cultural Heritage Network Sarai Offices Opening Ceremony |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Cultural Heritage Network, a Nahrein funded devolved project based at the Sulaimani Polytechnic, in Iraki Kurdistan, organised their Sarai Offices Official opening. Sarai Offices Opening Ceremony in Sulaimani, Iraqi Kurdistan, was a Networking event/1.5 hours which was open to participation from decision-makers, government representatives, academics, researchers, professionals, public figures, politicians, and representatives from NGOs, but was also attended by some members from public & local and regional media. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/SulaimaniPolytechnicUniversitySPU/posts/2605382356192030-https://www.facebo... |
| Description | Kurdistan Cultural Heritage Network - "Interdisciplinary approaches to the past: how archaeology can address important issues of today' workshop (public) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was a training course for academics and professionals in cultural heritage domain and others/3 hours - It was aimed at cultural heritage academics, professionals, & decision-makers in Kurdistan Region. StudentNGO representatives and was attended by regional and international participants |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.spu.edu.iq/ku/13167?fbclid=IwAR0uEg9IUSnPnGY8ZYVdsNdXjW5EXduyMaQ_zeP7BqrZ6dlwsWrCJFcQc3Q |
| Description | London Book Fair talk on Mosul University Library |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Nahrein Network Coordinator and researcher Dr Mehiyar Kathem and Nahrein Network scholarship recipient, Dr Alaa Hamdon, participated on the 12th of March in a discussion about Mosul University Library at the annual London Book Fair. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.londonbookfair.co.uk/en/Sessions/74117/Rebuilding-the-Library-IS-Destroyed-How-Publisher... |
| Description | London visit of the British Consul General for Northern Iraq and the head of UNESCO Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In July 2018, the Network hosted the British Consul General for Northern Iraq, and the head of UNESCO Iraq, after an event at Chatham House on the role of heritage in the reconstruction of Mosul. This event also coincided with a brief visit to the UK by our future Visiting Scholar, the Director of Mosul University Libraries, Mohammed Jasim, hosted by the Iraq British Business Council. We therefore invited all three for a meeting at our Visiting Scholarships partner, the British Library, to discuss closer collaboration within the framework of UNESCO's Revive the Spirit of Mosul initiative. The day was most successful, not only for own work but for building the relationship between UNESCO Iraq and the British diplomatic team in Iraq. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | London visit of the Iraqi Minister of Higher Education |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In January 2018 the Network hosted the Iraqi Minister of Higher Education in London, in order to advocate for the value and purpose of our work. We took his team to visit our Visiting Scholarship partners at the British Library and the National Archives to show some of the resources on which Iraqi researchers could undertake projects. Unfortunately the Minister left office after the Iraqi general elections in May 2018 and the Network is now developing a relationship with the new Minister and his team. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | MBI Al Jaber Foundation Lecture Series, London Middle East Institute, SOAS. Dr P Collins Lecture: Telling Stories in Basra: a new museum for Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Description, Purpose and Outcomes/Impacts: lecture/dissemination of information/public engagement |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Marsh Arab Team in an interview by Kira Walker |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | The team met with the journalist in a discussion about the efforts to preserve the Marsh Arabic dialect. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.equaltimes.org/in-iraq-s-marshlands-researchers?lang=en#.YXwMq57MKuY |
| Description | Meeting with Iraqi Ambassador to the UK |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Nahrein Network met with the new Iraqi Ambassador to the UK, Mr Mohammed al Sadr, where Professor Eleanor Robson and Dr Mehiyar Kathem spoke about ways to collaborate and work together and share information about the Visiting Scholarships Scheme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Meeting with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | On 13 March 2019 the Network organised a meeting with the UK Parliament's All-Party Parliamentary Group on Iraq, with the topic "The sustainable development of heritage and archaeology in post-ISIS Northern Iraq". Project PI Professor Eleanor Robson introduced our work within the ODA context. Current Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdon of Mosul University explained his funded research, as well as his efforts in the rehabilitation of Mosul University Library. Mr Daniel Lowe of project partner The British Library also spoke about his contributions to this work. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Meeting with the new Iraqi Minister of Culture, Professor Abdulameer al Hamdani |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | Extended meeting with the new Iraqi Minister of Culture, Professor Abdulameer al Hamdani, in al Rasheed Hotel, Baghdad., |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Mersin Workshop on Cilician Cultural Heritage (1-3 July 2021) - Historical Memory, Heritage, and Cultural Identification Amongst Displaced Communities in Cilicia and theNorthern Levant / Tevfik Emre Serifoglu / Sirince Archaeological Association |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A workshop was organized as a part of the project, which included training sessions and visits to cultural heritage sites in Mersin and a Cilicia (Adana and Mersin) with a group of participants from Adana, Mersin, and Lebanon between 1-3 July 2021. This was mainly organised by our local collaborator (MAYA Association) with Volkan Gültekin and Ahmad Hajtaha being the main leads. During the Mersin workshop, investigators shared their observations based on the initial evaluation of interviews conducted in Mersin, Adana (Büyüksaraç), and Beirut (Al-Hussein), and gave talks about Cilician cultural heritage and the history of archaeological practice in the region (Serifoglu, Collar, Aydin, Hançer). The participants were informed about approaches regarding documentation of endangered cultural heritage sites and different ways they can contribute to the process. The workshop also provided a medium to discuss cross-community storytelling, issues including migration, being a diaspora, and senses of place. The participants had the opportunity to discuss issues regarding perception of space, experiences regarding migration and cultural similarities between communities sharing similar spaces. As a part of the workshop program archaeological and cultural heritage sites including Yumuktepe, Soli Pompeipolis, Elaiussa Sebaste, Corycus, Arab Orthodox Church of Mersin, Atatürk Museum (example of a 19th century residential structure), Tas Han and Tas pier, old train station, old municipality building, Bebekli church, Hoskadem mosque, old bazaar, Tas bridge and the old town of Kozan, which is the spiritual centre of the Armenian church of Cilicia, were visited besides Mersin Archaeological Museum for training, evaluation, and observations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/HerDisComCNL |
| Description | Museum Managers Workshop, Imam Hussein Holy Shrine Museum, Kabala, Iraq. Exploring audience development in Iraq's museums Dr P Collins |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Description, Purpose and Outcomes/Impacts: workshop/engagement with colleagues/research and evaluation/blogpost |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Network website |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Study participants or study members |
| Results and Impact | The project's main website now receives over 2000 visits a month, over half of those to the information pages on funding opportunities (research grants; visiting scholarships). The pages on the project's core team, and on the people and projects we have funded so far, also attract a lot of traffic. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017,2018,2019 |
| URL | http://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein |
| Description | OCHRE - Current Issues in Cultural Heritage in Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The project team held an online workshop featuring presentations from Mwafak Weissi Mahmoud ("Cultural diversity in Iraq - differences and harmony"), Jalila Marzina Ephrem ("The cultural heritage of the Christians of Nineveh") and Kheder Doomli (The Yazidi heritage in Nineveh, paths of protection and identification") |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | OCHRE - The Importance of Cultural Heritage in Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The project team held an online workshop featuring presentations from Prof Eleanor Robson (Director of Nahrein Network and Head of Department of History at UCL) and Professor Alaa Hussein Al-lami (Dean of the Archeology Faculty at the University of Kufa), followed by questions and discussions. The event drew more than attendees, mainly from Iraq but also from the UK. The audience included officials from the Ministry of Higher Education in Iraq and senior management from the Universities of Kufa and Mosul |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | OCHRE Launch Webinar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The project team held a webinar on to launch the project. In the webinar, we provided attendants with a basic overview of open educational resources, the role of the university in public engagement, and how these two trends might support a wider understanding of cultural heritage in Iraq. The event was promoted through the research team's social media accounts. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Official demonstration of the EMOTIVE based Pre-History Gallery multimedia guide |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The completed EMOTIVE-based Pre-History Gallery multimedia guide was officially demonstrated to the US Consul General in Erbil, Mr. Rob Waller, on 2nd February 2021, during the formal opening of the first Pre-History Gallery Slemani Museum, Iraq's second largest archaeology museum. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Online Roundtable: Post-ISIS Identity (Re)construction in the War- torn Areas: Karma as a Case Study |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The team conducted an online roundtable titled Post-ISIS Identity (Re)construction in the War- torn Areas: Karma as a Case Study on 2 ?????? 2021that lasted for 1:40 min, in which the Karma mayor, head of Anbar SBAH, Karma mosque preacher, and specialists in dialects and sociology, spoke on various topics including language, religion, customs, traditions, and tribal changes. Audiences have also engaged in this roundtable by asking questions and commenting on the findings and the changes they have observed in their community. Over 50 participants, from academics, SBAH, students, and people from the Karma community, attended this online roundtable. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/dhiakarem/status/1432113679399591937?s=20 |
| Description | Online events - Digital documentation of heritages sites that affected by armed conflicts in Tikrit Province, Northern Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Four activities/sessions were held. Activities 1-3were an online symposium titled (Digital documentation of heritages sites that were affected by armed conflicts in Tikrit Province, Northern Iraq). The first one was an international webinar, brought by Chatham House attendance about 130 and the audience mainly consisted of university teachers, archaeology and geography students and employees of different World states for the period 23/11/2020.the second one international event of attendance is deputy minister of water resources, Dr. Tobin the head of the American heritage institute at Sulymania city for the period26/2/2021 as well as a lot of Iraqis from different institutions. The aims of the webinar were show the participants the impact of military operations on archaeological sites and increase the awareness of the community to protect the cultural heritage.The main subject of the second webinar was(The impact of Makhul dam on archaeological sites )the aims were preparing all who care about preserving the cultural and civilizational heritage, attendance about 80 . Thethird one was sessions held at Tikrituniversity and it discussed the outcomes of survey, the aims were to clear the important of documenting the destructed monuments and put future plan to repair these sites as well as tackle a lot of arguments related with our project , the date is 15/June/2021 , attendance about 200 and the audience mainly consisted of university teachers, archaeology and geography students and employees,a lot of well-known characters like dean of the college of arts , dean of the college of sciences and the director of Inspectorateof Antiquities and Heritage of Tikrit and etc. The Links for those sessions were: https://mediacentral.ucl.ac.uk/Player/cDb6h5c3 https://youtu.be/QEiNQtwF04o https://youtu.be/VBW8AlaEugo https://twitter.com/khalilaljbory/status/1401998013434900484?s=1005 https://twitter.com/khalilaljbory/status/1404867182031482888?s=1005 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | OpenDemocracy article titled - Heritage Peacebuilding in Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A magazine, newsletter or online publication |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Media (as a channel to the public) |
| Results and Impact | I wrote an article for the online platform titled Heritage Peacebuilding in Iraq. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/north-africa-west-asia/heritage-peacebuilding-in-iraq/ |
| Description | Opening remarks and paper at Conference on Iraqi history at Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, March 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Professor Eleanor Robson gave opening remarks to a conference on the history and politics of state-building in Iraq, at Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad, in March 2019. She also presented a paper on Nation and state-building in ancient Iraq to the same audience. The conference was attended by 500 Iraqi academics and research students, as well as many local media organisations. Robson's participation aimed to show how ancient history can shed light on current post-conflict concerns in Iraq, and to promote participation in the Network. Her paper was awarded the prize for the best presentation at the conference, and engendered a lively and thoughtful discussion amongst participants, and in media interviews. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Paper given at Decolonising the Museum workshop, student History of Art Society, University of Cambridge, February 2020 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | In response to Professor Eleanor Robson's participation at the (G)hosting event with Michael Rakowitz at the Whitechapel Gallery in July 2019, she was invited to present a short paper to the University of Cambridge's History of Art student society, as part of an even on decolonising the museum. Her paper "Decolonising the museum in Britain, Baghdad and Basra" aimed to help students think about what it means to decolonising museums in formerly colonial contexts such as Iraq. The 40-odd students in attendance responded enthusiastically with many thoughtful questions and comments, demonstrating a profound grasp of the issues involved. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Paper presented at Saving Ancient Treasures conference, London, July 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Professor Eleanor Robson gave a paper called, "The human dimension: the intellectual and social infrastructure of heritage in conflict and beyond", at a conference Saving Ancient Treasures for the World, organised jointly by the Hellenic Society and the Roman Society in London, July 2019. The paper aimed to challenge the very premise of the conference - that is, an object-based approach to "saving (ancient) treasures" for "the world", aka a thinly disguised justification for wealthy private antiquities collections. There were well over 100 people in the audience (including the private collector who sponsored the conference). Questions afterwards, and conversations over lunch that followed, showed that many participants now understood the problematic ethics of prioritising material heritage for international benefit over local expertise and livelihoods in fragile parts of the world. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XrIe8U9uFy0&list=PLO_zKwlRJ8jYNYA1QDn2rwc_geeMTb4UF&index=4&t=0s |
| Description | Perceptions of Assyria: Art, Culture and Politics talk, British Museum - Ali Al Makhzomy VS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I talked about my project Bil Weekend startup "Motivation, Operation, Contribution and Impact" and what we did since 2016 after years of neglecting of the heritage sites and tourism in general due to wars, lack of security and terrorism. Challenges faced such as "Instability of security situation, Lack of awareness, Management plan, Infrastructure, Technical needs such as documentation, conservation and use of technology". How we contributed reviving sites "Increasing Awareness" explaining how we are in need for new approaches and methods / How we can raise awareness and engage communities as one of the main stakeholders. We as Iraq will need to design strong cultural policy with vision collaborate all stakeholders to achieve it, especially the education system. 65% of Iraqi people are under 35 years old. Also about other steps and procedures such as (Management Plan, develop the skills of human resources, the need of using technology, establish real research and study centres or re-functioning the existing ones in the ministries and universities, encourage non governmental think tanks and facilitate fellowships and encourage scholarships in the fields of Archaeology, Heritage and Tourism - Most important thing we need a new way of education and a new way of understanding heritage and the use of its elements, facilitate tourism operation, encourage the private sector involvement and investment - this will help create infrastructure projects and a lot of job opportunities, financially support - from the national budget and also indirectly companies as (Corporate Social Responsibility - CSR), and the last but not the lest collaboration with other entities and getting experience of from different countries, especially after defeating ISIS, we have very unique opportunity |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/carine_harmand/status/1094741884851941376 |
| Description | Podcast Interview with founders of Mosul Book Bridge |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Nahrein Network interviews Dr Alaa Hamdon of Mosul University (Nahrein Network - British Institute for the Study of Iraq (BISI) scholarship recipient) and archaeologist Dr Caroline Sandes, who founded Mosul Book Bridge to support the rebuilding of Mosul University Library. You can read more about Mosul Book Bridge on www.mosulbookbridge.org |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/interview-with-founders-of-mosul-book-bridge |
| Description | Podcast interview with Ali Al-Makhzomy of Bil Weekend |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In this latest podcast instalment, Dr Mehiyar Kathem talks to Mr Ali Al-Makhzomy, founder of Bil Weekend tour company in Iraq, which caters to local tourists. Ali is one of the first recipients of a Nahrein-BISI Visiting Scholarship, to research new methods to strengthen Iraq's tourism infrastructure. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/tourism-in-iraq-ali-al-makhzomy-founder-of-bilweekend-tour-com... |
| Description | Podcast interview with Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin of Sulaimani Polytechnic University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Mehiyar Kathem talks to Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin, Director of Sulaimani Polytechnic University's Digital Heritage Research Group on how small screen technologies can help museum-goers interact with, and relate to, exhibitions and artefacts. Dr Mohammed-Amin is a recipient of a Nahrein-BISI Visiting Scholarship, to be held at the University of Glasgow's EMOTIVE project on story-telling for cultural heritage. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/building-interactive-learning-environments-rozhen-mohammed-of-... |
| Description | Podcast interview with Louise Haxthausen of UNESCO Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In this week's podcast, Dr Mehiyar Kathem interviews Louise Haxthausen, Director of the UNESCO Office for Iraq, and a member of the Network's management committee. She explains the ambitions of UNESCO's Revive the Spirit of Mosul initiative to revive the city's cultural and intellectual life, and to provide sustainable employment. They also discuss the role of national heritage in post-conflict Iraq. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/unesco-in-iraq-louise-haxthausen-director-of-the-unesco-office... |
| Description | Podcast interview with Rashad Salim of Safina Projects |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | In the first of our new series of Nahrein Network podcasts about Iraqi cultural heritage, Dr Mehiyar Kathem interviews Rashad Salim of Safina Projects on the heritage of the Iraqi marshlands, water security and cultural self-respect. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/rashad-salim-of-safina-projects-watercrafts-in-iraq |
| Description | Podcast on Art heritage in Iraq - Dr Ahmed Naji |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Independent researcher Dr Ahmed Naji speaks about his work in documenting and preserving Iraq's modern art heritage and discusses plans to safeguard it against further damage. Dr Naji gives an eloquent talk of the state of Iraq's art heritage over the past few years and its connections to development and identity. Dr Naji is the author of Under the Palm Trees: Modern Iraqi Art with Mohamed Makiya and Jewad Selim (Rizzoli New York) which discusses the trajectory of Iraqi art through the prominent art collection of the late pioneer architect Mohamed Makiya (1914-2015). This book will be released in May 2019. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/art-heritage-in-iraq-dr-ahmed-naji |
| Description | Podcast with Dr Paul Collins discussing museums in Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Paul Collins - Curator at Ashmolean Museum and Co-Principal Investigator of the Nahrein Network, as well as current chairperson of the British Institute for the Study of Iraq speaks about storytelling and museums in Iraq, and their role in society |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/museums-in-iraq-paul-collins-at-the-ashmolean-museum-oxford |
| Description | Podcast with Mr. Mohammed Jasim Al-Hajiahmed, director of Mosul University Libraries on efforts to rehabilitate |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The director of Mosul University Libraries, Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed, speaks about national and international efforts to rehabilitate the libraries of the University of Mosul. Mr Mohammed Jasim Aal-Hajiahmed is a recipient of a Visiting Iraqi Scholarship from the Nahrein Network and the British Institute for the Study of Iraq. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/director-of-mosul-university-libraries-mohammed-jasim-aal-haji... |
| Description | Podcast: Building a heritage network in Iraqi Kurdistan - An interview with Dr Rozhen Kamal Mohammed Amin |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | This is a podcast recording with Co-Investigator Dr Rohzen Kamal Mohammed-Amin on the Nahrein Network funded project 'A Cultural Heritage Network for the Kurdistan Region: Challenges and Opportunities'. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/building-a-heritage-network-in-iraqi-kurdistan-an-interview-wi... |
| Description | Podcast: The Wolf of Baghdad - A conversation with Carol Isaacs and Daniel Jonas |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A press release, press conference or response to a media enquiry/interview |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The Nahrein Network speaks to creators of the audio-visual graphic memoir of a lost homeland. Carol and Daniel speak about their memories, experiences and work revolving around Iraqi Jewish music heritage. For more information on Carol Isaacs and Daniel Jonas work see: thewolfofbaghdad.wordpress.com/ The link to the song by the Kuwaiti Brothers at the beginning of the podcast: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybw7INieVV10?t_radio=1 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://soundcloud.com/nahreinnetwork/the-wolf-of-baghdad-a-conversation-with-carol-isaacs-and-dania... |
| Description | Post ISIS Social, Cultural and Religious Changes in Karma - Post- ISIS Identity Construction in the War-torn Areas: Karma as a case study/ Dhiaa Kareem Ali/ University of Kufa |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In this in-person roundtable, which lasted for an hour and a half, the lecturers presented the most important changes that occurred in the Karma community after the war, based on the results of the interviewees' survey. This was followed by a discussion by the attendees giving their opinion on the changes and providing solutions on how to strengthen their social and cultural identity. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/dhiakarem/status/1463386845694369795?s=20&t=F02RQ13UMlpUQRpesHpKvQ |
| Description | Post- ISIS Identity Construction in the War-torn Areas: Karma as a case study/ Dhiaa Kareem Ali / University of Kufa - Displacement Repercussions on Language Practices in War-torn Areas |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The webinar discussed the results of assessing language practices in war-torn areas in Iraq, chiefly Karma in Anbar. It particularly assessed how these practices are unfolding in the wake of sociopolitical events that recently engulfed the city and charted how the speech variety is reconfigured as a result. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/dhiakarem/status/1488627838773346312?s=20&t=F02RQ13UMlpUQRpesHpKvQ |
| Description | Postgraduate Teaching Programme: A Scientific, Historical and Intercultural Dialogue - Seminar |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The seminar was aimed at encouraging the audience to apply for Nahrein Network grants and explaining the steps and procedures of application. Grant receivers Dr Rozhen Kamal and Dr Olga Babenko talked about their projects and answered questions of the audience. UKH staff learnt about Nahrein Network opportunities, submitted several grant applications and became aware of the research potential of Kurdish historical, cultural and artistic heritage. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ukh.edu.krd/newsdetail.php?n=339 |
| Description | Postgraduate Teaching Programme: A Scientific, Historical and Intercultural Dialogue - conference presentation |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The aim of the conference speech was to raise intercultural competence of Kurdish educators, teach them how to become culturally aware and self-reflective lecturers. The speech was illustrated with examples of teaching English language and literature in three different educational settings - Saudi Arabia, Ukraine and the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Nahrein Network project "Postgraduate Teaching Programme: A Scientific, Historical and Intercultural Dialogue" was presented as a way for improving methodology in higher education of Iraqi Kurdistan in relation to cross-cultural and intercultural communication. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.ishik.edu.iq/conf/vesal/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/absbook.pdf |
| Description | Postgraduate Workshop on Collaborative Research |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Workshop meeting on collaborative research meeting different AHRC funded projects and activities, including with AHRC funded 'Changing the story' project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Preparing Iraqi Universities for International Research Collaborations, Baghdad, October 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | There are now increasing opportunities for Iraqi universities to develop collaborative research programmes with international partners. These partnerships strengthen Iraqi universities in many ways. This workshop explored benefits of developing international research collaborations, and suggested ways to help prepare for them. The workshop, organised jointly with the Iraq British Business Council, was attended by senior university managers and officials of the Iraqi Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research in Baghdad. It was held in English and Arabic. Prof Eleanor Robson, the Nahrein PI and Dr Mehiyar Kathem, the Nahrein Co-ordinator, led the event with Dr Mohammed Al-Uzri of Leicester University. The workshop was successful in outlining a practical to-do list for the Ministry of Higher Education and for individual universities. It was also a good opportunity for Iraqi teams from different universities to network, so overall, it was a very successful 2 days with a promising agenda for future work. Discussions will continue on the subject in 2020. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Presentation and podcast to the British Institute for the Study of Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | In June 2018 PI Professor Eleanor Robson gave the Annual Bonham Carter Lecture to the British Institute for the Study of Iraq, a UK learned society and registered charity based at the British Academy. To an audience comprising UK cultural heritage professionals, Iraqi diplomats and expats, and members of the interested general public, she argued for the importance of fostering the intellectual infrastructure of heritage, as well as its physical infrastructure, in countries such as Iraq. The talk was recorded and is now available as a podcast. There was a lively Q&A session afterwards. What resonated most with the audience was the argument that neither professionals nor amateurs should have to learn foreign languages in order to access-or produce-histories of their own localities. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | http://www.bisi.ac.uk/content/bonham-carter-lecture |
| Description | Protecting Cultural Heritage in Armed Conflict and Situations of Forcible Displacement: An (emergeing) Human Right? Conference at Newcastle University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Mehiyar Kathem presented a paper on ways to better understand cultural heritage destruction in Iraq by presenting on post-2003 heritage and politics. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Protecting Iraq's cultural heritage from predation | Explainer | Chatham House |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Short video explainer about how, since 2003, Iraq's elites have appropriated the country's rich cultural heritage in the service of various undesirable agendas. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEV5qidWWHk |
| Description | Protection of Cultural Heritage - Baghdad - Ali Al Makhzomy VS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | The workshop aimed to further explore ways of cooperation between different national and international agencies and to strengthen collective efforts to preserve Iraq's cultural heritage. I presented the experience of my project as an example for possible tourism operation in Iraq and why important involving the the private sector and how tourism can protects the cultural heritage of Iraq. It was very useful workshop and gave me the chance to expand my network. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://eeas.europa.eu/csdp-missions-operations/euam-iraq_en/57063/EUAM%20supports%20Iraq%20in%20the... |
| Description | Public lecture "Endangered Heritage and Digital Technology" Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin VS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Raising awareness and sparking critical questions and discussions about Iraqi endangered cultural heritage as well as technology's role in digital cultural heritage domain. Post lecture verbal, social media, and email feedback suggest that the lecture highly engaged and informed the attendees. Informing about my past and ongoing research projects in the domain and developing new connection through it. Through the advertisement of the event poster, a Prof at the University of Glasgow reached my host and asked for a meeting, which resulted in learning about the Learning Cities Network (LCN). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.gla.ac.uk/schools/humanities/events/informationstudiesevents/headline_622688_en.html |
| Description | Rethinking Mesopotamia in Oxford. BISI virtual lecture (24 March 2021) - Paul Collins |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | see link |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7KnoCwwU_D8 |
| Description | Rethinking the Ancient Middle East at the Ashmolean Museum. BANEA Annual Conference (virtual), Bournemouth University (3 March 2021) - Paul Collins |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Annual Conference (this year conducted via ZOOM) |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.banea.org/banea-2021 |
| Description | Round Table Workshop opening remarks and interview "Research across Disciplines in Contexts of Conflict, post-Conflict and Displacement: How do we Deal with Ethics?" Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin VS |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | As part of my participation as an expert in the round-table workshop/meeting on "Research across Disciplines in Contexts of Conflict, post-Conflict and Displacement: How do we Deal with Ethics?", I gave opening remarks, consultation, and an interview on ethics challenges of conducting research in Iraq and offered my insights and perspectives on how to deal with those challenges. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MN0OI68SQ7g |
| Description | Rural Heritage Recovery (Erbil) - Citizen Scientist Induction Training |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The training aimed to build citizen scientists capacity in Erbil and the periphery to participate in the research and co-design a framework for heritage recovery that is long-term, bottom-up, participatory, socially just and inclusive. The target objectives for the CSs instruction training: - defining and enhancing their knowledge on rural heritage, tangible and intangible, natural and cultural heritage. -advancing their ability in research methods in terms of ethics and professional standards -ensure clear understanding of CSs role and expected research deliverables. Citizen Social Science is a form of participatory social research which engages the wider public directly in the social research process. This approach abandons the distinction between the producers and consumers of scientific knowledge, attempting to bring about an inquiring society, where participation in and scrutiny of research is open to all. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Rural Heritage Recovery and Post-Conflict Development in Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG): The Case of Erbil's Rural Periphery - Networking and reconaissance |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | The research team travelled from Beirut to Erbil and had meetings professionals in 4 institutions which were the following: *The Municipality of Erbil; the General Director of Urban Planning of Kurdistan Governorate, *The Iraqi Institute for the Conservation of Antiquities and Heritage (IICHAH): the Director of The Iraqi Institute for the Conservation of Antiquities and Heritage, and Master *Trainers at the IICAH, *President of the University of Salahaddin-Erbil, *The Joint Crisis Coordination Centre (JCC) of the Kurdistan Regional Government; the Director of Resource Mobilization and the Director of Information Management and Data Exchange. During the reconnaissance, the research team met with stakeholders in the periphery of Erbil (general public) such as Mokhtars, school and educational facilities' caretakers, residents, and local business owners. The purpose of the trip was networking to building connections with major stakeholders, and reconnaissance of the rural periphery of Erbil. One of the strands of the operation in the project is to build networks with major stakeholders for collaboration and knowledge dissemination. This network will help the research team in the conduction and recruitment of the citizen scientist training workshop and the capacity building workshop. The reconnaissance was to identify the villages on the rural periphery of Erbil. The research team surveyed 11 villages on the western part of Erbil rural periphery. The survey was to understand the characteristics of the villages in terms of socio-economy, socio-spatial practices, cultural heritage, natural heritage, and village morphology. The reconnaissance was to verify the selected villages in the initial proposal for further study. According to the analysis of the gathered data, Gazna, Kany Qrzhala, Qareatax are chosen as sites of inquiry for further research. The most important outcomes of the trip were establishing a network of stakeholders that are eager to contribute and cooperate throughout the project and beyond this project. This network will also contribute to the knowledge dissemination and implementation of the heritage framework which will be designed according to the research outcomes. In addition, the reconnaissance of the rural periphery of Erbil characterized the current situation of the villages that were selected for the study. According to the data, the selected villages of Gazna, Kany Qrzhala, Qareatax reflect the multiplicity and the mix within the community and reflect the different compositions of returning, transient, and permanent inhabitants across the three villages. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Safina Project - "Erasure and Endurance: investigating Iraq's endangered maritime and craft heritage" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This, by Safina Projects' PI, Rashad Salim, talk combined an overview of our current work with an exploration of how Assyrian archaeological remains provide evidence of the continuity of boat forms still made in Iraq until recent decades, and afford one source of clues to the details of their construction, and to their role in Mesopotamian history. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Safina Project - "Erasure and Endurance: investigating Iraq's endangered maritime and craft heritage - clues and questions from Assyrian imperial art", at the Perceptions of Assyria Symposium, British Museum |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This talk, by Safina Project's PI Rashad Salim, combined an overview of our current work with an exploration of how Assyrian archaeological remains provide evidence of the continuity of boat forms still made in Iraq until recent decades, and afford one source of clues to the details of their construction, and to their role in Mesopotamian history. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | https://www.britishmuseum.org/whats_on/events_calendar/event_detail.aspx?eventId=4902&title=Percepti... |
| Description | Safina Project - "Return to the Tigris" talk at Museum of World Cultures, Stockholm |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Safina Projects' PI, Rashad Salim, was invited to reflect on his experiences aboard Thor Heyerdahl's Tigris reed boat (1977) and our present-day work documenting the Marshes' endangered cultural heritage. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Safina Project - "Revitalising Heritage - towards the Protection of the Cultural Environment of the Marshes": Presentation at Wasit University, College of Engineering |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Undergraduate students |
| Results and Impact | Talk by Safina Projects' PI Rashad Salim, about his current work including the Thesiger's Tarada project. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Safina Project - "The Ark Re-imagined: Navigating Iraqi Cultural Heritage on the Edge of Extinction", a talk at BISI |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This talk, by Safina Projects' PI Rashad Salim, discussed both of our current projects, An Ark for Iraq and Thesiger's Tarada, and our broader methodology which combines boat-building workshops and river expeditions, oral history recordings, and finding clues to lost heritage in the archival stratum of knowledge now scattered around the world. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Safina Project - 10. Meeting with new Minister of Culture |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Description: This was a visit to the Iraq Museum. led by Safina Projects' PI Rashad Salim, with an opportunity to view artefacts relevant to our project, followed by a presentation of several projects (including our own) to the new Minister of Culture, Dr Abdulameer al-Hamdani. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Safina Project - Community Feast in Huwair |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A community meal was held in Huwair, together with an oral history recording session - launching our Nahrein-funded boat reconstruction project "Thesiger's Tarada". Participants, including local sheikhs and elders, watched a presentation of selected images from Thesiger's archive, which stimulated detailed reminiscences and discussion, helping us to form a more detailed picture of local knowledge about the Tarada and other endangered boats and crafts of the Marshes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Safina Project - Community Feast in Huwair |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | A community meal was held in Huwair (the traditional centre of boat-building where we are working, near Basra), together with an oral history recording session, launching Safina Projects' Nahrein-funded boat reconstruction project "Thesiger's Tarada". Participants, including local sheikhs and elders, watched a presentation of selected images from Thesiger's archive, which stimulated detailed reminiscences and discussion, helping us to form a more detailed picture of local knowledge about the Tarada and other endangered boats and crafts of the Marshes. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Safina Project - Culture Forum on "Art for Sustainable Futures", as part of the New York Arab World Art & Education Initiative, NYC |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Safina Projects PI, Rashad Salim. was part of a panel exploring the role of the arts in building a more sustainable future and the potential for artists and cultural organizations to contribute to the UN's Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Safina Project - Festival of Heritage, Chibayish (central Marshes) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This highly popular and well publicised event, in partnership with Nature Iraq, was the official launch of the reconstructed Thesiger's Taradas (as well as several other types of Meshouf canoe built as part of our other major project, An Ark for Iraq). It was attended by the Dr Abdulameer al-Hamdani, who as well as being our Co-Investigator has recently been appointed as Iraq's Minister of Culture. Other dignitaries and public figures also attended and the event was filmed by 5 satellite TV channels and has been widely shared and discussed on social media. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Safina Project - Iraqi Civil Society Initiative Baghdad |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Third sector organisations |
| Results and Impact | Talk by Safina Projects' PI Rashad Salim, about his current work to activists from many civil society groups |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Safina Project - Preliminary Launch of Taradas in Huwair |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This was the first trialling of Safina Projects' two reconstructions of Thesiger's Tarada on the water, on the local branch of the Euphrates in Huwair close to where they were built. They were also transported through the centre of Huwair town on the way to and from the launch site, which stimulated much response and discussion with local people, some of which were documented as part of our oral history programme. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Safina Project - Visit of Charax Spasinou archaeological team to Huwair Boatyard |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Dr Jane Moon and team are excavating the site of Charax, near Qurna, including an ancient harbour which could shed light on the region's maritime heritage. They visited our work in progress at Huwair Boatyard, where our reconstructions of Thesiger's Tarada (and other boats as part of the Ark for Iraq project) are being built. Describing our work as "inspiring", they commented "There are many connections with what is found in excavation, such as depictions of boats in ancient art... [and] remains of indestructible parts such as the bitumen coating". |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Safina Projects - "International Museum Day: Endangered Cultural Heritage" |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Seminar at Museum of Mediterranean and Near Eastern Antiquities (Medelhavsmuseet), Stockholm The Museum held a seminar to raise awareness of endangered cultural heritage focusing especially on Afghanistan, Iraq and Syria. Safina's Project Director, Rashad Salim, was invited to give a talk (titled "An Ark for Iraq: revitalising ancient Mesopotamian maritime and craft heritage for the 21st Century") alongside Qahtan Alabeed, Director of Basrah Museum, and other international heritage professionals. He also gifted to the museum a model Tarada made by our boatbuilding team in Huwair, which has become part of their collection. Recognition from the international heritage professional community, especially those from post-conflict countries, of the importance of vernacular craft heritage, present shortfalls in addressing this issue, and the significance of our project as a pioneering example in this field. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| URL | http://www.varldskulturmuseerna.se/en/medelhavsmuseet/program/programarkiv-mm-2019/endangered-cultur... |
| Description | Series of Workshops - SPU - (Nov-Feb 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Item no/Title/Date/Location/Link 1 The Nahrein Network Research Grant Awards 3-Nov-2021 Online https://www.facebook.com/rozhen.kamal/videos/418416436551694/ 2 Opportunities for Postgraduate Studying and Visiting Scholarship from the Nahrein Network and BISI 9-Jan-2022 Online https://fb.watch/bAPnFP2A90/ 3 Digital Transition of Cities: New Trends in Urban Planning 19-Jan-2022 Online https://fb.watch/bAPty2dMEv/ 4 Beyond the Point Clouds: Real-World Uses of 3D Data for Conservation and Accessibility of Cultural Heritage 16-Feb-2022 Online https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/1071980876698473 |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Sharing Research Beyond the Exhibition: Owning the Past. University of Oxford National Trust Partnership, Global Histories Training Symposium (8 June 2021) - Paul Collins |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Symposium |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Sirince Association team - Networking and outreach activities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an open day or visit at my research institution |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The research team, in cooperation with local fieldwork facilitators, conducted interviews with Middle Eastern immigrants living in Cilicia (Mersin and Adana provinces of Turkey) and Christian community members in Lebanon with family roots in Cilicia. The project team paid visits to Hrant Dink Foundation, an Istanbul-based NGO that carries out projects on Armenian heritage in Turkey (https://hrantdink.org/en/). The Foundation has shared their reports and publications as well as a list of local contacts, and put the team in contact with a few local heritage experts from Adana. They have also met several times with Osman Köker, a collectionner and researcher based in Istanbul who runs Birzamanlar Yayincilik, a publishing house that publishes titles related to the non-Muslim minority cultures in Turkey. Local fieldwork facilitator in Adana paid a visit to the Seyhan Municipality Center for Women's Solidarity to explore the possibilities of collaboration for the project In a Zoom meeting held in August 2020, project investigators introduced the HERDISCOM_CNL PROJECT to a wider community of archaeologists and heritage experts from Turkey and abroad, including the members of Sirince Archaeological Association. Participants discussed possible collaborations related to the project during the meeting |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020,2021 |
| URL | https://herdiscomcnl.wordpress.com/ |
| Description | Sulaimani Day Festival (SPU) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | See link |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/1017805312116030 |
| Description | Sustainable development of Iraqi Cultural Heritage: Policy Roundtable at Chatham House |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | In July 2018 postdoc Mehiyar Kathem co-organised with the Middle East team at Chatham House a roundtable policy forum on the sustainable development of cultural heritage in post-conflict Iraq. Introduction: Lina Khatib (Chatham House, MENA Director) Chair: Renad Mansour (Chatham House, Iraq lead) Speaker 1: Professor Eleanor Robson (Director of Nahrein Network). Eleanor spoke for about 5 minutes about the NN and its work in Iraq. Speaker 2: Mr Nazar Marjan (Deputy Head of Iraq Mission to UK, Iraqi Embassy). Maximum 5 minutes. Speaker 3: Professor Sabah Mushatat (Advisor Prime Minister's Office, Iraq). Professor Sabah spoke about his work and latest PMO initiative to establish an international network of academics and heritage experts to protect and promote Iraqi heritage There was then half an hour for discussion on priorities, principles and practices, amongst an expert audience of British and Iraqi practitioners and policy-makers. Again, the importance of human and intellectual infrastructure, and of local decision-making, were the key messages communicated. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2018 |
| Description | Symposium during the 3rd international conference of the Faculty of Archaeology, Al Qadisiyah University - |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The team presented the results of the research into the the heritage of Samawah and Diwaniyah provinces during the 3rd international conference of the Faculty of Archaeology, University of Al Qaddisiyah, on 22-23 March 2022. More than 150 colleagues from Iraqi universities attended. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Symposium during the 3rd international conference of the Faculty of Archaeology, University of Al Qaddisiyah - Heritage of Samawah and Diwaniya- Dr Jaafar Jotheri |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The symposium took place during the 3rd international conference of the Faculty of Archaeology. Dr Jaafar's team presented the results of the work they did in documenting the heritage of the Samawah and Diwaniyah provinces. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Symposium on the Intangible Heritage of Bedouins in Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The online symposium about the intangible heritage of the Bedouinson was held on Monday 28th February 2022 at 8 pm Iraqi time. It discussed singing and Bedouin poetry, travel, customs, Stories, tales, and traditional garments as well as the importance of their herds of sheep and camel. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| Description | Symposium on the sustainable development of cultural heritage and archaeology |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The seminar was in the first week of the scholarship and it was a good opportunity to meet other specialists in heritage with different disciplines. Moreover, the discussion on the topic followed the seminar with the attendees. They found relating both types of heritage, tangible, and intangible is an attractive strategy to get a more holistic view of the importance of heritage. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Talk to Sarai"" & ""Nobody's Listening"" Digital Exhbition- Public Relations and Marketing Department-SPU |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | see link |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/1059895294573698 |
| Description | The Baghdadi Cultural Centre in al Mutanabi Street |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Blog post about the one-day event titled 'Cultural Heritage: Projects and Partnerships in Iraq', hosted at the Baghdadi Cultural Centre, in al Mutanabi Street, central Baghdad. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/2022/07/07/the-baghdad-cultural-centre-in-al-mutanabi-street/ |
| Description | The Impact of Climate Changes on Iraqi Heritage in the Southern Desert and Marshland |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Jaafar Jotheri, Co-Director of the Nahrein Network, presented a workshop on December 11th, 2021, titled: 'The impact of climate change on Iraqi heritage'. The workshop hosted five main speakers and more than 60 attendees, including academics, officials from the SBAH, university students, members of local communities, and social and environmental activists. The discussion presented a valuable opportunity to advance our knowledge of the extent and complexity of climate change impacts on Iraqi heritage. In addition, it provided insight as to the degree of awareness amongst stakeholders and the community. In this context, Dr Jotheri addressed critical questions related to the topics, followed by a broad open discussion amongst the participants. The questions were: What are the features of climate change impact on the Southern desert? What are the features of climate change impact on the marshes? How should we adapt to the impact on the desert? How should we adapt to the impact on the marshlands? Are there Iraqi studies concerning these issues? Does the Iraqi government have a clear plan to solve these issues? Do any NGOs fulfil roles in this field? What is the impact of climate change on the archaeological sites in the desert? What is the impact of climate change on the archaeological sites in the marshes? What is the impact of climate change on the heritage? How has climate change been reflected in society and its activities (like artistic activities) in Iraq? What is the role of individuals and communities to mitigate the effects of climate change? |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://blogs.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/2022/01/12/the-impact-of-climate-changes-on-iraqi-heritage-in-the-so... |
| Description | The Mandaean Cultural Identity in the Diaspora |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This webinar addresses the Mandaean cultural identity in the Diaspora. Listen to perspectives from members of the Mandaean community discuss identity, change and the challenges they face abroad. Chair: Dr. Dhiaa Kareem Ali from University of Kufa and Visiting Scholar at University of Exeter. Guest Speakers: Yuhana Nashmi (Visual Artist, Therapist and Tarmida) Subject: Cultural Identity Through Visual Art and Story Telling: Mandaean Case Study Location: Sydney, Australia Born: Baghdad Iraq Rooan Al Kalmashi (Speaker, Refugee Advocate, Paralegal) Subject: The Mandaean Woman's Experience: Embracing Change Location: Sydney, Australia Born: Baghdad, Iraq |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YVLu8Arvvwk |
| Description | The Nahrein Network Podcast hosted on UCL Minds |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Nahrein Network podcast found a new home on UCL Minds - a programme of lectures, performances, exhibitions, podcasts and stories which showcase the brilliant and curious minds here at UCL. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/ucl-minds/ucl-minds-0 |
| Description | The Nahrein Network: Achievements and Ambitions |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | This event brought together our devolved projects' Principal Investigators and our Visiting Scholars to celebrate what we have achieved together over the past four years of AHRC-GCRF funding. Session 1: Plural heritage: documenting and celebrating diversity 6-7.30 pm UK = 8-9.30 Iraq, Wednesday 8 September Chair: Dr Jaafar Jotheri, Al-Qadissiyah University, Co-Director of the Nahrein Network Featured projects: Babylon: modern heritage or ancient ruin? - Dr Jasim Al-Janabi, University of Babil and Mr Ammar Altaee, Iraqi State Board of Antiquities and Heritage Minority heritage of Baghdad - Dr Zainab Alwaeli, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Iraq Open educational resources for cultural heritage education in Iraq - Professor Robin Shields, University of Bristol, UK Owning the Past: rethinking and redisplaying Middle Eastern antiquity at the Ashmolean Museum - Dr Paul Collins, Ashmolean Museum, UK Plural heritage landscapes of Najaf: Christian heritage - Dr Khalid Al-Hussainy and Mr Aqeel Jahil, University of Kufa, Iraq The Shrine of the Prophet Uzayr - Professor Abdulrahim H. Atia, University of Misan, Iraq Session 2: Heritage in the landscape: marshes and deserts, villages and towns 8-9.30 pm UK = 10-11.30 Iraq, Wednesday 8 September Chair: Dr Paul Collins, Ashmolean Museum Oxford, Co-Director of the Nahrein Network Featured projects: Creating an intangible cultural heritage module: Iraq's Bedouin - Dr Salah Hatem, Al-Qadissiyah University, Iraq Developing the Iraqi marshland tourist experience - Dr Raheem Al-Abdan, University of Thi-Qar, Iraq Dictionary of colloquial and Marsh Arabic dialects in southern Iraq - Dr Hussein Ridha, University of Thi-Qar, Iraq Living heritage of Diwaniyah and Samawa - Dr Jaafar Jotheri, Al-Qadissiyah University, Iraq Post-conflict heritage recovery and development in Erbil's rural periphery - Professor Howayda Al-Harithi, American University of Beirut, Lebanon Session 3: Heritage after conflict: remembering, regrouping, rebuilding 6-7.30 pm UK = 8-9.30 Iraq, Thursday 9 September Chair: Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Co-Director of the Nahrein Network Featured projects: Documenting local archives on the British Colonial Period in Slemani - Dr Shenah Abdullah, Kurdistan Institution for Strategic Studies and Scientific Research, KRI Digital documentation of conflict-affected heritage sites in Anbar province - Dr Abdul-azez Abbas, University of Al-Anbar, Iraq Digital documentation of conflict-affected heritage sites in Tikrit province - Dr Khalil Aljobory, University of Tikrit, Iraq Historical memory and heritage amongst displaced communities in Cilicia - Dr Emre ?erifoglu, Koç University, Turkey Post-ISIS identity in war-torn areas: Al-Karma as case study - Dr Dhiaa Karim, University of Kufa, Iraq The impact of armed conflicts on cultural heritage in Diyala province - Dr Saif Tawfeeq Ibrahaim, University of Diyala Session 4: Heritage in partnership: from Visiting Scholarships to the next 10 years 8-9.30 pm UK = 10-11.30 Iraq, Thursday 9 September Chair: Dr Mehiyar Kathem, University College London, Deputy Director of the Nahrein Network Featured Visiting Scholarships: Eco-museums for cultural heritage and sustainable tourism - Dr Mustafa Dogan, Batman University, Turkey/University of Reading/BIAA Emotions and storytelling with VR for Slemani Museum - Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Kurdistan Region of Iraq/University of Glasgow/BISI Intangible cultural heritage of Najaf - Dr Ali Naji Attiyah, University of Kufa, Iraq/University College London/BISI Mosul University Library - Dr Mohammed Jasim, University of Mosul/British Library/BISI Teaching medieval history in Iraq - Prof. Maher Al-Helli, Al-Mustansiriyah University, Baghdad/University of Sheffield/BISI |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/achievements-2017-2021/colloquium |
| Description | The Plural Religious Heritage of Baghdad between the Constant and the Variable - Plural Baghdad/Dr. Zainab Al Waeli/Al Mustansiriyah University |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | Overview: Within the framework of the Plural Baghdad project, Al-Mustansiriya University, with the support of the Al-Nahrain Network of University College London, organized on November 6th, 2021 a seminar entitled "The Multiple Religious Heritage of Baghdad between the Constant and the Variable" to study the common values and practices among the various components of Baghdadi society and the demographic, social and urban changes that the city witnessed after the American invasion In 2003, in addition to the remaining manifestations of dialogue, coexistence, and solidarity between the religious sects of the Iraqi capital. Objectives: The seminar aimed at providing a space for meeting and dialogue between representatives of the various religious community of Baghdad, away from the sectarian discourses prevalent in the public sphere. It also tried to present and discuss the primary outputs of the Plural Baghdad Project, which studies in the field and with a scientific methodology for the first time the culture, practices, and common values within a sample of 6 diverse Religious Baghdadi sects. This meeting also attempted to consult with the Baghdadi sects on ways to revive the common pluralistic spirit of Baghdad and to come up with concrete recommendations that are invested in serving the project. Target Audiences: The symposium brought together various Baghdadi voices representing different religious sects to highlight and celebrate the city's cultural mosaic. The meeting was attended by lecturers specialized in history and humanities, in addition to heads and representatives of a number of religious sects and various public figures. https://twitter.com/AlwaeliSalman/status/1457422393761226753?s=20&t=B4uuxAz1Aizl4KVjMnLtOQ; https://twitter.com/UlaMerie/status/1456946097583239168?s=20&t=B4uuxAz1Aizl4KVjMnLtOQ |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/UlaMerie/status/1456946097583239168?s=20&t=B4uuxAz1Aizl4KVjMnLtOQ |
| Description | The Wonder House Podcast Series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A broadcast e.g. TV/radio/film/podcast (other than news/press) |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A mini season of podcast interviews with the Nahrein Network team focusing on the project's history and achievements. Leading Change: The Nahrein Network with Eleanor Robson Dr. Sushma Jansari from The Wonder House chats with Prof. Eleanor Robson about leading change through The Nahrein Network. Meaningful Collaboration in Iraq with Jaafar Jotheri Powerful storytelling and Virtual Reality with Rozhen Mohammed-Amin Change and Experimentation with Paul Collins Cultural Heritage Policy for Peace with Mehiyar Kathem |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://www.ucl.ac.uk/nahrein/media/podcasts/wonder-house-podcast-series |
| Description | The heritage of Diwaniyah and Samawa - Webinar series |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | • ODA relevance of key outcomes 1. Several stories have been reported describing the histories of the people and cultural groups who occupied these buildings and structures, including shrines and mosques, synagogues and churches, are largely unknown in wider society 2. Developing skills and knowledge of the young staff of the both heritage offices in Diwaniyah and Samawa provinces plus the young heritage activists in these two cities. This workshop helped them in discovering how their heritage is rich, divers and valuable. It also helped them in improving their skills in using cutting-edges techniques in documenting and advertising their heritage. 3. Developing the ability of the academic staff in carrying out survey and documentation of the heritage buildings and conducting interviews and reviewing historical texts to write articles and disseminations their work locally and internationally. • Economic and societal impact of the outcomes 1. Encouraging local stakeholders to focus on heritages related business such as partnership with the local museums 2. People started thinking about investing in souvenir shops in Diwniyah and Samawa as they found out that these two cites have rich local heritages. 3. Several families have contacted our team to get some advice about how to document and advertise the inherited assets that considered as heritages assets . • Detail any steps towards better gender balance, equal opportunities 1. All the activities of our project included women so that the local people and our audience understand the importance of the gender quality. 2. Two of our team member are young female and they are active on Twitter. 3. The head of the Heritage office in Samawa is a female and she is fully engaging and all of our activities. 4. More than half our participants are female • Additional partnerships and collaborations that arose following these events. Do you believe these will extend beyond the lifetime of the award? 1. The project shows good partnership between four public institutions namely , Al-Qadisiyah University, Al-Muthannah University, Diwaniyah City Heritage Office and Samawa City Heritage Office. 2. It is obvious that this project has established a subsumable policy about how multi public institutions can work together not only in this project but for several project in the future because it is for interest of everyone to work together. 3. These four public institutions have established good relations with other stakeholders including local and international bodies • Have these activities lead to opportunities to obtain funding from other sources? Yes, members of the get funded form BISI, TARII, AFAC and ALIPH as a result of developing ideas form this project. • Have these activities influenced policy and practice in anyway? Please detail how. Yes, as the focus of this project will be on people and cultural groups through a study of the physical heritage of these two cities, it contributed in convincing the local stakeholders that it worthwhile to invest in heritage and encouraged them to raise awareness about how important to study and protect heritage. Consequently, several stakeholders have offered our team some help in conducting several parts of the project. Another example is that people started to call for establishing small museums in heritage buildings with the cooperation with the local government to keep so many valuable heritages artefacts in it. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://m.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=1504220506635843&id=1019207265137172 |
| Description | Tour guide for the Marshes and Antiquities of Southern Iraq |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The aims of the workshops were training participants to prepare them as tour guides and connecting them with their cultural and heritage. The social effect of these events contributed to establishing social and scientific relations with Al-Muthanna University, Marshes Research Centre, College of Archaeology and Centre for Historical Studies at Thi-Qar University, Thi-Qar Archaeology Directorate, Thi-Qar Education Directorate and Basra Archaeology Directorate. More than 50% of the audience was made up by women, which demonstrated an acknowledgement of their enhanced participation and new opportunities for contributions and participation. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://art.utq.edu.iq/wp-content/uploads/sites/8/2020/08/page_1.png |
| Description | Tourist guide for the antiquities and marshes of southern Iraq 'the tourist map of Thi-Qar province' |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | International scientific conference titled "Tourist guide for the antiquities and marshes of southern Iraq 'the tourist map of Thi-Qar province" held at Nahrain University in Baghdad on 30/08/2020. Attendance 80 and the audience mainly consisted of University teachers from Iraq as well as other universities from Egypt, USA and Malaysia. The conference aimed to establishing the concept of relying on scientific studies to develop the environment of marshes as source of economic of Iraq. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| URL | https://nahrainuniv.edu.iq/ar/node/7942 |
| Description | Training course sessions - SPU (Nov 2021-Feb 2022) |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | 1 Unity Training "25-Nov-2021 03-Dec-2021" DCH-SPU Sulaimani Iraq 2 C# Training "9-Jan-2022 , 11-Jan-2022, 5-Feb- 2022, 6-Feb- 2022, 12-Feb- 2022, 14-Feb-2022" DCH-SPU Sulaimani Iraq 3 Training workshop for Nobody's Listening VR Project Assessment by University of Baghdad 7-Dec-2021 Online - - |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://www.facebook.com/DigitalCulturalHeritage.DCH/posts/1050138158882745 |
| Description | Training workshop on heritage documentation - Kufa Heritage Buildings / Dr. Ali N. Attiyah / University of Kufa |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Two workshops were held on Dec. 2021 and Jan. 2022. The first one was delivered by the University of Liverpool - ARCHIAM on the documentation of heritage buildings. The second was delivered by Professors from the University of Bolonia on using the mobile apps in documenting the heritage buildings and identifying their locations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/ali_n_attiyah |
| Description | Twitter @nahreinnetwork |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Engagement focused website, blog or social media channel |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Public/other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The PI Eleanor Robson runs a very active and engaged Twitter channel, posting several times a week and more often when project members are in Iraq. It has been of major importance in promoting our work and our ethos to influencers, especially international diplomats, ministers, and journalists. We also reach a large audience of academics (including potential grantees) and the interested general public. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2017 |
| URL | https://twitter.com/NahreinNetwork |
| Description | University of Oxford National Trust Partnership Global Histories Training Symposium |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | The Nahrein Network Co-I, Dr Paul Collins gave a talk titled 'Sharing Research Beyond the Exhibition: Owning the Past', during the 'Global Histories Training Symposium' on 8.06.2021. The event was organised as part of the University of Oxford and The National Trust partnership and was aimed at the members of the two organisations. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Virtual Lecture - The impact of armed conflicts on the cultural heritage in Diyala Province |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Local |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | A virtual lecture was presented online via the ( Zoom meeting ), and the audience consisted mainly of university professors from Diyala as a partner in the project and colleagues who are members of projects funded by the Nahrain network in other provinces, as well as a number of workers in the Diyala Antiquities Department and those who interested in antiquities and heritage. We clarified the history of the armed conflict in Diyala and its impact on cultural heritage and the direct or indire |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| Description | Visiting Scholar Dr Alaa Hamdoon - scholarship engagement activities |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Dr Alaa gave a talk at a UK Parliament event under the title "The sustainable development of heritage and archaeology in post-ISIS Northern Iraq'' pm 13/03/2020; he discussed issues around the Mosul University Library and cultural heritage. He also participated at the London Book Fair with Bookaid international, where he also spoke on the subject - 12/03/2019 On 17 June 2019 Dr Alaa took part at a drinks reception at the Kings Library Gallery at the British Library, where alongside Book Aid Internationa and guest speaker John Simpson he used the occasion to highlight the importance of supporting conflict-affected territories like Mosul and how the Book Aid partnership helped restock the Mosul University Library after its destruction. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Visiting Scholar Dr Maher Al Helii engagement activities during scholarship |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | Regional |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | Professor Maher Al-Helii gave a lecture in the Sheffield University History Department on Old history of Iraq and medieval ages to undergraduate students |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Webinar : Rural Heritage Recovery and Post-Conflict Development in Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG): The Case of Erbil's Rural Periphery |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
| Results and Impact | After the opening of the webinar by Ms. Viki (research coordinator), Dr. Makhzoumi (Co-I) introduced the project to the participants and explained the different phases of the project and the procedures that the research team had implemented. During the course of the project, 12 citizen scientists (CS) were trained and eight of those CS further participated in the capacity-building workshops. The eight urban recoverers presented their work after Makhzoumi's presentation and explained in their own words their findings and visions. The presentation ended with a short movie clip and was followed by a Q & A session moderated by Dr. Baper (Co-I). The webinar was closed by Dr. Harithy (PI). More than 60 people participated from Iraq, Lebanon, Syria, The UK, and Finland. Some of the local institutions (Iraq) that participated in the webinar were from Iraqi Institute for the Conservation of Antiquities and Heritage, General Director of Urban Planning of Erbil, Baghdad university, and University of Sulaimani. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | https://beiruturbanlab.com/en/Details/778/rural-heritage-recovery-and-post-conflict-development-in-k... |
| Description | Who owns the past? Rethinking storytelling at the Ashmolean Museum. Digital Cultural Heritage Research Centre, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, international online training workshop (7 July 2021) - Paul Collins |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | see link |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021 |
| URL | http://spu.edu.iq/en/5077 |
| Description | Workshop on Visiting Scholarship Scheme, Mosul, Janaury 2019 |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Professional Practitioners |
| Results and Impact | I gave a presentation on the Nahrein Network and its partners' Visiting Scholarship Scheme; the workshop entailed discussion of all aspects of the scheme, including examples of successful applications and the processes associated with submission. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2019 |
| Description | Zheen Archive - Colonialism, The Social Sciences and Kurdish Heritage |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | National |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | attended by 80 people , including experts from different sectors, representatives of the media and public sector. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |
| Description | Zheen Archive - Opening of the Taufiq Wahby Library |
| Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
| Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
| Geographic Reach | International |
| Primary Audience | Other audiences |
| Results and Impact | On Saturday the 31st of October, at 10:00 a.m., during a small private ceremony attended by the directors of Zheen Mr. Rafiq and Sdiq Salih, the director of the Kurdistan Institution, Professor Polla Khanaqa, and the director of the Nahrein Network (via a recorded video) from London, along with a number of esteemed guests- the Kurdish scholar M. Jamal A'bdul, Zheen Rafiq Hilmi (Hilmi's youngest and only surviving daughter) and Dr. Nian N. Fuad Masti (a relative of Taufiq Wahby Beg), and other guests the Wahby library was opened at Zheen Centre. Due to the Covid 19 emergency and following local health guidelines, the event was kept private. The event was publicised via the three major satellite channels, Kurdsat, Rudaw and GK TV. |
| Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2020 |