( 14 goal ) Life below water

Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Laith Majid Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, the Baghdad Documentation Department of the Center organized a workshop on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, in the Nabīlah ʿAbd al-Munʿim Dāwūd Hall. The event was attended by a number of academics and researchers, it was entitled “Parapsychology between Heritage and Modernity.”

The session was chaired by Assistant Professor Dr. Bashair Mawlood Tawfiq, a faculty member at our Center, while the lecture was delivered by Assistant Professor Dr. Jabbar Frih Shuraydah from the Center for Psychological Research, University of Baghdad. He spoke about parapsychology — also known as the hidden science of thought and human behavior beyond the traditional senses — as a fascinating field that bridges cultural heritage and contemporary experiences. Throughout history, humanity has been intrigued by mysterious and unexplained phenomena such as telepathy, clairvoyance, and psychokinesis. These were often addressed in popular beliefs and ancient philosophies and were frequently linked to spiritual and religious practices, giving them profound spiritual and social dimensions.

Iraq has a history with this field: the first master’s thesis in parapsychology was completed in 1991, followed by the establishment of postgraduate studies during the years of harsh sanctions, from which many graduates obtained advanced degrees.

Dr. Julān Hussein Khalil, a faculty member at the Center for Psychological Research, University of Baghdad, added that parapsychology — also known as the science of energy or the study of the paranormal — encompasses all extraordinary human abilities. Globally, these abilities are categorized into three main types, which have been tested in many international laboratories: telepathy, precognition, and clairvoyance. With the advancement of modern sciences, researchers have begun to study these phenomena in a more systematic and precise way, using modern scientific tools and experimental techniques to evaluate the validity of parapsychological experiments and to understand their possible mechanisms

Dr. ʿAtāʾ Mustafa ʿAbd al-Karim, a faculty member at the Al-Mustansiriyah University / Presidency of the University, emphasized that studying parapsychology between heritage and modernity provides a unique opportunity to understand the relationship between humans and their unseen world. It also highlights how traditional knowledge can be integrated with modern scientific research in exploring the mysteries of the human mind and consciousness. She noted the importance of this science in understanding the dynamics of gaining and losing positive and negative energies, the polarity of male and female, and the study of parapsychological interactions between any two persons or objects, along with methods of dealing with them.

The workshop also shed light on the founding of the Parapsychology Association, which brings together a group of faculty members, researchers, and enthusiasts in this field of extrasensory abilities. The association has been active in conducting various activities, research, and experiments carried out by individuals with such abilities.

The workshop included several discussions and interventions on the subject. At the conclusion, the Center’s administration expressed gratitude to the researchers and wished them continued success in their scientific endeavors.

Under the supervision of Prof. Dr. Laith Majid Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, the center organized a seminar on Monday September 8, 2025. The event was attended by a number of professors and academics and was held in the Nabīlah ʿAbd al-Munʿim Dāwūd Hall, under the title “The Demands of the People of Hellfire in the Holy Qur’an.”

The lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Taha Subti Ibrahim, a faculty member at our center, who spoke about the People of Hellfire in the Qur’an and the requests they make and declare. Among these demands are returning to worldly life, being released from Hell, or having the punishment reduced even for a single day. He explained that all these demands are voiced by the inhabitants of Hell, beginning with their wish to return to the world, then to be released from Hell, and finally to have the torment lessened — each carrying doctrinal and educational implications. He emphasized the importance of drawing lessons from the Qur’an in refining behavior and strengthening faith awareness

On Thursday, August 7, 2025, a delegation headed by Mr. Issam Nasser Al-Atabi, Director of the Follow-up Department at the University of Baghdad, conducted an inspection visit to our Center. The delegation was warmly received by Prof. Dr. Anas Issam Ismail, Acting Director of the Center, and Mr. Fares Issa Fares, Administrative Director. During the visit, the delegation toured the Center’s facilities to review public services, civil defense committees, and safety measures, ensuring that all necessary requirements are in place. This visit comes as part of the joint efforts to enhance public safety, strengthen preventive measures, and monitor the quality of services provided to benefs.

At the conclusion of the visit, the Acting Director of the Center expressed his gratitude and appreciation, noting that such visits reflect the commitment of the concerned authorities to improve  performance and motivating the staff.

Assistant Professor Dr. Rasha Issa Fares, a faculty member from the Center, participated as a member of the discussion committee for the master’s thesis submitted by the student Athraa Ali Hassan Badr, entitled: “Places of Worship in the Writings of Moroccan and Andalusia Travelers from the 4th to the 8th Century AH.” The discussion  was held on Monday, August 4, 2025, at the Continuing Education Hall / Al-Mustansiriyah University / College of Education / Department of History – Islamic History. Upon the recommendation of the committee, the student was awarded the Master’s  excellent degree    Congratulations.

Under the direction of Professor Dr. Laith Majid Hassan, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, Professor Dr. Anas Issam Ismail, Acting Director of the Center, and Professor Dr. Taha Sabti Ibrahim, Head of the Department of Pure Sciences, attended the master’s thesis defense at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 22, 2025, in Al-Khansa Hall at the College of Education for Women. The thesis was presented by the student Shahd Jamal Abdul Jassim Al-Jumaili from the College of Education for Women / Department of History / University of Anbar. Her thesis was entitled:

“The Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad 2018–2024: A Historical Study.”

the thesis was accepted with a grade of Very Good (High). Congratulations to the student and to the Department of History at the College of Education for Women / University of Anbar for this distinguished academic achievement.

Under the supervision of Assistant Professor Dr. Laith Majid Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad, the Media and Government Communication Unit at our Center organized a workshop on the morning of Monday, June 30, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., held in Professor Nabila Abdul Moneim Dawood Hall. The workshop, which was outside the planned schedule, was titled “Design and Implementation of Energy and Environment Projects” and was attended by a number of professors and academics.

The session was chaired by Dr. Liqaa Shakir Al-Sharifi. The first lecture was delivered by Lecturer Dr. Ruaa Ali Mohammed, a faculty member in the Department of Energy, College of Engineering, University of Baghdad. She spoke about solar panels and the components used in designing solar systems, emphasizing the importance of studying customer needs and system working hours to determine the appropriate design. She noted that factors such as site location, connection to the national power grid, and seasonal climatic changes must be considered during installation. She also added that the design must adhere to specific specifications such as voltage, power, current, the possibility of connecting inverters in series or parallel, and their discharge capacity.

Following that, Assistant Professor Dr. Mohammed Hussein Ali Al-Darb, Head of the Department of Energy at the College of Energy and Environment, Al-Karkh University of Science, gave a lecture discussing software programs used in designing solar energy systems. Among these was PVsyst, one of the most widely used programs for designing and analyzing solar energy systems. It allows for detailed simulation of system performance, taking into account solar factors and their impact on energy production. He also discussed SketchUp, a 3D modeling program used in designing buildings and structures, particularly for planning the placement of solar panels on rooftops to generate energy. Dr. Al-Darb emphasized that solar energy is a renewable and sustainable source that reduces carbon emissions, lowers costs, requires minimal maintenance, and is environmentally friendly and efficient in terms of energy generation. The workshop included several interventions and discussions related to energy. At the conclusion of the event, the Center’s administration thanked the lecturers and wished them continued success and prosperity.