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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, our Center organized a seminar on Sunday morning, September 21, 2025, in the Nabīlah  Abd al-Munim Dawood Hall. The event was attended by a number of professors and academics and was entitled “Solar Energy in Iraq: Between Reality and Ambition.”

The lecture was delivered by Assistant Lecturer Walaa Diaa Naseef, a faculty member at our Center, who spoke about solar energy as one of the most important renewable energy sources that can contribute to sustainable development in Iraq. She highlighted the country’s abundant solar radiation throughout the year, which presents great opportunities for expanded use of solar energy.

However, solar energy technology in Iraq faces multiple challenges that require effective strategies to overcome. Iraq has immense potential to develop this technology, but realizing this potential depends on addressing these challenges through collaboration between the government, the private sector, and the community. By doing so, Iraq can build a more sustainable and efficient energy future. At the conclusion of the seminar, the Center’s administration expressed its thanks to the lecturer, wishing her continued success in her academic career.

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 Department of Humanities organized a panel discussion on Wednesday morning, September 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. in the Nabīlah ʿAbd al-Munʿim Dāwūd Hall. The event was attended by a number of professors and academics and was entitled “The Phenomenon of Atheism between Heritage and Modernity.”

The lecture was delivered by Prof. Dr. Anas Issam Ismail, a faculty member at our Center, who discussed the historical presence of atheism, its beginnings in ancient times, and the main reasons for its spread before and after Islam. He explained the distinction between atheism and disbelief, traced the history of disbelief and paganism among the Arabs before Islam, and explored how atheism spread after World War II. He also highlighted the difference between secularism and atheism in contemporary times, as well as the impact of the knowledge explosion, social communication, and the internet on the rise of atheism among young people.

The researcher further noted that atheism in public debates is no longer merely an individual or personal stance but has become an expression of cultural, social, and political challenges facing societies, especially in light of technological development and exposure to global ideas through media and digital platforms. On the other hand, several intellectuals stressed that this movement, despite its diverse orientations, represents a form of intellectual dynamism and cultural diversity that calls for rational and balanced dialogue rather than confrontation or exclusion. They emphasized the importance of instilling values of tolerance and pluralism as a more conscious and effective approach to addressing the phenomenon.

The session also included several interventions and discussions on the topic.

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, our Center organized a seminar on Tuesday morning, September 16, 2025 and academics and was entitled “The Art of Gilding in Manuscript Heritage.”

The lecture was delivered by Assistant Professor Dr. Zainab Kamel Karim, a faculty member at our Center, who spoke about gilding as an artistic creativity and a distinguished, essential field within the knowledge frameworks of Islamic arts. She explained that gilding goes beyond being a craft or profession; its aesthetic quality suggests that it is a unique Islamic art, alongside calligraphy, painting, ornamentation, and bookbinding.

For this reason, many studies have focused on gilding, tracing its beginnings, stages of development, colors, and its influences across the different environments in which it flourished. Gilding evolved through various styles — Umayyad, Abbasid, Persian, Egyptian, Andalusian, and Ottoman — each of which became a distinct school of this art.

The researcher added that studying gilding in manuscripts holds great significance, as these works often represent rare pieces of extraordinary artistic beauty, especially Qur’anic manuscripts. Since gilding is an integral part of such manuscripts, it too has suffered damage over time, just as the manuscripts themselves have. Therefore, scholars and conservators must give due attention to preserving this art and safeguarding these precious works.

The seminar included several discussions on the topic, and at the conclusion, the Center’s Director thanked the researcher, wishing her continued success in her academic career.

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