The sustainable development goals in Iraq

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.

A delegation from the Center for Kufa Studies, headed by Professor Dr. Hasanein Jaber Al-Helou, Director of the Center, along with a number of professors and researchers, visited the Center of heritage revival on the morning of Tuesday, June 24, 2025. The delegation was received by Dr. Laith Majid Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage at the University of Baghdad. During the meeting, both parties discussed the organization of joint scientific activities, including the planning of seminars, conferences, and collaborative scientific and cultural events in the future. These efforts aim to foster the exchange of expertise, advance knowledge, and build bridges of academic cooperation between researchers and scholars. The visit concluded with the presentation of a copy of the Center for Kufa Studies Scientific Journal to the Center—an initiative reflecting mutual appreciation and a shared commitment to strengthening future collaboration. Dr. Hussein expressed his gratitude to the visiting delegation and wished them continued success and prosperity.

At the invitation of Assistant Professor Dr. Laith Majid Hussein, Director of the Center, the Administrative Affairs Division at the Center, in cooperation with the Division of Accounts for Research and Service Centers at the University of Baghdad, organized a workshop on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., with the attendance of a number of professors and researchers. The workshop, which focused on explaining the mechanism of health insurance, was presented by Mr. Majid Qasim Al-Khatib, Head of the Payroll Unit. He spoke about the procedures through which individuals can access health services, the costs of treatment, and medical examinations. He explained that the aim of health insurance is to provide financial protection when healthcare is needed.

Mr. Al-Khatib also noted that there are several types of health insurance, including government, private, and supplementary insurance. He clarified the importance of health insurance, emphasizing that it ensures individuals receive necessary healthcare, reduces financial burdens, and improves public health. Furthermore, he explained that health insurance involves the deduction of a portion of the salary to cover healthcare costs, either on a monthly or annual basis. At the conclusion of the workshop, the Center’s administration expressed its gratitude to Mr. Majid Al-Khatib and wished him continued success.

Professor Dr. Wasan Hussein Muhaimid, from the Department of Human Studies at the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage, University of Baghdad, presents a lecture entitled “Religious Thought in Pre-Islamic Arabia” at the Kalimat al-Hayat Forum held by the National Evangelical Baptist Church on the morning of Saturday, June 21, 2025. The event was attended by Assistant Professor Dr. Laith Majid Hussein, Director of the Center for the Revival of Arab Scientific Heritage, as well as representatives of the Kasnazani Cultural Center, the Iraqi Sufi Guidance Center, the Al-Raja Cultural Center, along with several researchers and civil society activists.

In this lecture, Dr. Wasan provided an overview of the geography and nomenclature of the Arabian Peninsula, as well as the origins of the Arab peoples. She then discussed the prominent religions present in the region before the advent of Islam, including Hanifism, Paganism, Judaism, Christianity, Sabianism, and Zoroastrianism—highlighting the historical background of each religion, the reasons for its spread, and the tribes that embraced it.

At the conclusion of the event, Father Ara Badalian, pastor of the National Evangelical Baptist Church, presented Dr. Wasan with a certificate of appreciation, expressing his gratitude and wishing her and all attendees continued success in serving our beloved country.

Center of heritage revival organizes a seminar “Geographical Thought in al-Iṣṭakhrī’s Work.”

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 Center organizes a seminar entitled “Geographical Thought in al-Iṣṭakhrī’s Work.” The seminar, held in the lecture hall of Professor Nabeela Abdul Muneem Dawood, The lecture was delivered by Assistant Lecturer Walaa Dhiaa Nassif, a faculty member at our Center. She spoke about Abu Ishaq Ibrahim ibn Muhammad al-Farisi al-Iṣṭakhrī, one of the most prominent Muslim geographers and cartographers of the 10th century CE. Born in the city of Istakhr (in Iran), al-Iṣṭakhrī had a major influence on the development of geographical science.

His book “Al-Masalik wa al-Mamalik” (Routes and Realms) is considered one of his most significant works. It was frequently cited by medieval geographers for its rich and varied information on the Islamic regions. The book includes detailed descriptions of borders, cities, rivers, and travel routes. The researcher also noted that there is a version of this book containing 299 illustrations, including 21 maps in which al-Iṣṭakhrī attempted to depict the regions of the known world. He is regarded as part of a school referred to by some as the “Atlas of Islam” group, which also included al-Balkhi, al-Muqaddasi, and Ibn Hawqal.

The center of heritage revival organizes a seminar entitled “Al-Mustansiriya School: A Unique Model in Islamic Education.”

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 Center organized a seminar on the morning of Tuesday, June 17, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. The event was held in the lecture hall of Professor Nabeela Abdul Muneem Dawood and was entitled “Al-Mustansiriya School: A Unique Model in Islamic Education.”The lecture was delivered by Assistant Lecturer Zainab Jamal Nawroz, a faculty member at our Center. She discussed the founding of Al-Mustansiriya School in Baghdad in the year 631 AH (1234 CE) by the Abbasid Caliph Al-Mustansir Billah. The school became one of the greatest educational institutions of its time, notable for teaching all Islamic jurisprudential schools of thought, making it a symbol of intellectual plurality and academic openness during its era.

What distinguished the Mustansiriya School was the comprehensiveness of its curriculum. It went beyond teaching jurisprudence and Islamic law to encompass various branches of science. Architecturally, the school stood out with its functional and artistic elegance, contributing richly to the scientific and cultural legacy of Islamic civilization.The lecturer added that the administrative and instructional systems at Al-Mustansiriya were advanced for their time, with scheduled class sessions and the issuance of academic certificates upon graduation—an early example of organized educational structure, reflecting the intellectual advancement of the Abbasid state.To this day, Al-Mustansiriya remains a source of pride for the Islamic world, representing a civilizational and educational legacy and serving as an inspiring model for educational institutions past and present.

The center of heritage revival organizes a workshop “Homosexuality: Mental Illness or Deviation from Values – Causes and Methods of Treatment.”

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, our Center organized an off-schedule workshop on the morning of Wednesday, June 18, 2025, at 10:00 a.m., attended by a number of academic professors. The event took place in the lecture hall of Professor Nabeela Abdul Muneem Dawood, under the title: “Homosexuality: Mental Illness or Deviation from Values – Causes and Methods of Treatment.” The lecture was delivered by Dr. Juman Adnan Hussein, a faculty member at our Center, who addressed the topic of homosexuality as a complex phenomenon influenced by interwoven biological, psychological, and social factors. She explained that while some societies have come to accept homosexuality and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, others reject it based on religious or cultural grounds. Dr. Hussein emphasized that a deep and scientific understanding of the issue is essential in order to discuss it rationally and respectfully, with the aim of protecting society and its members from the impact of this phenomenon.

She noted the historical background of how homosexuality was classified in diagnostic manuals, pointing out that it was considered a psychological disorder until the 1970s, when this classification was changed based on evolving scientific and societal standards. The workshop included discussions on the potential causes of such behavior, including family disintegration, poor upbringing, and psychological experiences in childhood. Treatment approaches discussed ranged from psychological counseling and family support to moral and ethical reorientation.

The lecturer concluded with a set of key recommendations, most notably the need to enhance psychological and family awareness, balance scientific understanding with moral values when addressing social phenomena, and intensify specialized research to confront intellectual and behavioral challenges that affect the fabric of society. At the conclusion of the event, the Center’s Director thanked the lecturer, wishing her continued success in serving Baghdad University and great Iraq.