°×С½ãÂÛ̳

Thanks to generous philanthropic funding, the Nahrein Network can continue its mission until 2031. Read about this phase of work, which began in October 2021.

Huge new threats to Iraq’s future have emerged in past few years, while the old ones have not gone away. The economy is still heavilyÌýdependent on oil.ÌýPost-Da’esh reconstruction has been frustratingly slow.ÌýIraq'sÌýpolitical system is as fragile as ever, while poverty, gender inequalities, and youth unemployment remain endemic. Meanwhile, damming, oil extraction, and global climate heating are destroying theÌýenvironment. There has never been a greater need for big, bold responses to these intractable challenges.

The Nahrein Network continues toÌýextend itsÌýwork with Iraqi academics and cultural heritage professionals to tackle these problems.ÌýWorking with well-established partnerships and creating new ones, we support research and policy on:

• an integrated approach to natural and cultural heritage;
• youth-focused solutions, both within and outside the state;
• reparative approaches to the past, inspired by the work of °×С½ãÂÛ̳ History’s Centre for Study of the Legacies of British Slave-Ownership.

We retainÌýthe same basic operating principles and practices, and buildÌýon the considerable successes of our AHRC-GCRF-fundedÌýwork since 2017. Two-thirds of the budget is committed to supporting Iraqi-led research in Iraq and the UK. The rest covers UK staff and support costs.

What We Do

Supporting Iraqi colleagues' research

• Ìý²¹²Ô»å Mini-Grants Scheme. Twice aÌýyear, we offer a range of grants to support Iraqi-led research on the ways in which heritage, history and the humanities can improve life in Iraq.

• . Once a year, we offer a visiting scholarshipÌýscheme to bring Iraqi heritage professionals and academics to the UK for two-month placements.

• . In 2020–23 weÌýoffered a small number of MA+PhD studentships, covering the full costs of graduate study in a history or heritage related subject at °×С½ãÂÛ̳.

• Research Workshops. Building on the success of our British Academy funded in 2019, we offer a multi-year programme, AcademIQ,Ìýdesigned to support Iraqi researchers in the arts, humanities and social sciences with academic skills development.

• Research Networks. We support the development of disciplinary research networks in Iraq, including the highly successful .

Furthering our own research

Our strongÌýÌýremains together, continuing our own individual research programmes:Ìý

• Dr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin, lecturer and researcher at the Kurdistan Institution for Strategic Studies & Scientific Research (KISSR) and co-founder and president of the Cultural Heritage Organization (CHO), continues her team's groundbreaking research on the roles of digital technologies in enhancing the emotional impact of heritage.

• Dr Mehiyar Kathem, Senior Research Associate at °×С½ãÂÛ̳, conducts research and on the politics of heritage, statebuilding and peace-building in Iraq.

• Dr Paul Collins, Keeper of the Middle East Department at the British Museum, carries out research and practice in decolonising museums' use of Iraqi heritage, as exemplified in his recent exhibition, .

• Professor Eleanor Robson, Professor of Ancient Middle Eastern History at °×С½ãÂÛ̳, collaborates with and °×С½ãÂÛ̳'s Research Software Development Group to develop Arabic-language tools for online, open-access publication, research and education on the cuneiform cultures of ancient Iraq and its neighbours.Ìý

Governance and Administration

The Network runs day-to-day from the History Department at °×С½ãÂÛ̳. This isÌýwhere the Director Professor Eleanor Robson, Deputy Director Dr Mehiyar Kathem, Administrator Mrs Oana Borlea-Stancioi, and Communications and Social Media Officer Mrs Zainab MahdiÌýare based.

The Network also has two Co-Directors.ÌýDr Paul Collins works atÌýthe British Museum, whileÌýDr Rozhen Mohammed-Amin is at theÌýKurdistan Institution for Strategic Studies & Scientific Research.

The Network'sÌýManagement CommitteeÌýmeets every three months. The committee includes representatives fromÌýthe Network’s main partners in Iraq, and UK-based academics in the field. Members of the Management Committee review applications forÌýresearch grants and provide advice to the core team.ÌýVisiting Scholarship applications are assessed by a panel including representatives from itsÌýpartners.

We are hugely grateful to the private donor whose vision and generosity allows us to continue this vital work. The gift has been thoroughly vetted by °×С½ãÂÛ̳ and the Network's activitiesÌýare serviced as if they wereÌýsponsored research.ÌýWe remain completely committed to working ethically, transparently and fairly.Ìý