Director’s Speech
Dams and Water Resources Research Center is one of the active scientific centers at the University of Mosul, contributing significantly through scientific excellence in conducting research, studies, and projects, as well as preparing specialized scientific reports in the fields of dams, water resources, geotechnics, and implementing mathematical, hydraulic, and computer models for water resources and dam projects. This expanded scope of the center’s work now includes water resources and hydraulic systems throughout Iraq.
The center provides scientific consultations to both the public and private sectors on aspects related to water resources and natural resource utilization. Research conducted on dams, water resources, and geotechnics at the center follows scientific methodology and the center’s vision and strategy, characterized by positive societal and institutional impact both technically and economically. The development of scientific research methodology among researchers and the elevation of research to good scientific standards is reflected in the acceptance of research for publication in reputable scientific journals, whether within Iraq or internationally.
The center has undertaken numerous studies, projects, and scientific reports for government departments and the private sector through research teams according to the appropriate specialization. These efforts have been praised by beneficiaries, expressed through letters of thanks, appreciation, and honors from ministers, university presidents, governors, and general managers.
Since its establishment, the center has organized scientific conferences and specialized seminars aimed at developing scientific research within ideas and methodologies that keep pace with global concepts while meeting Iraq’s needs in assessing water reality, sustainable water development, and the use of modern technologies in terms of devices, equipment, methodologies, and software.
The scientific and practical experiences of the center’s researchers have enabled their participation in technical committees at the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research and the Ministry of Water Resources, focusing on dams, water resources, or the work of research centers or scientific research development committees in Iraq, shaping engineering policies for scientific research, or at the governorate level, providing scientific services and consultations addressing various aspects according to the committee’s specialization.
The center is affiliated with the engineering committee under the Scientific Research Council, coordinating work between Iraqi universities’ engineering research centers to serve society and achieve sustainable development. Additionally, the center is connected with scientific research centers at the Arab level through the newly formed Arab Water Research Association since 2011.
Efforts have been made to enhance scientific and research relationships with international organizations such as the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida), focusing on international river laws among riparian countries. Our center has participated in several visits to the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) by specialized researchers. Moreover, our center has been a member of the Arab Organization for Science and Technology, based in Dubai, since 2005.
The center’s staff has been encouraged to obtain acceptance from foreign universities in Germany, France, Canada, Turkey, and Australia for scientific specialization or training on modern devices in the center’s fields of expertise. Additionally, they engage in scientific activities such as teaching tasks in scientific departments, supervising higher studies, evaluating theses and scientific research for promotion, publication, reinforcement, and participating in committees for discussing postgraduate theses. They also attend numerous international conferences to present research and posters, strengthening relationships with scientific entities.
The center’s staff is now qualified to express opinions on water resource management based on the acquired scientific and technical knowledge, particularly in the context of rebuilding infrastructure and managing water crises with riparian countries of the Tigris and Euphrates basins. The efforts of the researchers have contributed to gaining a good scientific reputation among research centers in Iraq, achieving advanced positions in the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for several years. Additionally, researchers have received honorary awards at the Arab and local levels for publications in international scientific journals and participation in international conferences.
The center undergoes self-assessment according to the standards of the Arab Universities Union, which includes evaluating the center’s work based on quality assurance and accreditation criteria to enhance academic, organizational, and administrative realities. This is achieved by diagnosing the degree of alignment between prevailing practices at the center and quality and accreditation standards, aiming to embark on building and implementing continuous development plans to meet those standards’ requirements.
