Conferences

As part of its mission to promote scholarly research on Iraq and ancient Mesopotamia, TARII brings together American, Iraqi, and international scholars to present their findings and exchange their ideas.

TARII also welcomes opportunities to cooperate with other institutions in the organizing and sponsoring of these conferences.

Click on a conference to learn more and to watch any available recordings!

the state of heritage preservation practice in iraq

THE CONVENING OF THE INTERNATIONAL GRANTMAKERS IN CULTURAL HERITAGE PRotection (G-CHeP)

G-CHeP and TARII held this convening in partnership with the University of Kurdistan Hewlêr

February 16, 2024 in Erbil, Iraq

The Convening brought together members from the G-CHeP as well as local experts and partners to reflect on the past decade of conservation practice in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region. It was an opportunity to discuss current challenges in heritage protection, regional collaborations as well as new horizons in Iraqi Heritage.

Click the link above for the program.

From ancient to modern: the current state of research on iraq

THE tarii research conference

Conference Co-Sponsored by the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art

November 3 - 4, 2022 in Washington, DC

The Academic Research Institute in Iraq (TARII) welcomes you to the TARII research conference. Scholars and colleagues from across Iraq and internationally discussed the various research being conducted in and on Iraq – from ancient to modern. This conference was held at the Freer Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. in November and was followed by a reception.

Ruling the waves: transnational radio broadcasting in the middle east and the mediterranean from production to reception, 1920-1970

Co-sponsored by TARII, Council of American Overseas Research Centers (CAORC), Roskilde Universitet, German Historical Institute, Danish Academy, and University of Rome Tor Vergata

June 22 - 24, 2022 in Rome, Italy

For most of the 20th century, radio constituted the most widespread means of communications. Connecting people across the globe, it acted as a means of propaganda, a vehicle of dissidence, and a medium of popular culture all at the same time. Yet, its production, its quintessentially transnational character and especially its reception remain largely unexplored. This conference is part of a larger project that seeks to re-examine the history and experience of transnational radio broadcasting by analyzing its production, its reception and its impact in the Middle Eastern and Mediterranean regions between 1920 and 1970, the period when radio was the central medium for transnational propaganda and for the promotion of popular culture.

From ancient to modern: the current state of research on iraq

THE virtual tarii research conference

Conference Co-Sponsored by Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, the Smithsonian's National Museum of Asian Art

October 6 - 8, 2021, held virtually

The Academic Research Institute in Iraq (TARII) conducted the first TARII research conference in 2021 virtually. Scholars and colleagues from across Iraq and internationally discussed the various research being conducted in and on Iraq – from ancient to modern. Due to continued health concerns, the conference was held virtually in October 2021 with recordings made available for free via YouTube.

Protecting Iraq’s Ancient Cultural Heritage

TRAINING, SITE SECURITY, STORAGE AND DOCUMENTATION, OBJECT TRAFFICKING, and more

May 25 and September 2, 2021, held virtually

Continuing with TARII’s cultural heritage preservation series, TARII welcomed a group of scholars to discuss the protection and preservation of Iraq’s ancient cultural heritage over two parts. The first discussion was moderated by Dr. Jean Evans with remarks given by Dr. Patty Gerstenblith, Dr. Katharyn Hanson, and Riyadh Hatem Mohammed. The second discussion was moderated by Dr. Zaid Alrawi, who was joined by Dr. Zainab Bahrani, Dr. Lanah Haddad, Dr. Abdulameer Al-Hamdani, Dr. Mohammad Sabri, and Ali Ubaid. They discussed the current state of training, site security, museum storage and documentation, and object trafficking; and the role of the international community.

Protecting Iraq's Modern Cultural Heritage: Modern Art, Historic Architecture, and Documentary Collections

March 3, 2021, held virtually

Continuing with the series TARII began in late 2020, this discussion was held on the protection and preservation of Iraq’s modern cultural heritage, which was moderated by Dr. Peter Wien, TARII’s President. We were pleased to welcome Maysoon Al-Damluji, Dr. Geraldine Chatelard, Dr. Saad Eskander, Dr. Caecilia Pieri, and Dr. Nada Shabout to this group discussion.

Women and the iraqi uprising

Co-Sponsored by Cambridge University Press

January 28, 2021, held virtually

Following the release of Dr. Zahra Ali’s book, “Women and Gender in Iraq: Between Nation-Building and Fragmentation”, Dr. Ali, Dr. Nadje Al-Ali, and Dr. Yasmin Chilmeran discussed the role that women, feminist discourses, and gender norms have had on the Iraqi uprising. The discussion was led and moderated by Dr. Dina Khoury.

a conversation about iraq’s cultural heritage

December 8, 2020, held virtually

TARII hosted a conversation about Iraq’s cultural heritage moderated by Dr. Katharyn Hanson, a Cultural Heritage Preservation Scholar at the Smithsonian’s Museum Conservation Institute. The panelists Maysoon Al-Damluji, Dr. Abdulameer Al-Hamdani, Dr. Patty Gerstenblith, and Dr. Nada Shabout discussed: key issues for Iraq’s cultural heritage today, the progression of cultural heritage research, the role of the international community, trafficking of cultural heritage objects and artifacts, preservation of modern art and historic architecture, and the effects of the global pandemic

TRIBES AND TRIBALISM: (RE-)ASSESSING SOCIETY IN THE MIDDLE EAST AND HOW WE TALK ABOUT IT

Conference Co-Sponsored by TARII, the University of Maryland, and the American Institute of Yemeni Studies (AIYS)

May 2-3, 2019 at the University of Maryland College Park

This two-day conference addressed a range of subjects from disciplines including history, anthropology, literature and cultural studies, as well as political science that investigate the diversity of social, cultural, economic and political locations of tribal life, as well as evocations, and interpretations of tribalism in the Middle East in past and present.

BUILDING SUSTAINABLE PEACE IN IRAQ: THE ROLE OF TRANSITIONAL JUSTICE AND POST-CONFLICT PEACE-BUILDING

Conference Co-Sponsored by TARII and Boston University’s Frederick S. Pardee School of Global Studies

April 12, 2019 at the University of Boston

One of the most costly and aggressive interventions in American history, the invasion and occupation of Iraq in 2003 ushered in an era of state collapse, insecurity, ethno-religious violence, and new forms of authoritarianism culminating in the rise of ISIL in 2014. Current narratives of Iraq have eschewed tackling questions of transitional justice and post-conflict peace building. This workshop brought together leading experts on Iraq to explore how Iraqi state and society relations can benefit from peace-building paradigms as mechanisms for addressing stalled democratization.

Narratives of Co-existence and Pluralism in Northern Iraq

Co-Sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution

November 17, 2017 at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC

Vulnerable Heritage: Planning Responses in iraq and beyond

Co-Sponsored by the Smithsonian Institution, The Academic Research Institute in Iraq (TARII), and the Penn Cultural Heritage Center at the University of Pennsylvania Museum (PennCHC)

September 9, 2015 at the Smithsonian in Washington, DC

This workshop initiated a dialogue on the development of an integrative operational response framework and road map for dealing with increasingly global and widespread damage. It explored areas to streamline and leverage resources to protect cultural heritage in areas of crisis. The discussion also aimed to identify established funding mechanisms that allow for systematic and integrated responses within long-term, strategic goals rather than short-term, reactive responses.

Baghdad: Cradle of Culture & Civilization, 1013–2013

Conference Co-Organized by The Academic Research Institute in Iraq (TARII) and the Iraqi Cultural Center (ICC)

November 15-16, 2013 in Washington, DC

The conference recognized the designation of Baghdad as the Arab Capital of Culture for 2013. It included Baghdad in 1013, for historical perspective. The first day of the conference explored the politics and society of medieval and modern Baghdad. The second day was devoted to the intellectual and cultural life in the city in the two time periods.