USAID-Iraq HEAD

Higher Education and Development for Archaeology and Environmental Health Research
SUNY at Stony Brook

Monthly Report: June, 2004

Objective 1: Management and Administration

A.5 Activity: Reporting and Evaluation

• SBU submitted its first semi-annual program report on 7-Jul-04.

Objective 2: Archaeology Project

2.2 Activity: Equipment and Facilities Rehabilitation

Security gates now control access to the Archaeology Department Library at Baghdad University. Reading tables, computer benches, and climate control equip the new reading room for serious study. Freshly-installed shelving ready to receive cleaned, re-bound and catalogued books and periodicals.

• Task A: Upgrade Dept. of Archaeology Facilities, Baghdad. On 30 Jun 04, a twelve-person all-Iraqi team hired by Neareast Resources completed refitting and the library stacks, library reading room, four classrooms, seven faculty and staff offices, and a computer lab in the department of Archaeology at Baghdad University. The renovations included:
• Electrical re-wiring and installing a backup generator for emergency power
• furnishing and air conditioning the library with shelving for up to 5,000 books and current periodicals;
• refitting and air conditioning an outside corridor as a library reading room
• refitting an abandoned WC as a server room
• refitting the old plaster cast lab to accommodate a computer lab
• installing safety doors, fire extinguishers, and physical security in labs and library areas
• building computer benches and setting up reading tables, desks, and chairs for up to 35 staff and patrons

IT engineer wiring Baghdad University Archaeology Library Reading Room for internet access. Outside, a backup generator ensures departmental IT system integrity during power outages.

• Task B: Establish IT capacity to support libraries, teaching and research, Baghdad. On 30 Jun 04, Neareast also completed telecommunications installation and IT installation prep for seven faculty and staff offices, the library, reading room, and computer lab, including:
• Installing the PBX (telephone exchange), telephone wiring, and telephones for seven faculty and staff offices, the library, and the computer lab
• Installing a router, patch panels, cabinet, UPS, and 24-port switches and wiring for 50 high-speed internet connections
• Ordering and receiving VSAT satellite equipment, now being roof-mounted for high-speed internet access
• Ordering and receiving a server, 27 computers, 16 printers, scanners, fax machines, and photocopiers, now being installed
• Ordering and receiving at Stony Brook U.  a Tech Soup donation of MS Windows XP enterprise server and desktop OS, MS Office Pro, and Symantec network and workstation virus protection software licenses, now enroute for installation
• C. Task: Establish IT capacity to support libraries, teaching and research, Mosul. On joint inspection with university facilities engineers of the archaeology/Assyriology departments at Mosul University, the university decided to condemn the building. The faculty will be moved to an as-yet-to-be-determined new location in October, 2004. Pending that relocation decision, Neareast Resources has halted work at Mosul. It may be possible to set up an interim wireless network in the old building, then relocate it to the new in the Fall. COP Donny George and Neareast Resources are scheduled to meet with Mosul U. facilities representatives later this week to assess options and decide a solution. Meanwhile, we received a Tech Soup donation of Windows XP, MS Office Pro, and Symantec network and workstation virus protection software licenses for the computers to be installed.

2.3 Activity: Instruction in Iraq; Task A: Summer Workshops

·         Characterized by engaged, lively discussion, Session I of the ten-week summer workshop began on schedule June 19. Classes are attended by 49 Iraqi faculty and graduate students from Mosul, Baghdad and Qadasiyah Universities and 6 senior members of Iraq’s Department of Antiquities. Highlights include:

Prof. Alan Walmsley, University of Copenhagen, lectures on Islamic Archaeology

·         Participants attend 10 of 18 afternoon sessions each week, held for 2 hours per day, 3 days per week. Topics include demonstrating materials on the internet, introductions to software programs useful in archaeological research, reading new cuneiform texts, and learning new archaeology technologies. 22 computers are available for instruction for these sessions.

Director Oysten LaBianca (center steps, with grey hat) leads a field trip to Tell Hesban, Jordan, showing how the portions of the site have been reconstructed and rendered accessible to tourists.

Dr. Fawzi al-Kreyshah, Director-General of Antiquities in Jordan, lectures a packed hall flanking classroom computers.

• The first of these, held on June 24, featured lectures by Dr. Fawzi al-Kreyshah, the Director-General of Antiquities in Jordan, Dr. Ali Yasin of Mosul University, and Dr. Salima Abeil of Baghdad University. In addition to the Iraqi participants, this was attended by both Jordanian and foreign archaeologists and was followed by a reception at ACOR.
• Participants have spent most of their free time in the ACOR library, acquainting themselves with recent scholarship in their areas of interest and using online journal/bibliography search services JSTOR, Anthropology Plus, and RLG, which all provided us with trial memberships in Jordan for the period of the workshops.

2.4 Activity: Intensive M.A. Program in Archaeology

• The four students from Baghdad University who we accepted into Stony Brook University’s MA Program in Mesopotamian Archaeology arrived in Amman en route to New York. Because their CPA travel documents became invalid on transfer of power to the Iraq Interim Government, they were required to leave Baghdad before June 28th. All four profited greatly from their pre-departure intensive English instruction, and have been granted US visas. They will fly from Amman to New York on July 9th and begin their summer program on July 12.
• The four Mosul candidates, however, did not obtain travel documents in time to obtain visas for the summer ESL sessions at SBU. As it was clear that they would not be sufficiently prepared to enter the Fall M.A. program without this training, we elected to cancel their admission to the program for this year. Instead, we have arranged to provide intensive English instruction to all archaeology candidates at Mosul U., with the aim of strengthening the application pool next year.

4.5.1 Activity: Library, Archaeology; Task B: Purchase and Ship Books

Objective 3: Environmental Health Project

3.2.2  Staff Meeting/US

• Dr. Wajdy Hailoo, Dr. Shawky Marqus and Dr. Martin Schoonen met on June 25, 2004 to discuss the facilitation of the purchase of the center laboratory equipment and the following topics:
• The possibility of sending in advance of the final shipment some time critical equipment for EHERC lab
• Adding scientific environmental books suggested by Dr. Schoonen to other books which were already selected in the field of environmental health
• The training course for the 30 or more Iraqi physicians in early September 2004
• The pending Environmental Conference; the participants, committees and other administrative aspects of conference.
• Dr. Hailoo met on June 30th with Paul Edelson, Dean, and Marvin Glockner, Associate Dean, School of Professional Development
• And discussed accreditation of two week course to be given to the 30 or more Iraqi physicians in early September 2004.
• Dr. Marqus and Spencer Marsh, PhD met and discussed ways and the means to facilitate receiving books from the publishers so as to be ready as soon as possible to ship.  On July 1, 2004 another meeting was held to finalize the whole issue.  Dr. Marsh will follow-up With the publishers.

3.3.1. B.   Establishment of three (3) national EHERC

• The three Coordinators, upon their return to Iraq from Stony Brook University started follow-up work on renovation and space for the 3 Centers.
• The three Coordinators sent letters of acknowledgement to Program Director, Wajdy Hailoo, MD about orientation training programs they received at Stony Brook University. (See attachment 1)
• The three Coordinators met with responsible key persons involved in EHERC works and they decided many steps to facilitate the completion of the three EHERC.

.

EHERC Basrah, with ongoing renovations

3.3.2. A.D.6  Assignment of IT Person

• Screening and reviewing applicants resulted in the hire of an information technology  (IT) staff member.  Mr. Charles Salvia began working part time on 6/14/04.

3.4.3  Orientation and Training for Centers’ Leadership and Staff

• On May 27 through May 30, 2004 the 3 Coordinators and COP received orientation and training in Detroit, Michigan, USA to be exposed to different environmental health programs and activities and returned to Stony Brook University on the 1st of June where they continued with the rest of their activities in SBU programs, Hosted by ACCESS Community Health and Research Center, Dearborn, MI
• The objectives of this program were to study alternative Environmental Health programs, receive an orientation to Public Health Researches at ACCESS community health and research center, and obtain exposure to a different environment ethnic groups.

Program of Activities

Day/Date	Time	Activity	Presenter
27-May		Arrival at Detroit Airport / Welcoming	Hikmet Jamil, MD, Ph.D., FFOM.I
28-May	9:00-10:00am	Welcome/ Orientation about Public Health Researches at ACCESS Community Health and Research Center	Hikmet Jamil, MD, Ph.D., FFOM.I
	10:00-11:00am	Meeting with the team of environmental division to discuss different environmental program which lead to improve the environment at Southeast Michigan and the type of researches which the division conduct now.	Kathryn Savoie, Ph.D./ ./ Director of Environmental Program
	11:00-12:00pm	Meeting with environmental outreach specialist which they involve in a project entitle “Health Assessment of Iraqi Americans Residing in Southeast Michigan who were present in war 1991(Environmental effect)	Adnan Hammad, Ph.D. and Hikmet Jamil , MD, Ph.D., FFOM.I
	12:00-2:30pm	Tour to the Southeast Michigan / Industrial area with obvious pollutant	Kathryn Savoie, Ph.D./ Director of Environmental Program
	3:00-4:00pm	ACCESS / Welcome/ Orientation  then presentation on environmental grand research / A Joint research between University of Michigan / School of Public Health / Department of Environment and ACCESS / Department of Environment and the role of ACCESS in improvement of environment at Southeast MI and type of  activities ACCESS provide to the community.	Adnan Hammad, Ph.D. / Director ACCESS Community Health and Research Center
	4:00-5:00pm	Tour in ACCESS Community Health & Research Center / Public Health section, Community Clinic, Psychosocial Rehabilitation Center, Social Services and employment department.	Dr. Farid Shamo, MD & Wisam Salman , MD
29-May	10:004:00pm	Tour in Detroit , Southfield and West Bloomfield / Sites of different environment range from bad – good - very good	Hikmet Jamil, MD, Ph.D., FFOM.I
30-May	10:00-1:00pm	Tour in Dearborn / Exposure  to environment of different ethnicity group	Hikmet Jamil, MD, Ph.D., FFOM.I
31-May	8:00-10:00am	Travel to Ann Arbor  / University of Michigan	Hikmet Jamil, MD, Ph.D., FFOM.I
	10:00-11:00pm	Welcome / Environmental Research/ Community Based Research Presentation / Different   Environmental  Research conducted among different ethnicity groups	Professor Jerome Nriagu, Ph.D., DSC /
	11:00-11:30	Meeting with the faculty and department chair at Department of Environment / University of Michigan /Ann Arbor to discuss Environmental activities in the area	Professor Mark Wilson, PhD Director, Global Health Program
	11:30-1:00pm	Tour to laboratories facilities at  Environmental  Health Science Department, School of Public Health / University of Michigan / Ann Arbor, MI	Mary Jonhson (Ph.D. Candidate) & Lauren Zajac (MSc Candidate).
	1:00-2:00pm	Lunch
	2:00-4:00pm	Tour in Ann Arbor City / Clean Environment	Hikmet Jamil, MD, Ph.D., FFOM.O
1-June	7:30-9:00 pm	Morning Report / OEM Residents and Faculty / Presentation of cases related to environmental exposure (e.g. CO , Epoxy Resins)	Ifeyinwa Ilechukwu, MD , Stephen Shaya, MD and Saima Siddiqui, MD WSU / Division of OEM
	9:00-10:30 am	Way of collaboration between OEM Residency Program and different corporation	Faculty of OEM / WSU
	10:30-11:30am	Inspection and implementation of tools to measures environmental pollutions / outside and inside pollutions	Roger Wabeke / Adjunct faculty / Industrial hygiene specialist
	11:30-12:30	Lunch
	1:00-1:30 pm	Welcome to the Department of Occupational & Environmental Health Science at WSU / Apple Baum College	Departmental chair / Professor Peter D. Frade, Ph.D. and Professor David Bassett / Chair of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences
	1:30-2:00 pm	Noise Research activities at Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Science at the Apple Baum College	Patricia A. Brogan , PhD /Associate Professor, Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences,
	2:00-2:30 pm	Environmental Health Problem in Detroit area	Professor. Peter O. Warner, PhD / Professor, Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences / former director of EPI at Michigan
	2:30-3:00 pm	Environmental Toxicology Activity at the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Science at the Apple Baum College	Professor Deepak K. Bhalla, PhD / Professor, Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences
	3:00-5:00 pm	Tour to laboratories / Noise / Environmental Toxicology / Exposure of Animal to Environmental Triggers at the Apple Baum College	Professor David Basett / Chair of the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health Sciences
	7:00 pm	Leave to Detroit Airport	Hikmet Jamil, MD, Ph.D., FFOM.I

3.4.3. C.  Lab Technicians and Hygienists (3)

• The three Coordinators have begun the search for a Lab Supervisor for each Center as per the job description.
• The Lab Technicians and Hygienists will be hired after the placement of the Lab Supervisor.

3.4.7  Mini-Grants

• The three EHERC Centers have already communicated details about the mini-grants and ministries concerned. They are currently collecting applications.
• Set top priorities to go through applications to select groups of researchers and scientists who will fulfill requirements of the mini-grant protocol.
• At the end of July the proposal will be sent to Stony Brook University for review.
• The mini-grant committee at SBU will join to decide who will be eligible to receive those grants. Daily communication by email and telephone will continue with the Coordinators.

Library Resource Development

• Regarding the shipment of books to the three Centers:

a.         A meeting attended by Wajdy Hailoo and Shawky Marqus on June 17, 2004 with the shipment carriers was held to discuss the ways and means to transport the books to the Centers in a couple of weeks. 

b.         An account was established for shipment purposes.

c.         Dr. Hailoo inspected the warehouse on June 28, 2004 and the shipment of 51 boxes of donated books has begun on July 1, 2004.

• Books on environmental and public health have been selected.  Lists have been submitted to the publishers through the Stony Brook University Medical Center Library Director, Spencer Marsh.  The books will be dispatched to the warehouse where they will be shipped to the three Centers in Iraq.

this site uses css and is best viewed with ie5+/netscape6+/opera5+/mozilla