EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM 2009 (IRAQ)

UNCLAS BAGHDAD 001110

SIPDIS

STATE PASS TO OES/STC EILEEN KANG AND ECA RICK RUTH, JOHN RUSSELL
AND AMY GANSEL

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OEXC SCUL SENV TSPL TBIO AMGT EAGR ENRG ECON
APER, IZ
SUBJECT: EMBASSY SCIENCE FELLOWS PROGRAM 2009 (IRAQ)

Ref: State 010843


1. (U) The Embassy Science Fellows Program offers an important
opportunity to bring US government experts to Iraq, where they would
be assigned to teach one- to three-month courses in the area of
their expertise within the field of cultural heritage at the newly
established National Training Institute for the Preservation of
Iraqi Cultural Heritage in Erbil, (Kurdistan) Iraq.


2. (U) In accordance with the Strategic Framework Agreement the
overarching goal of the Institute is to enhance the capabilities of
the Iraq State Board of Antiquities and Heritage (SBAH) as a
national heritage organization and to develop sustainable
professional partnerships between the SBAH and the collaborating
international organizations. Established with grant funding from US
Embassy Baghdad, the Institute is presently operated under the
professional guidance of the Walters Art Museum, the Winterthur
Museum, the University of Delaware Art Conservation Department, the
US National Park Service, and SBAH. By the end of the two-year
grant period, in January 2011, the Institute will be maintained and
operated fully by SBAH.


3. (U) Post seeks one or more scientific experts in the fields of
museum development, conservation, and/or archaeology to serve as
visiting faculty in Erbil for periods of one to three months each.
The dates are flexible and will be determined in accordance with the
academic schedule of the Institute. Successful candidates must have
professional museum and/or teaching experience. In addition,
familiarity with Middle Eastern culture and Arabic or Kurdish
language skills are a plus. A security clearance is not required.
If a fellow stays 59 days or longer, a medical clearance will be
necessary.


4. (U) The specific project would entail teaching professional
development classes of 6 to 20 adult students on leave from their
positions within the SBAH. Classes will be taught in English with
translation provided as needed. Fully equipped modern laboratories
and classrooms will be available for use. Students and faculty will
have access to computers, high-speed internet, and professional
software during and outside of class time.


5. (U) Museum development, collection conservation, and archaeology
are the three general types of courses that would benefit the
Institute. Museum development courses might specifically address
object documentation and electronic cataloguing; proper display and
storage of museum collections; and emergency recovery and risk
management. Collection conservation courses could address preventive
care, stabilization, and treatment techniques for museum objects;
the philosophy and ethics of conservation and preservation; and
relevant science and analytical methods. Archaeology courses could
address archaeological methods and theory, survey techniques, ground
and remote sensing, and site protection and stabilization. Fellows
may teach general courses or focus on an area of their specific
expertise, such as museum storage systems, the conservation of metal
objects, or archaeological survey.


6. (U) Fellows from any agency are welcome, although the Smithsonian
Institution would offer expertise that most closely matches the
needs of the National Training Institute for the Preservation of
Iraqi Cultural Heritage. In particular, the following Smithsonian
experts might be considered: Harriet Beaubien, Museum Conservation
Institute (archaeological conservation); Chris Cole, National Air
and Space Museum (conservation science); Jenifer Bosworth, Freer
Qand Space Museum (conservation science); Jenifer Bosworth, Freer
Gallery of Art (object conservation); Greta Hansen, National Museum
of Natural History (collections management and object conservation);
Carol Grissom, Museum Conservation Institute (object conservation
and mounts); Paul Jett, Freer Gallery of Art (object conservation,
especially metals); Ellen Salzman Chase, Freer Gallery of Art
(object conservation, especially ceramics); Marian Kaminitz, NMAI
(ethnographic object conservation); Emily Kaplan, NMAI
(archaeological materials); Susan Heald, NMAI (textile
conservation).


7. (U) The Embassy Science Fellow will be provided office space in
the Public Affairs Section of the Embassy. In country travel will be
through normal embassy operations, currently helicopter and ground
movements. While in Baghdad housing will be a shared two-bedroom
apartment. While in Erbil, housing will be a room in a shared
house. Visitors must adhere to all established security guidelines
while in country.


8. (U) The Regional Security Office at Embassy Baghdad concurs with
this request, as long as RSO resources are available and the
security environment permits the particular activity. The Embassy
Science Fellow will not/not work with classified material or in a
classified environment so no security clearance is necessary.


9. (U) Diane Siebrandt, Cultural Heritage Liaison Officer; Email:
siebrandtdc@state.gov. Phone contact 1-240-553-0581 Ext: 2588 or
(964) 770 443 0936 or (964) 790 132 0209.

HILL