Empower Program

Empower

Empower: Iraqi Bio-Risk Management Program promotes a foundation of knowledge within Iraqi students in basic principles of bio-threat reduction to better prepare them to conduct their own scientific research through safe and secure methods. The impact and implications of this capacity building are carried back to Iraq, as students return home upon completion of their TAMU degrees. Africa.

Collage of workshop pictures1st Biorisk Management Workshop: On July 26-28, 2017, Texas A&M graduate students from Iraq had the unique opportunity to learn about biosafety and biosecurity with experts from the School of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences (VMBS), Texas A&M Global One Health, and the VMBS’s Department of Veterinary Pathobiology (VTPB), in partnership with Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico. The three-day activity included 30 Iraqi biological science and engineering graduate students (see chart below for academic majors) as well as additional faculty, staff, and external experts. Members of the lead team are Dr. Angela Arenas, VTPB assistant professor; Dr. Rosina “Tammi” Krecek, research professor of Global One Health; and Dr. Gerald Parker, associate dean of Global One Health.

Impact since workshop: This community of Texas A&M Iraqi students has welcomed like-minded students, faculty and staff to join in various events. This includes communicating frequently and sharing information about seminars, lectures, workshops, and social events of interest.

Impact Statement: “Empower/Biorisk Management Training Program was offered to Iraqi graduate students at the Texas A&M VMBS, College Station, Texas, USA. This program was conducted under the supervision of veterinarians and Global One Health professionals, who provided information that will contribute to the improvement of safety and welfare, as well as scientific development, in Iraq. It was one of the best workshops that I have attended because we were trained on the fundamentals of biosafety, biosecurity, and risk assessment. The knowledge and skills acquired from this training will be shared with students and colleagues in Iraq. On behalf of all Iraqi graduate students at Texas A&M, we express our sincere gratitude to all organizers and professionals at the VMBS and Sandia National Laboratories who made this workshop possible.” ~ Workshop Participant

Iraqi map

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