From 2009 to 2015, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) funded the Geoscience Resources Iraq (GRI) project with a total of almost 2 million euros. The aim of the project was to support universities in Iraq in rebuilding geoscience teaching and research.
As part of GRI, which was initiated and led by Prof. Merkel from the Geological Institute at TU Bergakademie Freiberg, a Scientific Diving Centre was set up at the Marine Science Centre at Basrah University in southern Iraq between 2011 and 2015. Under the direction of Dr Pohl, Iraqi students and scientists were trained in diving and scientific work under water over a period of five years.
The practical part of the training took place in the Persian Gulf at the mouth of the Shat-El Arab (confluence of the Euphrates and Tigris rivers) and in Sawa Lake (approx. 280 kilometres south-east of Baghdad). Sawa Lake is an endorheic lake in the desert in a karst structure that is only fed by groundwater.
Students from the SDC Freiberg took part in several training and research campaigns in the two aforementioned bodies of water in order to carry out scientific investigations as part of their Bachelor's and Master's theses.
| time | duration | location | aim |
|---|---|---|---|
| 12/2015 | 2 Wochen | Sawa Lake | research |
| 12/2014 | 2 Wochen | Sawa Lake | research |
| 08/2014 | 3 Wochen | Persischer Golf & Sawa Lake | education |
| 06/2014 | 3 Wochen | Persischer Golf & Sawa Lake | education & research |
| 10/2013 | 4 Wochen | Persischer Golf | education |
| 06/2013 | 2 Wochen | Persischer Golf & Sawa Lake | education & research |
| 2012 | 6 Wochen | Basrah | education |
| 2011 | 2 Wochen | Vorbereitung | education |
Sensational find: Freiberg researchers discover tropical coral reef in Iraq
Researchers from TU Bergakademie Freiberg have discovered a 28 square kilometre living coral reef off the Iraqi coast. During scientific diving expeditions, the researchers came across the unknown reef in the Arabian Gulf in the Shatt Al Arabe estuary (Euphrates and Tigris) by chance. Until now, it was considered unlikely that corals could colonise the extreme conditions of this marine region. The researchers report on their findings in the current issue of the journal Scientific Reports (Nature Publishing Group).
Further information can be found in the TU Bergakademie press release. Scientific findings have also been published as a paper in the renowned scientific journal Nature Geoscience. Press releases can also be found at