The Department of Chemistry at the College of Education for Pure Sciences (Ibn al-Haytham) held a training workshop titled “Education, Awareness, and Response Mechanisms for Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) Incidents,” as part of its scientific efforts to enhance security and scientific awareness among faculty and students.
Lectures at the workshop were delivered by Brigadier General Ali Shalal Jassim, Director of the Risk Prevention Directorate at the Iraqi National Security Agency, and Prof. Ammar Jassim Mohammed, Chair of the CBRN Committee at the college from the Department of Chemistry, who presented a comprehensive overview covering the most important aspects of managing this type of incident.
The workshop included an introduction to the tasks and achievements of CBRN incident response teams, as well as a review of the most significant emerging and ongoing challenges to the security of these materials from an intelligence perspective, highlighting the role of the National Security Agency in achieving a state of safety in handling chemical, biological, and radiological materials, enhancing their protection, and preventing their exploitation by terrorist groups or those who threaten the country’s security.
The speakers also addressed chemical, biological, and radiological incidents, whether intentional or unintentional, presenting real-world examples from around the globe, outlining their human and economic impacts, and emphasizing the importance of advance preparedness and early detection.
At the conclusion of the workshop, the need to foster a culture of awareness and readiness to address non-traditional threats was emphasized, as well as the development of mechanisms for joint action among relevant institutions to contribute to the protection of society and the maintenance of the country’s security and stability.
