From a country ravaged by war to one of the top universities in the world; reflection on my time in Edinburgh.

Embarking on my academic journey at the University of Edinburgh was an immense honour. Recently completing this transformative experience, I had the privilege of learning from esteemed faculty and engaging with a diverse and inspiring community of scholars. Coming from Iraq, a country once ravaged by war, to one of the world's top universities, my adventure was marked by overcoming significant challenges, demonstrating brave resilience, and a continuous commitment to learning.

Living in Edinburgh for a year, I discovered it’s a city with ancient charm and fascinating historical buildings; it also harbours a vibrant community of inspiring individuals from all walks of life and backgrounds. Amidst the busiest times of the semester, there was always something interesting happening right around the corner – I think back to when I bumped into the former Prime Minister of the UK, Gordon Brown, in the corridors of the ECA building just prior to a speaking engagement; or nonchalantly passing by Penn Jillette on Nicolson Street. These encounters taught me that greatness at UoE is not only acknowledged but also encountered in day-to-day life in a community that attracts the best. This was reinforced not only by encounters with those who have reached success, but also with the community of peers and students around at O’Shea, my residence. I will forever treasure the times we spent discussing global and contemporary issues, participating in community events, and the occasional break spent playing music in the community room.

In Edinburgh, I studied advanced sustainable design as it relates to architecture and the built environment; a program that surpassed all expectations. Here I learned to connect the dots, identify root causes, and relate architecture in terms of scientific measurement and a cultural, social, and economic contexts. I spent many days conducting building performance simulations and learning how to use professional industry software. Through this, I developed and engaged with building designs while evaluating their performance, achieving significantly reduced energy consumption and demonstrating zero-carbon targets are achievable. As a consequence, I was able to reduce the negative impact buildings and cities may have on the environment.

However, in my exploration of advanced sustainable design, I acquired not just the skills to design structures but also a proficiency in fostering resilient communities. While undertaking a project to enhance the rural area of Edinburgh, I delved into the impacts of infrastructures, connectivity, the establishment of economic models, and the comprehensive examination of water, food, and energy dynamics. During this project I was especially drawn into alternative farming approaches that embody regenerative principles designing systems that mimics natural patterns to create self-sufficient agriculture ecosystems, emphasizing closed loop systems and minimal external inputs, for instance, synthetic fertilizers and chemical pesticides. This may sound odd for an architect to do but my team and I were exploring the concept of creating self-sufficient communities by designing the necessary infrastructure and sources of energy, which intersects directly with design and thinking about design from a macro level.

As I worked through my program, I reminded time and again that navigating a full-time Master's degree was continuously demanding and quite intense, particularly because I aimed to hold myself to a high standard. I found myself gasping for breath most days, as my program was non-stop, all gas and no brakes – not withstanding English is my fourth language! Nonetheless, despite the challenges, I kept my chin up, dug in, and I not only succeeded but excelled, achieving my set goals and graduated with distinction in the great halls of McEwan.

During my dissertation when I had no lectures, most of the days I was working alone, which could sometimes be lonely – but this also came with an unexpected perk; I could study in silence, within the historic common room at Minto house, unimpeded and uninterrupted as if it was my own personal study hall. In writing my dissertation, I finally had the opportunity to do what I came for, which was contribute to the healing process of my country after so many years of war and destruction. My research established a framework grounded in circular economy and sustainable principles, aimed at guiding post-conflict city reconstructions while respecting the culture, empowering local communities, and minimizing environmental impact.

My research included the analysis of demolished buildings and the possibilities for salvage, reuse, refurbishment and recycling of debris and rubble in residential houses and cultural monuments across Mosul city after the destruction left in war with ISIL. Through understanding the local context and attempting to establish innovative ways to manage rubble and reconstruction process, my research explored ways to reduce waste and energy consumptions while also finding ways to make sense of the atrocities Mosul experienced and including this in the reconstruction process.

This work, though objective in its academic pursuit, carried the weight of personal experience. Having lived through so much destruction, at one point ISIL was not far from my home. As a consequence, the research became more than an intellectual endeavour; it was a journey through the haunting narratives of Iraqi wars and terrible memories of my past and the horrors the people of my country experienced. There were days when reviewing and analysing images of the devastation Mosul experienced where my heart felt heavy with sorrow; seeing again all that was lost can be emotionally taxing, until a certain level of numbness sets in – but these feelings reminded me that my work is important and that we must move forward, heal, and rebuild our cities, country, and communities in a way that prevents such atrocities from recurring. And with that said, I consider myself truly fortunate to be given this opportunity to contribute and give back to my community, knowing that education is unfortunately still a privilege in many parts of the world.

Moving forward, at the end of November, I attended my graduation. Adorned in my black gown and standing in the magnificent McEwan Hall, I felt a profound connection to the brilliant minds that had graced the University of Edinburgh, for instance, Alexander Graham Bell, among others. Realizing that I am now an indelible part of this prestigious institution filled me with an overwhelming sense of pride. Even more, the pride I felt was heightened by the presence of my parents in the audience, who had travelled all the way from Kirkuk to witness this momentous event. As I gazed around the historic hall, seeing my parents and friends smile as they watched from the balcony, I envisioned the footsteps of those who had come before me. This moment not only marked the culmination of my academic journey but also ignited a sense of responsibility to carry forward the legacy of intellectual pursuit fostered by the University of Edinburgh community.

Finally, I will conclude this brief post and say that I will forever carry with me the lessons I learned in Edinburgh and the beautiful memories, forever cherished, of some of the best days of my life in such a wonderful community. I remind myself this is yet just another early chapter in my life, and I’m excited to continue forward, empowered with what I’ve learned thus far while shifting into the next stage of my career. I wish one day that I will return to Edinburgh but until then, I will wander around a wee bit.