Corine Wegener
Smithsonian Institution, Conservation, Department Member
Research Interests: History, Archaeology, Near Eastern Archaeology, Near Eastern Studies, Cultural Heritage, and 12 moreDisaster Studies, Disaster risk management, Political Science, Empowerment, Safeguarding, Disaster Management, Ancient Near East, Cultural Heritage Management, Ancient Near East (Archaeology), History and Archaeology of the Ancient Near East, Disaster risk reduction, and Disaster Risk Assessment
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Active since 2009, the Iraqi Institute for the Conservation of Antiquities and Heritage in Erbil, Iraq is a unique, global collaboration that trains Iraqi cultural heritage specialists in international-standard heritage conservation... more
Active since 2009, the Iraqi Institute for the Conservation of Antiquities and Heritage in Erbil, Iraq is a unique, global collaboration that trains Iraqi cultural heritage specialists in international-standard heritage conservation practice. In its earliest years, the Iraqi Institute partnered with American academic institutions to deliver long-form coursework in architectural conservation, collections conservation, and archaeological site preservation. The Institute has also hosted shorter courses offered by other nations and institutions, most notably the Italian Foreign Ministry and the World Monuments Fund. After the spread of ISIS into Iraq in 2014, the Iraqi Institute expanded its mission to include emergency preparedness and disaster response approaches. In 2015, several organizations partnered to deliver a short course in the safeguarding and recovery of heritage in conflict areas. Based on their role in that successful course, the Smithsonian Institution returned to the Ir...
Research Interests:
Research Interests:
Research Interests: History, Biochemistry, Botany, Marine Biology, Zoology, and 24 moreEntomology, Archaeology, Geology, Oceanography, Paleontology, Anthropology, Technology, Plant Ecology, Conservation, Plant Biology, Taxonomy, Culture, Evolution, Floristics, Marine Science, Systematics, Biodiversity, Material Science, Material Culture, Plant Physiology, Classification, Plant sciences, Series, and Atoll
Considerable attention has been given to the ongoing destruction of cultural heritage as part of the current crisis in Syria and Iraq. While many academic responses have started the important work of documenting the extent and scale of... more
Considerable attention has been given to the ongoing destruction of cultural heritage as part of the current crisis in Syria and Iraq. While many academic responses have started the important work of documenting the extent and scale of the damage to cultural sites in both countries, there have been fewer attempts to work within a humanitarian framework in order to support Syrians and Iraqis who are undertaking emergency efforts to protect heritage at risk. This article discusses the strategies employed by the Safeguarding the Heritage of Syria and Iraq (SHOSI) Project to assist in-country professionals and civil society activists in their attempts to protect key heritage sites. The approach combines the empowerment of Syrians and Iraqis in decision-making about their heritage while supporting them with the logistics and resources necessary to carry out emergency efforts. It demonstrates one case study of how on-the-ground protection can be achieved.