NISA Award for Outstanding Iraqi Research – 2020 Award Winners

Vision: to recognise outstanding Iraqi scientific research.

Objective: the award rewards excellence in scientific research in Iraq and raises the spirit of competition and innovation. It is an independent prize awarded each year to researchers and innovators for contributions with a clear impact on enriching scientific and academic life in Iraq, judged against scientific and objective criteria.

More than 350 scientific papers published in 2020 were submitted to the network across the humanities, medical, engineering, agricultural and pure sciences. Papers were selected on the quality and originality of the research, its practical or theoretical value and importance to Iraq, its creativity and scientific impact, and the standing and impact factor of the journal. Many strong submissions did not meet the conditions — chiefly that the research must be conducted substantially inside Iraq, and not be conference proceedings or extracts from degrees pursued abroad; a large number of papers co-authored with researchers at foreign universities were considered under the international collaborative award.

Best Paper in Medical and Biomedical Science (shared)

Paper 1: Hexokinase inhibition using D-Mannoheptulose enhances oncolytic Newcastle disease virus mediated killing of breast cancer cells. Cancer Cell Int. 20:420 — Ahmed Al-Ziaydi (Al-Qadisiyah University), Ahmed Al-Shammari (Al-Mustansiriyah University), Mohammed I. Hamzah (Al-Nahrain University), Haider Sabah Kadhim (Al-Nahrain University), Majid Sakhi Jabir (University of Technology)

Paper 2: Pericardial fat volume and coronary atherosclerotic markers among body mass index groups. Clinical Cardiology 43: 993–998 — Mohammed Bader Hassan (Al-Iraqia University), Hussein Nafakhi (University of Kufa), Abdulameer A. Al-Mosawi (University of Kufa)

Best Paper in Engineering and Technology

Novel mixed solution of ethanol/MACl for improving the crystallinity of air-processed triple cation perovskite solar cells. Solar Energy 207, 1240–1246 — Duha S. Ahmed (University of Technology), Mustafa K.A. Mohammed (Dijlah University College)

Best Paper in Agricultural Science and Animal and Plant Resources

Behavior of soil erodibility parameters due to biological soil crusts using jet erosion tests. Ecological Engineering 153, 105903 — Zahraa E. Hashim, Abdul-Sahib T. Al-Madhhachi, Lubna A. Alzubaidi (Al-Mustansiriyah University)

Best Paper in Science

Desalination of actual wetland saline water associated with biotreatment of real sewage and bioenergy production in microbial desalination cell. Separation and Purification Technology 250, 117110 — Havan H. Salman (Ministry of Water Resources), Zainab Z. Ismail (University of Baghdad)

Best Collaborative Paper (shared)

Paper 1: Solidification enhancement with multiple PCMs, cascaded metal foam and nanoparticles in the shell-and-tube energy storage system. Applied Energy, 113993 — Jasim M. Mahdi (University of Baghdad), Hayder I. Mohammed (University of Garmian), Emad T. Hashim (University of Baghdad), Pouyan Talebizadehsardari (University of Nottingham), Emmanuel C. Nsofor (Southern Illinois University)

Paper 2: Modelling of hydrogen sulfide fate and emissions in extended aeration sewage treatment plant using TOXCHEM simulations. Scientific Reports 10:22209 — Haider M. Zwain (Al-Qasim Green University), Basim K. Nile (University of Kerbala), Ahmed M. Faris (Kerbala Sewerage Directorate), Mohammadtaghi Vakili (Yangtze University), Irvan Dahlan (Universiti Sains Malaysia)

Best Paper in Humanities and Social Sciences

Magical Realism, the Oracular, Mysticism and Belief Legacy in Ahmed Saadawi's Frankenstein in Baghdad. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction 61, 4, 453–467 — Jinan F. B. Al-Hajaj (University of Basrah)

Congratulations to the winners, and our thanks to all who took part.