Dr Wissam S. al-Hashimi was an Iraq

Iraq

Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

i geologist

Geology

Geology is the science comprising the study of solid Earth, the rocks of which it is composed, and the processes by which it evolves. Geology gives insight into the history of the Earth, as it provides the primary evidence for plate tectonics, the evolutionary history of life, and past climates...

 born in Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

. In 2001 he was elected president of the Geological Society of Iraq and was president of the Union of Arab Geologists. From 1996 to 2002 he was vice president of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)

International Union of Geological Sciences

The International Union of Geological Sciences is an international non-governmental organization devoted to international cooperation in the field of geology.-About:...

. He was killed in late August or early September 2004.

Academic career

Wissam al-Hashimi received his B.Sc. degree in geology-physics from Baghdad University in 1965 and carried out his military service obligations. In 1967 he was employed as a demonstrator (tutor) in the University of Mosul

University of Mosul

The University of Mosul is a public university located in Mosul, Iraq. It is one of the largest educational and research centers in the Middle East.- Academic program :...

. He did his Ph.D.

Doctor of Philosophy

Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...

 at the University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne from 1968 to 1972, working on the sedimentology

Sedimentology

Sedimentology encompasses the study of modern sediments such as sand, mud , and clay, and the processes that result in their deposition. Sedimentologists apply their understanding of modern processes to interpret geologic history through observations of sedimentary rocks and sedimentary...

 and dolomitization

Dolomitization

Dolomitization is a process by which dolomite is formed when magnesium ions replace calcium ions in calcite. It is common for this alteration into dolomite to take place due to evaporation of water in the sabkha area. Dolomitization involves substantial amount of recrystallization...

 of the limestone

Limestone

Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....

 member of the Carboniferous Middle Limestone Group of Northumberland

Northumberland

Northumberland is the northernmost ceremonial county and a unitary district in North East England. For Eurostat purposes Northumberland is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three boroughs or unitary districts that comprise the "Northumberland and Tyne and Wear" NUTS 2 region...

, northeast England

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

.

He returned to Baghdad

Baghdad

Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...

 and held a number of positions in the Iraqi government, the Iraqi National Oil Company, and the Iraq Ministry of Oil. He was appointed the head of the Arab Geologist Association's advisory committee from 1975, just after this was formed, until 1998. He was elected as secretary general 1973 and president 2001 of the Geological Society of Iraq. He was elected to the Council of the International Association of Sedimentologists, serving from 1982-1990. He was elected as vice-president of the International Union of Geological Sciences (IUGS)

International Union of Geological Sciences

The International Union of Geological Sciences is an international non-governmental organization devoted to international cooperation in the field of geology.-About:...

 in 1996.

Wissam al-Hashimi wrote many scientific papers, in both Arabic

Arabic language

Arabic is a name applied to the descendants of the Classical Arabic language of the 6th century AD, used most prominently in the Quran, the Islamic Holy Book...

 and English

English language

English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...

, on carbonate sedimentology and diagenesis

Diagenesis

In geology and oceanography, diagenesis is any chemical, physical, or biological change undergone by a sediment after its initial deposition and during and after its lithification, exclusive of surface alteration and metamorphism. These changes happen at relatively low temperatures and pressures...

, petrology

Petrology

Petrology is the branch of geology that studies rocks, and the conditions in which rocks form....

, mineralogy

Mineralogy

Mineralogy is the study of chemistry, crystal structure, and physical properties of minerals. Specific studies within mineralogy include the processes of mineral origin and formation, classification of minerals, their geographical distribution, as well as their utilization.-History:Early writing...

, geoarchaeology

Geoarchaeology

Geoarchaeology is a multi-disciplinary approach which uses the techniques and subject matter of geography, geology and other Earth sciences to examine topics which inform archaeological knowledge and thought...

, engineering geology

Engineering geology

Engineering geology is the application of the geologic sciences to engineering practice for the purpose of assuring that the geologic factors affecting the location, design, construction, operation and maintenance of engineering works are recognized and adequately provided for...

, underground storage, industrial rocks and minerals, and hydrology

Hydrology

Hydrology is the study of the movement, distribution, and quality of water on Earth and other planets, including the hydrologic cycle, water resources and environmental watershed sustainability...

. He regularly wrote analytical articles which were published in Iraqi newspapers covering various political, oil and water issues in the Middle East and the Arab world.

Circumstances of death

According to Wissam al-Hashimi's daughter Tara,

He was kidnapped early in the morning on the August 24, 2004 while going to work, his recent papers were stolen. A ransom was given but unfortunately he was shot twice in the head and died. ... As his ID was taken from him it took us about 2 weeks to find his body in one of Baghdad's hospitals.

External links

• http://www.brusselstribunal.org/Academics.htm