Our center, with administrative support, held a workshop on “Mechanisms for Confirming and Recording New Species for Science” on Wednesday, January 29, 2025, as part of its ongoing scientific activities. The workshop was organized by the workshops and seminars committee, led by Assistant Professor Dr. Hana Hani Al-Saffar, who also co-presented with Professor Dr. Razzaq Shaalan augul and Assistant Lecturer Shadha Abdul Latif, both from the Department of Insects and Invertebrates. Assistant Lecturer Ali Kamel Wannas moderated the session.
The workshop emphasized the importance of depositing newly discovered species, both those new to science and those new to the Iraqi collection, in museums. The presenters also highlighted the need for further research in diverse regions of Iraq to potentially uncover additional new species for both Iraq and the scientific community.
The workshop’s objectives were to:
1. Define key concepts: taxonomy, diversity (speciation), nomenclature, original description, and type specimens.
2. Explain the various types of speciation.
3. Outline the steps involved in describing a new taxon:
* A. Collecting samples from their natural habitats and preserving them appropriately.
* B. Bringing samples to the laboratory for description and storage using suitable methods such as mounting, drying, slide preparation, or other techniques appropriate to the sample type.
The workshop recommended supplementing morphological studies with molecular-level classification to comprehensively document Iraqi species and register them in gene banks. It also advocated for conducting environmental and biological studies on species found throughout Iraq.
We wish all the faculty of our center continued success in their service to society, science, and knowledge.