Environment and Climate Change
Initiatives:
Exclusive Interview with Razan Omar Ali, Head of Grants Office at the University of Sulaimani
To read the full issue brief, please click here. While the issue brief and the interview present independent perspectives, they are complementary in their exploration of the issue.
Profile of the Interviewee
Razan Omar Ali is an environmental scientist and lecturer at the College of Environmental Sciences, University of Sulaimani, where she also serves as Head of the Grants Office. Currently a PhD candidate in Soil and Environmental Chemistry in the United States, her work spans climate resilience, sustainable development, water management, sustainable agriculture, and nature-based solutions with a strong emphasis on translating research into practical outcomes through international collaboration and community engagement.
As academics and educators, how are you integrating noise pollution into what students learn about the environment?
As an environmental science college, many students have been introduced to various fields of environmental science. When people generally think of pollution, they think of dust, waste, and soil contamination but there are forms of pollution that are invisible. One of them is noise and sound pollution, which has enormous effects on ecosystems. If that system collapses, it impacts everything else.
Students are continuously encouraged to engage with these topics practically and experientially to build greater awareness around the issue.
Can you tell us about your most recent field project and what it revealed about noise in natural spaces?
The most recent environmental project focused on the acoustic ecology of Sarchinar, covering water, trees, and the general ecosystem of the area under the campaign called “Save Soil”. After bringing samples back with Dr. Hardi Kurda, analysis revealed that while Sarchinar's natural landscape has remained largely unchanged over the years, its acoustic ecosystem has changed dramatically due to increased activity, growing visitor numbers, and traffic in and around the area mirroring Sulaymaniyah's own urban growth.
Using frequency measurement tools, even one tree selected as a case study, seemingly in one of the quietest spots, revealed clear differences when its frequency was recorded. This is just a small example of the larger picture.
How does noise pollution connect to soil health and food security?
The ecosystem is entirely interconnected; any problem anywhere affects all other parts. From a 2022 global soil conservation campaign, the discussion centered on how to restore soil health. If we continue treating soil as we currently do, soil has only fifty years of healthy agricultural life remaining. That means only fifty years left to produce healthy crops and sustain plant life. If current trends continue, not just Kurdistan but the entire world is at risk.
When invisible pollutants like noise are directly connected to soil: noise alters the frequency of the surrounding environment and alters the frequency of microorganisms in the air. Those microorganisms through rain, evaporation, or settling on plant surfaces return to the soil. Soil fertility then deteriorates and organic content decreases.
Is protecting the environment only the job of scientists and policymakers, or does everyone have a role to play?
Environmental protection is not solely the responsibility of environmentalists, academics, or government officials; every individual must consider themselves responsible for the environment. Raising awareness and participating in environmental protection can take many forms: through sound, light, art, and many other avenues. Whatever expertise or specialization each person has, it can be connected back to the environment.
Content Type:Videos and Interviews
