Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a transformative force across all sectors, signaling the dawn of the “AI Age.” This study explores the adoption and integration of AI within the higher education system of the Kurdistan Region, focusing on current usage, challenges, and ethical implications. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative surveys analyzed via SPSS and qualitative interviews. The study examined experiences and perceptions among students, teachers, researchers, and Ministry of Higher Education (MOHE) staff regarding AI's educational applications, adoption readiness, institutional challenges, and concerns related to academic integrity.Findings reveal that while educators recognize AI’s potential, many lack practical experience. Students primarily view AI as a supportive learning tool. 65.2% of MOHE staff support AI integration but identify key barriers including institutional resistance and reliance on traditional training methods. A Chi-Square Test (p < 0.001) showed a strong association between AI adoption challenges and factors such as budget constraints, infrastructure limitations, and resistance to change.Ethical concerns were significant, especially regarding data privacy, algorithmic bias, and overreliance on AI. 93.6% of respondents reported the absence of formal institutional policies addressing these issues. Qualitative data reinforced these findings, emphasizing the urgent need for structured training, financial investment, and clear governance frameworks.This research highlights the pivotal role of the MOHE in steering AI integration through the development of comprehensive policies, strategic planning, and institution-wide initiatives to ensure ethical, effective, and sustainable use of AI in higher education.

This study examines public awareness of solid waste disposal and its associated environmental and health impacts in the Duhok Governorate, Kurdistan Region of Iraq. Rapid urbanization and population growth have increased waste generation, overwhelming treatment facilities and posing significant environmental and health risks. Data were collected from 500 randomly selected households through structured interviews and questionnaires, assessing participants’ knowledge of waste management, environmental pollution, and health hazards related to improper disposal. The results reveal that 92% of respondents had limited knowledge of waste management, while only 8% demonstrated a general understanding of waste hazards and environmental pollution. Awareness levels were influenced by gender and education, with men and more educated individuals showing slightly higher knowledge, while unemployment, particularly among women, was associated with lower awareness. The findings highlight the urgent need for targeted public awareness campaigns and educational programs to promote sustainable waste management practices and reduce the environmental and health risks associated with inadequate waste disposal.

Soil is essential for food production, making sustainable soil management crucial. This study aimed to assess heavy metal and physico- chemical contamination in roadside soils along the Duhok to Zakho highway, Kurdistan Region, Iraq. The increase in vehicular traffic on public roads has significantly impacted soil health. Understanding the effects of highways on soil heavy metals, physical and chemical properties is critical for ensuring environmental sustainability. This investigation analyzed the heavy metals, physical and chemical properties of 20 soil samples collected from the left and right sides of the national highway. Samples were collected at distances of 5m and 15m from the road edge, representing the 0–15 cm soil depth. The samples were analyzed for physical properties such as soil texture (sand, silt, and clay), moisture content, organic matter, and field capacity, as well as chemical properties including pH, electrical conductivity (EC), organic carbon, nitrogen, C:N ratio, and heavy metals such as lead (Pb) concentration. Soil texture was classified as clay, sandy clay loam, loam, or sandy loam, varying across the study sites. The loam-dominated soils indicated suitability for arable crop production. The results revealed that pH ranged from 4.40 to 6.60, EC from 0.72 to 1.02 dS m⁻¹, organic matter from 0.13% to 6.12%, total nitrogen from 0.08% to 0.84%, moisture content from 2.90% to 15.00%, field capacity from 27.51% to 37.93%, and organic carbon from 0.29% to 3.68%. Lead (Pb) concentrations ranged from 2.00 to 3.11 mg/kg. Lead concentrations exceeded WHO permissible limits. Farmers are encouraged to maintain soil health cards and adopt sustainable management practices.

This study examined the water discharge in Zakhos Khabour River between 2004 and 2023 in Chalke area. Water from the river is used to be utilized in industry, agriculture, and homes. The aim of this research is to evaluate long-term discharge changes and pinpoint the primary factors influencing river flow. The data of the area were obtained from the Water Resources Department in Zakho. Daily, monthly, and annual discharge and precipitation values are included in the data. It was anticipated that both potential human influences and climate variability are responsible for the significant fluctuations in annual flow observed in the study area. The paper result indicated that the mean annual discharge of 67.60 m³/s and the standard deviation of 31.19 m³/s show that the water flow varied significantly over the 20-year period. The highest recorded discharge was 125.5 m³/s in 2019, and the lowest was 7.7 m³/s in 2023. A moving average analysis shows that periods of high and low discharge alternate. Variations in river discharge are closely correlated with precipitation patterns in the area. It was demonstrated that increased water extraction for irrigation and urban growth over the past 20 years has likely resulted in a decrease in river discharge. Changes in land use, may also have an impact on the river basin&#39;s hydrological variability. These findings provide insights for sustainable water management and policy planning in the Zakho city.

The study underscores the importance of addressing flood risks within the Kurdistan Regional Government&#39;s (KRG) policies, while also contributing to the broader understanding of the global effects of climate change on flooding. The region’s steep terrain and higher levels of precipitation contribute to complex flood dynamics, emphasizing the need for tailored flood management strategies. The findings also suggest that local land use changes, such as deforestation and urbanization, exacerbate the likelihood of flooding. The data also shows a notable increase in yearly precipitation, which is associated with changes in the global climate but shows unique regional patterns. Floods have become more frequent and severe as a result of this increase in rainfall, especially in urban areas with large percentages of impermeable surfaces. This study emphasizes how important it is to create vulnerability assessment models in order to better predict and control future flood events, even if the Kurdistan Region does not yet have any specialist flood risk models. It highlights how crucial it is to combine assessments at both local and larger scales in order to develop susceptibility models that work. With special focus to the effects on the environment and public health, particularly with regard to water quality in rural areas, the study emphasizes that flood management and strategic planning must take into consideration both local and global factors. Given the escalating flood hazards brought on by climate change, the study promotes the creation of risk management plans and preventative actions to deal with these new issues.