Researcher Karzan Sabah D Ahmed has been awarded a posthumous PhD in Environmental Science by NUI Galway.
Karzan, his wife Shahen and their baby daughter Lina were tragically killed in a road accident in Ballinasloe in August of this year.
It’s understood the family were making a journey down to Carlow where Karzan was taking up a lecturing post at Carlow IT after completing his PhD.
Karzan’s PhD’s research in Environmental Science focused on insect ecology in farm habitats for inclusion in new agri-environmental schemes.
The conferring took place on the University campus along with a memorial service to remember Karzan and his family.
The formal ceremony was live steamed, with a recording of the event was made available to family and friends overseas. This included Karzan and Shahen’s families in Kurdistan.
The memorial heard contributions both in English and in Kurdish from people who knew the family and those who worked with Karzan.
Professor Ciarán Ó hÓgartaigh, President of NUI Galway, paid tribute to Karzan, Shahen and baby Lina at the ceremony.
“We hosted the conferring ceremony and memorial in honour of Karzan’s academic achievements and the fondness for which he and his family were held by the community of NUI Galway and the wider community,” Professor Ó hÓgartaigh said.
“We hope there is some comfort in memory. Karzan’s memory is here in NUI Galway and in the wider community, among his colleagues, the students and all those who worked with him and who knew Karzan, Shahen and Lina.”
A floral wreath was laid at the memorial. Prayers were offered by Imam Khalid Sallabi from the Galway Islamic Cultural Centre and Fr Ben Hughes, Chaplain of NUI Galway.
Dr Collette Mulkeen, postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Microbiology from NUI Galway’s Ryan Institute also paid tribute, remembering Karzan, Shahen and baby Lina.
Professor Michael Gormally who was Karzan’s supervisor during his PhD research spoke on the contribution of his research work.
A memorial plaque was presented to Ahmed Mahmud, representing Karzan’s family and to Mrs Kszeal Mahmood, representing Shahen’s family.
A copy of Karzan’s thesis was presented to Azhwan Barazenda, representing Karzan’s family and to Mrs Shadi Faramarzi, representing Shahen’s family.
