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IRAQI BIOLOGIST LEADS WORKSHOP DURING REFUGEE WEEK

Thursday 17th June 2010

A top Iraqi biologist will demonstrate innovative methods of growing plants during a family workshop at MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry, Manchester), as part of a programme of activities this weekend at the Museum for Refugee Week.

Dr Nouri Baker, an expert in the study of plants and plant disease, and a former lecturer at the University of Baghdad, will show how recycled cans and bottles can be used to grow plants. Dr Baker and his family fled Iraq in 2007 after his son was killed by insurgents. After a stay in Jordan he was sent to the UK as part of a UN resettlement programme and is now working as a volunteer at the University of Manchester’s Faculty of Life Science.

Dr Baker said: “When one of your family is assassinated, everyone is targeted. We left our house and our possessions. We suffered a lot. A lot of my colleagues have been killed and many are refugees; some are still in Iraq.”

Dr Baker will conduct the workshop on Saturday morning with Mouhammad Shadi Khudr from Syria, who is a doctoral student at the University of Manchester. The workshop, which is a chance to meet top scientists, is held in association with the University of Manchester and Refugee Action. There is also a textile workshop and a special costumed character performance of ‘The Long Road from Naples’, which highlights the history of the development of Manchester’s Italian quarter in Ancoats.

Dr Baker was assisted by Gateway resettlement workers from the charity Refugee Action during his first 12 months in the UK.

Tim Hilton, the area manager of Refugee Action in Manchester, said: “Refugee Week celebrates the contribution of refugees to the UK and offers the chance for British-born people and refugees to meet and get to know each other. We are delighted that the Museum of Science and Industry is putting on such an interesting and informative event and that Dr Baker has been invited to share his skills as a biologist."

Refugee Week runs from 14-20 June.

MOSI has activities on 19-20 June.

Meet the Scientists - Refugee Special is held from 10.30am-1.40pm on 19 June. For more details look up
http://www.mosi.org.uk/whats-on/refugee-week

ENDS

For media enquiries please contact: Sarah Roe, MOSI press and publicity officer on Tel: 0161 606 0176, m: 07847 372647