Impact on Achieving Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Athtar al-rafedain journal (AARJ), published by the College of Archaeology at the University of Mosul, is dedicated to publishing scientific research related to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that have been launched by the United Nations. The journal is no longer merely a platform for publishing scientific research papers only, but has transformed into different areas of study including areas related to knowledge content, i.e., the journal's role in generating and disseminating knowledge all of which contribute to achieving the (17) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The journal has worked to encourage and motivate researchers to submit research that focuses on solving problems in the archaeological and heritage aspects, archaeological tourism, and several journals related to archaeology including the focus on applied research papers that serves the community inside and outside Iraq in the field of Ancient and Islamic Archaeology. In addition, the journal focuses on research in the field conservation and restoration of clay tablets, Ancient and Islamic archaeological sites, and other fields of study in Archaeology.

The journal focusses also on research papers that have clear scientific applications and a tangible impact on reality, not just theoretical research only. These papers have achieved many goals, the most important of which are Goal (4) Quality Education, Goal (5) Gender Equality, Goal (8) Decent Work and Economic Growth, Goal (9) Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure, Goal (10) Reducing Inequalities, Goal (11) Sustainable Cities and Communities, Goal (13) Climate Action, Goal (15) Life on Land, and Goal (17) Partnerships to Achieve the Goals. The journal's editorial board members have also worked to provide an opportunity for Arab and International researchers from various countries to publish their research, which addresses several issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals. This reflects a diversity of viewpoints, thus achieving Goal (4) of quality education, and Goal (10) of reducing inequalities by ensuring that knowledge is freely and freely available to all, ensuring equitable access to information.

Other roles of the journal include objectives related to influence and policy, by ensuring that knowledge reaches decision-makers through the use of institutions related to the College of Archaeology, including the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Antiquities, the Ministry of Education, and others. This is achieved by utilizing applied and field research and studies that work to solve societal problems, including applied research on the ancient city and programs that work to develop the tourism sector in Iraq in general and Nineveh Governorate in particular. This enhances prospects for joint cooperation and facilitates dialogue between academics, the public and private sectors, and civil society by organizing conferences and publishing special issues of this research, thus achieving Goal (16) of peace, justice, and strong institutions, and Goal (17) of establishing partnerships to achieve the goals. The Journal of Antiquities of Mesopotamia has pursued its path in achieving the goals related to scientific publishing practices, including adopting responsible and ethically and environmentally sustainable publishing practices according to the open access approach and ensuring that knowledge is available to all for free and without barriers, which is essential to achieving equity in access to information, which works to achieve Goal (4) quality education, Goal (10) reducing inequalities. In addition to ethics and scientific integrity in combating plagiarism and data falsification by subjecting research to intellectual extraction programs and artificial intelligence, which enhances transparency and trust in science, which contributes to Goal (16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. The journal’s editorial board members have also worked to reduce the carbon footprint by publishing the journal electronically on the Iraqi journals’ website and the college’s website, and reducing travel to conferences by promoting virtual events, which indirectly contributes to achieving Goal (12) Responsible Consumption and Production, and Goal (12) Climate Action. The journal has also worked on fairness and inclusiveness by creating equal opportunities for researchers from different Arab and foreign countries to participate as members of the journal or as research reviewers and publishers, which achieves Goal (10) Reducing inequalities by combating geographical and national bias, Goal (16) Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, and Goal (17) Forming partnerships to achieve goals. Therefore, the scientific goals of the Journal of Mesopotamian Archaeology within the framework of sustainable development are no longer secondary, but have become essential and continuous, aiming to employ scientific knowledge to serve society.