NUI Galway has awarded a posthumous PhD in Environmental Science to researcher Karzan Sabah D Ahmed who was killed in a car crash in Galway this year.
The conferring took place at the University along with a memorial service to remember Karzan, his wife Shahen and baby daughter Lina who tragically died in a road accident on the M6 in August.
The formal ceremony was streamed live and a recording of the event was made available to family and friends overseas, including those in Kurdistan.
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,” said Professor Ó hÓgartaigh.
“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.”
Karzan Ahmed’s PhD research in Environmental Science focused on evaluating insect ecosystem function in farm habitats for inclusion in novel agri-environmental schemes.
The memorial heard contributions in English and in Kurdish from people who knew the family and those who worked with Karzan.
A floral wreath was laid at the memorial, prayers were offered by Imam Khalid Sallabi, Galway Islamic Cultural Centre and Fr Ben Hughes, Chaplain of NUI Galway.
Dr Collette Mulkeen paid tribute, remembering Karzan, Shahen and baby Lina, while Professor Michael Gormally, who supervised Karzan during his PhD, 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 also to Mrs Shadi Faramarzi, representing Shahen’s family.
