The Hiwaraat conference series at Georgetown University in Qatar (GU-Q) brings together scholars, experts, and the public for an informed, thought-provoking, and counter-intuitive exploration of globally relevant, timely issues. Each conference in the series offers an inclusive space that encourages community engagement, knowledge sharing, and the search for innovative solutions to present and future challenges.
Upcoming Conferences
Check back soon for information about the 2024-2025 conference season
Past Conferences
Gender in Foreign Policy
This conference addressed gender-informed approaches to foreign policy and diplomacy, the role and risks of AI in policy and practice, and gender aspects of foreign policy in conflict situations with a focus on Gaza, Afghanistan and Sudan.
On Palestine
This symposium featured leading voices on Palestine, and was organized around three thematic areas: justice and accountability, global media narratives and the shaping of public opinion, and avoiding traps in imagining a political future.
Global Energy Cultures: How Energy Shapes Our Everyday Lives
Aiming to unravel the threads that bind energy and our cultures, this conference contributed to a future where sustainable practices take center stage. Delving into energy’s societal, cultural, artistic, and historical impacts through history, prominent scholars, policy advocates, artists, architects, writers, and activists underscored the pivotal role energy humanities plays in shaping and imagining just and equitable practices for energy systems around the world.
Sustaining the Oasis: Envisioning the Future of Water Security in the Gulf
Amidst the intricate interplay of cultural, political, ethical, and technological complexities, the nations of the Gulf and the broader region confront an imminent imperative of water security in the face of a rapidly changing climate. Hosted collaboratively by GU-Q and Georgetown University Earth Commons, this conference discerns the historical significance of water stewardship and envisions a comprehensive future blueprint for water security in the region. By harmonizing the needs of burgeoning populations and the fragility of ecosystems, this forum navigates a trajectory toward sustainable solutions that resonate with the region’s economic and existential urgencies.
Afghanistan Regional Symposium: Confronting the Impasse
This conference gathered leading scholars and policymakers to collectively explore the challenges surrounding Afghanistan and its situation in the context of its international relations and current political turmoil. Ever since the Taliban regained power in 2021, there exists an unsettling impasse between Afghanistan and the rest of the world. Consequently, traditional approaches to international engagement have proven insufficient, resulting in Afghanistan’s isolation and causing its civilian population to endure the overwhelming burden of suffering. Through insightful panels, including discussions on the Afghan peace process, climate change and food security challenges, education, and humanitarian concerns, this symposium sought to foster a nuanced understanding of ongoing challenges and pave the way for informed impactful solutions.
Global Histories and Practices of Islamophobia
With Islamophobia becoming a household term over the past decade, it is incumbent on scholars and practitioners to explore the historical origins and global connections of this phenomenon to fully understand and confront its current iterations. Convened by members of the GU-Q faculty, the second conference in the Hiwaraat series brought together a diverse collection of professionals, academics, government officials, artists, and students to explore the global, historical, theological, and political dimensions that drive practices of Islamophobia. The conference also provided a platform for public engagement on this pressing issue.
The Invasion of Iraq: Regional Reflections
The 2003 invasion of Iraq marked a critical turning point in America’s relationship with Iraq and its neighboring countries, a region of strategic importance encompassing vital energy and military interests, and reshaped its diplomatic relations worldwide. Convened by the Dean of Georgetown University in Qatar, Dr. Safwan Masri, in collaboration with the Center for International and Regional Studies, this conference took a regional perspective to reflect on the profound geopolitical and socioeconomic consequences of the 2003 invasion of Iraq that continue to reverberate across the globe twenty years later.
For general inquiries, contact the Office of the Dean at GU-Q.