Under the patronage of the Dean of the College of Engineering, Professor Dr. Ghassan Hamid Abdul Majeed, and supervised by the Head of the Department of Water Resources Engineering, Assistant Professor Dr. Amin Mohammed Saleh Amin, the Department of Water Resources Engineering at the College of Engineering – University of Baghdad, in cooperation with the Continuing Education Unit, organized a workshop entitled: “Green Spaces as Natural Therapy: The Role of Greening in Improving Psychological Quality of Life.” This workshop was part of the department’s scientific and academic activities.
The workshop was conducted by Dr. Ruqaya Hadi Rashid and Assistant Lecturer Hussein Fadhil Hussein, with the attendance of a number of faculty members and students from the department.
The workshop addressed the importance of green spaces in urban environments, especially in light of rapid urban expansion and the resulting decline in natural areas, and its impact on human quality of life and mental health. It also reviewed the concepts of urban greening and its role in creating a healthy and sustainable environment, highlighting the close relationship between nature and psychological well-being.
The speakers referred to studies in environmental psychology, which show that interaction with green spaces, even for short periods, helps reduce stress levels, improve mood, and enhance psychological comfort. The workshop also presented successful global experiences in urban greening and their positive impact on human well-being and quality of life.
The workshop concluded by emphasizing the role of green urban planning in supporting the social and psychological aspects of residents, stressing the importance of integrating greening into urban development projects to achieve a healthy and sustainable environment for all members of society.
