The American Academic Research Institute in Iraq (TAARII – formerly the American Association for Research in Baghdad, AARB) was founded in 1989 by a consortium of American universities, colleges, and museums, in order to promote scholarly research on Iraq and exchange between American and Iraqi scholars. The Gulf War and subsequent U.N. sanctions on Iraq caused the organization to suspend its activities. It remained dormant until 2003.

TAARIIs regional office and Resident Director will be located in Amman, Jordan temporarily, until conditions permit relocation to Iraq, probably sometime in 2005. In the meantime, TAARII’s Resident Director, Executive Director, President, and Board are planning program activities.

In the fall of 2004, fellowships for U.S. citizens to conduct research on Iraq at pre-doctoral and post-doctoral levels will be announced. A small research grant program for Iraqis in Iraq will also be announced. Fellowships will be available for research work in any legitimate academic field. Other program activities being planned include conferences, a dissertation prize, and a translation series to bring contemporary Iraqi poetry and fiction to an English-language audience.