Dr Ghulam Mohammad Asim is a Non-Resident Research Fellow at the Afghanistan Research Initiative. He holds a PhD in Interdisciplinary Intelligent Engineering Systems from the University of the Ryukyus, Okinawa, Japan, where he completed a master's in civil engineering and is currently a postdoctoral researcher. His research is on ‘The Material Transformation Analysis of Mosques in Herat Old City, Afghanistan", which addresses the protection and maintenance of the historic town's architectural, natural and cultural features. It involves data collection, surveys and interviews with current and former local leaders and old and current residents regarding conservation issues. The project uses the cities of Kyoto and Nara, Japan, as references for policy development. He is co-author of “Material Transformation Analysis of Mosques in Herat Old City, Afghanistan,” Sustainability, 16, 2924.