The 4th Molecular Biology and Genetics Days Congress, organized under the leadership of the Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences and the Health, Culture and Sports Department, was completed at the Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall. In the two-day congress, as every year, leading figures in the sector came together to share their experiences, ideas, and future visions. Student interest in the congress was intense.
The congress held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall attracted intense interest.
Following the ceremony, which began with a moment of silence and the recitation of the National Anthem, Üsküdar Üniversitesi Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk delivered the opening speech.
Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk: “Don’t be content with the lessons and information provided within the curriculum”
Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk began his speech by emphasizing that the congress was the culmination of months of work and congratulated the students who contributed to this effort: “When I think about my undergraduate student days, I know the conditions of Türkiye at that time. Sometimes I show my students. My lecture notes from my student days are still there. I show them, ‘Look how far we’ve come, where we were and where you are now.’ When I started my master’s in September 1985, there were three cities outside of our own where biological chemical abstracts, in particular, arrived: Istanbul, Izmir, and Ankara. Since I was at Selçuk Üniversitesi, I would go to Ankara, which was the closest. I would go to Ankara for literature research on my topic. I would stay there for days, arriving at the library before the librarian. There were mimeograph papers, not many now; I would have them cut in half at the printer and manually write down the abstracts relevant to my field and useful for my work because there was no photocopy machine. In those days, we could only find books. Access to books wasn’t very easy under the conditions of that time, of course. As of today, you have the ability to access scientific articles beyond just books. Through clubs or personal networks that have made a name for themselves in the international arena, we bring our students together with our professors whom we know, have met, talked to, and collaborated with in various parts of the world. Additionally, as in this congress, we invited our esteemed professors who have excelled in Türkiye and asked them to share with you what they have done in very different aspects related to our field. You can consider this an effort for the development of your professional knowledge. Don’t be content with the lessons and information provided within the curriculum.”
On the first day of the two-day congress, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ümit Barış Kutman from Gebze Technical University, Prof. Dr. Arzu Çelik from Boğaziçi University, Prof. Dr. Canan Cacına from Istanbul University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şeref Gül from Bezmialem Vakıf University, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hakan Darıcı from İstinye University, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kadir Demircan from Turgut Özal University, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Onur Öztaş from Koç University participated as speakers.
On the last day of the well-attended congress, Prof. Dr. Cihan Demirci Tansel from Istanbul University, Babür Erdem from Middle East Technical University (online), Nilhan Coşkun from Koç University, Asst. Prof. Dr. Hasan Bahçekapılı from Medipol University, and Science Communicator Akın Karahasan took part as speakers.
On the first day of the congress,
Asst. Prof. Dr. Ümit Barış Kutman gave a presentation titled “Plant Biology.” Later in the day:
Prof. Dr. Arzu Çelik, “Studying neurodevelopmental disorders in flies”
Prof. Dr. Canan Cacına, “The Importance of Multidisciplinary Approaches in Investigating the Molecular Mechanisms of Diseases”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şeref Gül, “Biological Clock and Our Health”
Asst. Prof. Dr. Hakan Darıcı, “Stem Cells, Organoids, and Artificial Organs”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kadir Demircan, “From Mendel to Epigenetics: A Short History of Genetics”
Asst. Prof. Dr. Onur Öztaş conducted sessions titled “Molecular Mechanism of Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation.”
On the last day of the congress,
Prof. Dr. Cihan Demirci Tansel, “The Role of Nutrition in Human Evolution”
Babür Erdem online, “Learning and Animal Behavior”
Nilhan Coşkun, “Zebrafish and Rats: Experimental Animals”
Asst. Prof. Dr. Hasan Bahçekapılı, “The Evolution of Psychological Gender Differences”
Akın Karahasan gave presentations titled “Tardigrades Could Be the First Interstellar Travelers!”
The two-day congress concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation and a group photo session.