Üsküdar Üniversitesi, in collaboration with the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education, organized Turkey's first Science and Idea Festival for high schools, which was held for the 8th time with the motto "Don't Keep Your Idea to Yourself." The festival, designed to strengthen project culture and entrepreneurial practice among high school students and enable them to make life easier, featured categories in Health Sciences, Social Sciences, and Science and Technology. Young people had a colorful day with games and concerts. Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector, Psychiatrist Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stating that new inventions in the world are based on different and unconventional thinking, mental rebellion, and mental objection, said, “Well-behaved children cannot catch up with the times; we need to step outside the routine presented to us. A person who stays within the routine cannot discover anything.” The festival's surprise guest, Robot ‘Fikri’, became the center of attention for the ceremony attendees.
The 8th Science and Idea Festival, organized by Üsküdar Üniversitesi in collaboration with the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education for high school students, once again hosted colorful moments. The awards ceremony for the festival, held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Çarşı Campus, took place in the Emir Nebi Conference Hall.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Turkey’s first science and idea festival”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Founding Rector and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, stated that they held the first Science and Idea Festival in 2013, making it Turkey's first festival of its kind.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “The brain learns best by experiencing”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan stated that learning theory has changed, and previously, learning was accepted as taking place in disciplined, repressive, authoritarian environments. He said, “But as a 21st-century skill, the concept of learning through experience emerged. The human brain learns best by experiencing. It learns when it is fun and disciplined. So, we thought, there are tomato festivals, why isn't there a science festival? Why don't we approach a project and science in an environment that is both fun and disciplined? We initiated a study to combine entertainment with projects. Our Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education strongly supported this.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Imagination exists in the production of thought”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that when he saw the sparkle in the eyes of the young people, he realized that this festival was truly effective. He said, “Even if a project seems absurd, it has value. Imagination is involved in the production of many ideas. You dream with a purpose. After dreaming, there's an incubation period. During the incubation period, while the idle brain is occupied with other things, for example, Archimedes discovered the buoyant force in a bath, and Newton discovered the law of gravity while resting under an apple tree.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Well-behaved children cannot catch up with the times; we need to step outside the routine”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that new inventions in the world are based on thinking differently and unconventionally, stating, “This is something our minds can do. It's about thinking differently, thinking unconventionally, about mental rebellion, about mental objection… We need to do these. We need to step outside the routine presented to us. A person who stays within the routine cannot discover anything. You can be a very good second-in-command, but you cannot discover anything. That's why developed countries reward unconventional thinkers, different thinkers, critics, and unconventional types, believing they can change humanity. In our country, the 'well-behaved child' methodology persists. Well-behaved children cannot catch up with the times. A young person who questions, thinks, objects, but does so within a certain culture, is a young person who has grasped the future. We need to add something to the excitement and inventiveness of young people.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Those with passionate projects win”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan noted that in project development, those who live and breathe in the laboratory and have passionate projects are the ones who succeed. He said, “Those with passionate projects win. If one embraces a project with love and enthusiasm, it becomes a project. Look at Aziz Sancar; he achieved this by living and working in the laboratory. You must always add your excitement and passions to the work you do.”
Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk: “Üsküdar Üniversitesi covers patenting costs”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk, who came to the podium for the opening speeches, stated that this year's festival saw 513 students from 131 schools participate with approximately 300 projects, guided by 211 teachers, and thanked the participating students for their interest. Konuk noted that 193 projects passed the preliminary evaluation. Prof. Dr. Muhsin Konuk also mentioned that the BFF Special Award was given for the first time this year. Konuk stated that the university values patenting, saying, “Üsküdar Üniversitesi provides support to cover all patenting costs for the first, second, and third-place projects. Six projects from the 7th BFF qualified for patenting. Two of these applications have been made, and the others are in the preparation phase.”
Abdurrahman Ensari: “You are as strong as the knowledge you produce”
Abdurrahman Ensari, Branch Manager of the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education, stated that they were honored to contribute to the festival organized in cooperation with Üsküdar Üniversitesi and told young people not to shy away from expressing their ideas. Abdurrahman Ensari said, “Projects and ideas emerge in this way. If you have family and teachers who support your differences, and a university like Üsküdar Üniversitesi to realize your thoughts, you won't easily be defeated. I especially thank Üsküdar Üniversitesi for its leadership in the 8th Science and Idea Festival.” Abdurrahman Ensari, stating “Knowledge is the greatest power,” added, “You are as strong as the knowledge you produce. In the world, struggles now exist, especially concerning energy, food, medicine, and technology. When you produce in these areas and have a say, you can dominate and guide the world. For this, you concentrate your power and energy on producing knowledge. However, it is also important not to forget that merely producing knowledge is not enough; knowledge also needs to be controlled. That is, we must use it where and as much as needed.”
Prof. Dr. Gökben Hızlı Sayar: “The brain’s idle mode should be allowed”
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine, Department of Mental Health and Diseases faculty member Prof. Dr. Gökben Hızlı Sayar offered advice to young people with an entertaining presentation at the ceremony. Pointing to the importance of divergent thinking in increasing creativity and achieving success, Sayar said, “Those who start a task quickly and finish it slowly are the people we like, whose brain structure we like. Starting fast and finishing slow is important. One must not be deterred by obstacles. In fact, obstacles slow us down; in reality, every obstacle makes us think more about that issue. To succeed in that project, you need to think about it more. External and internal motivation are important. You should have a wide range of interests. There is something called the brain's idle mode. When you look, you're not doing anything; you're lost in reverie. The brain is talking to itself. Yet, we always prevent the brain from going into idle mode by doing something. However, the brain should do its internal talking, it should be able to feed itself. Successful things will definitely emerge from this.”
This year’s motto: “Don’t Keep Your Idea to Yourself”
At Üsküdar Üniversitesi's 8th Science and Idea Festival, projects competed in three categories: Health Sciences, Social Sciences, and Science and Technology. This year, projects that placed in the festival, held under the motto “Don't Keep Your Idea to Yourself,” were awarded. In all three categories, first-place winners received 10,000 Turkish Liras, second-place winners 5,000 Turkish Liras, third-place winners 3,000 Turkish Liras, and 4th, 5th, and 6th place winners each received 1,000 Turkish Liras as successful project awards.
Winners in the Science and Technology category…
In the Science and Technology category, Salih Çelik, Burak Eren Demir, and Muhammet Başar Özcan from Istanbul Atatürk Science High School won first place with their project titled “Protect the Ecosystem with Image Processing.” The students received their awards with their advisor teacher Mehmet Durmuş.
In the Science and Technology category, Nursima Yağız and Yiğit Mert Demir from Habire Yahşi Anatolian High School won second place with their project titled “RobotİKA Multi-Purpose Unmanned Ground Vehicle.” The students received their awards with their advisor teacher Hacer Şahin.
In the Science and Technology category, Doruk Kaşıkçı and Ömer Turgut Kayış from Özel Enka High School were awarded third place with their project titled “Zero-Waste Nanotechnological Industrial and Domestic Wastewater Filter Preventing Mucilage Formation.” The students received their awards with their advisor teacher İsmail Pektaş.
Received honorable mentions
In the Science and Technology category, Burak Baki Yavuz, Mehmet Yasin Saraydaroğlu, and Yusuf Arda Göçer from Çatalca Anatolian High School, with their advisor teacher Belgin Çallı, received an honorable mention for their project titled “D.N.E.S (Domestica Nationalis Electronic Solenoid): Efficient Engine Design for Domestic Vehicles and Experiments on a Vehicle.” Doğan Can Bağrıaçık and Damla Nur Temur from Çemberlitaş Anatolian High School, with their advisor teacher Süleyman Alpkan Akkuş, received an honorable mention for their project titled “FEKAYAPP.” Mehmet Burak Akel and Hüseyin Sinan Keleştemur from Kartal Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, advised by Ersin Ertürk, received an honorable mention for their project titled “Utilization of Geometric Patterns Found in Nature for Efficiency in the Manufacturing Industry.”
Award-winning projects in the Health Sciences category..
In the Health Sciences category, Emre Poyraz and Ahmet Yasin Akyel from Ayazağa Anatolian Imam Hatip High School won first place with their project titled “AIKED.” The students received their awards with their advisor teacher Murat Ertaş.
In the Health Sciences category, Semanur Atıcı from Kartal Anatolian Imam Hatip High School won second place with her project titled “Radiation Blocker.” Atıcı received her award with her advisor teacher Sevil Aşkın.
In the Health Sciences category, Ahmet Emin Tataroğlu and Fatma Şevval Yener from Vefa High School won third place with their project titled “Investigation of the Usability of Soapwort (Gypsophila officinalis) and Angelica (Angelica officinalis) Plants in the Development of Hydrogel-Based Wound Dressing Materials.” The students received their awards with their advisor teacher Özlem Türk.
Received honorable mentions in the Health Sciences category
In the Health Sciences category, three projects also received honorable mention awards. Sena Üstünbaş and Ceylin Değirmenci from Özel Mavigün Science High School, advised by their teacher Özlem Erol Erçelik, received an honorable mention for their project titled “Investigation of the Effects of Shepherd's Purse (Capsella bursa-pastoris) and Golden Thistle (Scolymus hispanicus) Plant Extracts on Acrylamide-Induced Tissue Damage in Earthworms.”
İkra İrem Ünlü, Cem Topal, Tolga Metin Gülbay, and Bora Poyraz from Özel Final Anatolian High School, advised by teacher Sevgi Aktan, received an honorable mention for their project titled “Smart Camera Glasses (Microelectrode).” Metehan Rahmi Yıldız and Nehir Tuğba Balık from Suat Terimer Anatolian High School, advised by teacher Derya Tuncer Cüce, also received an honorable mention for their project titled “Investigation of the Use of Nanoparticles Synthesized from Black Cumin (Nigella Sativa L.) Plant as Diagnostic and Therapeutic Agents.”
Placed in the Social Sciences category
In the Social Sciences category, Deniz Nisan Deniz from Özel Florya Anatolian High School won first place with her project titled “The Power of Frequencies,” advised by her teacher Muhammed Korkmaz. In the Social Sciences category, Gülşen Yurtseven and Sude Naz Özkan from Gönüllü Hizmet Vakfı Mustafa Saffet Science High School came in second with their project titled “Accessible Access,” advised by their teacher Burak Yeşil. Şevval Tekin and Selda Can Yürük from Ahi Evren Girls' Anatolian Imam Hatip High School were awarded third place for their project titled “The 'Bildenge Game' Facilitating the Learning of Folk Literature and Divan Literature Topics Based on Knowledge and Balance,” advised by their teacher Tarık Özyıldırım.
Received honorable mentions in Social Sciences
In the Social Sciences category, three projects were also deemed worthy of honorable mention. Mehmet Ali Yurdakul and Eyüp Ensar Sönmez from Uluslararası Fatih Sultan Mehmet Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, advised by Bayram Yılmaz, received an honorable mention for their project titled “AI-Supported Smart Trash Can Increasing Recycling Awareness.” Abubakr Babaev, El Hasan El Kilani, and Esedullah Kızıltunçden from Uluslararası Fatih Sultan Mehmet Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, advised by their teacher Nurdan Odabaş, received an honorable mention for their “RobOtizm” project. Ayşenur İşal, Emir Tolluoğlu, and Hakan Deniss Yurt from Haydarpaşa High School, advised by their teacher Rahmi Çakır, received an honorable mention for their project titled “Multi-Sensory Teaching of Landforms to Visually Impaired Students.”
BFF Special Award also found its owner…
The project titled “Digital Transformation in Education: Turkish Language and Literature Lessons Are Now Very Different with Web 2.0 Tools in Hybrid Education” in the Social Sciences branch, which passed the preliminary evaluation, also received the BFF Special Award, a technology gift voucher worth 5,000 TL. Yağmur Alp and Eylül Şayan from Özel Üsküdar Sınav Anatolian High School received their awards with their advisor teacher Abdulkerim Demir.
Advisor teachers of the winning students received an award equivalent to half the value of the winning project award. For the top 3 projects in each category, Üsküdar Üniversitesi will provide patenting support and scholarships of up to 75% for the project students. Additionally, all project owners received a ‘ÜÜ Library Card’ granting unlimited access to the university's campus libraries.
Üsküdar became the district that submitted the most projects…
In the program where certificates of appreciation were given to the teachers assigned by the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education and Üsküdar Üniversitesi panelists, a plaque was also presented to the Üsküdar District Directorate of National Education, which was the district that submitted the most projects this year.
The ceremony’s surprise guest was Robot Fikri
Robot Fikri, the surprise guest of the ceremony which also saw colorful moments, had a lively chat with the ceremony's presenter, journalist Şaban Özdemir, and Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan and Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education Branch Manager Abdurrahman Ensari took a souvenir photo with Robot Fikri.
The ceremony, broadcast live on Üsküdar Üniversitesi Television (ÜÜ TV) and Üsküdar Üniversitesi's official YouTube account, concluded with participants taking a souvenir photo together.
They had fun with a Ceza concert
At the festival, which was enlivened with fun games and shows, musician Enzo İkah gave a performance; young people enjoyed themselves with a concert by Ceza, the successful name of Turkish rap music.
