Applications have started for the 11th Science and Idea Festival (BFF), which Üsküdar Üniversitesi will organize this year for high school students with the theme of “Start an invention!” and in collaboration with the Provincial Directorates of National Education of İstanbul, Bursa, Sakarya, Kocaeli, and Yalova. While the final application deadline for projects has been set as March 13, 2026, the award ceremony will be held on May 15, 2026.
Science and Idea Festival Coordinator Prof. Türker Tekin Ergüzel: “The Science and Idea Festival offers an early R&D experience where students can transform their scientific curiosity into concrete outcomes.”
Applications have started for the 11th Science and Idea Festival (BFF), which Üsküdar Üniversitesi will organize this year for high school students with the theme of “Invent for Us” and in cooperation with the Provincial Directorates of National Education of İstanbul, Bursa, Sakarya, Kocaeli, and Yalova.
A strategic educational move…
Üsküdar Üniversitesi Vice-Rector and Science and Idea Festival Coordinator Prof. Türker Tekin Ergüzel emphasized that the Science and Idea Festival (BFF) is not just a competition, but a strategic educational initiative aimed at introducing young people to scientific thinking, project development, and an entrepreneurial culture at an early age.
Project-oriented education approach is brought to high school level…
Expressing the rationale behind the festival's inception, Prof. Ergüzel said, “The festival's primary goal is to cultivate high school students not merely as individuals who acquire knowledge, but as young people who identify issues in their environment, question, generate solutions, and can transform their ideas into projects. This approach is a reflection of Üsküdar Üniversitesi's project-oriented education philosophy extended to the high school level. The Science and Idea Festival offers an early R&D experience where students can transform their scientific curiosity into concrete outcomes. In this process, students learn to define problems, develop appropriate methods, express their findings in academic language, and present them before a jury. This structure, supported by poster and oral presentation stages, serves as the first application area at the high school level for research and project processes conducted in universities. Thus, students are prepared in advance for the academic and research culture they will encounter when they enter university.”
One of the main goals is that the ideas produced do not remain merely theoretical
Prof. Ergüzel noted that one of the festival's fundamental goals is also for the ideas produced not to remain solely theoretical, but to transform into innovative, sustainable, and socially beneficial projects. He stated, “The evaluation of projects based on widespread impact and sustainability criteria is a natural outcome of Üsküdar Üniversitesi's entrepreneurship and innovation-focused approach. In this respect, the Science and Idea Festival is structured as a strategic educational platform that supports future researchers, entrepreneurs, and scientists at an early age, aiming to make project culture permanent.”
Practical skills and innovative thinking are targeted instead of rote learning…
Emphasizing that in today's world, where practical skills and innovative thinking have replaced rote learning, initiatives like the Science and Idea Festival have become a critical launchpad for the next generation of leaders and inventors, Prof. Ergüzel continued: “This festival offers high school students a unique development area where they can put theoretical knowledge into practice, showcase their creativity, and acquire future competencies today. This platform invites students to move beyond being passive knowledge recipients to become active idea generators and project developers. The fundamental motivation behind the festival is to raise young people who can engage in mental inquiry, think originally, generate new ideas, and possess the ability to transform these ideas into concrete projects. The aim is not only to foster individual success but also to develop critical social skills such as collaborative thinking, sharing, and uniting around a common goal. This vision aims to contribute to the development of young people as well-equipped individuals academically and socially.”
What does participating in the festival offer?
Prof. Ergüzel also stated that Üsküdar Üniversitesi Science and Idea Festival is not merely a competition environment for young inventors; it offers a holistic development area where scientific thinking, R&D, and project development skills are acquired at an early age. He said, “Students participating in the festival experience defining a problem based on their own ideas, producing scientific and innovative solutions to this problem, and transforming their ideas into concrete projects. This process strengthens students' analytical thinking, research, and solution-oriented approach skills, while preparing them for university-level project and R&D studies. The festival represents much more than a competition; this platform is a carefully designed experience area for students' personal and academic development. Participation in the festival, beyond the goal of winning an award, means acquiring valuable skills that will shape a student's future career.”
Multidimensional gains are targeted for young inventors…
Prof. Ergüzel stated that Üsküdar Üniversitesi Science and Idea Festival offers its participants not just a competition experience, but multidimensional gains supporting academic, personal, and career development. He said, “The festival enables students to experience firsthand all stages from the emergence of an idea to its transformation into a project and its presentation in an academic setting. Participants work knowing that their projects will be evaluated according to professional criteria such as original value, methodology, widespread impact, and sustainability. This approach strengthens students' research, analytical thinking, problem definition, and solution generation skills, while naturally contributing to their acquisition of competencies critical in university and professional life, such as resource management, planning, and effective presentation.”
“Patent and Scholarship Support” is provided to the top three projects
Prof. Ergüzel stated that the festival supports the efforts and innovative ideas put forth by young people not only academically but also with tangible awards, and continued as follows: “While monetary awards are given to the top five projects and their advisor teachers in all categories, winning students gain significant career opportunities. Students ranking in the top three are entitled to a 75% education scholarship if they list specific programs of Üsküdar Üniversitesi among their top five preferences and are placed in one of these preferences. This scholarship serves as important support, enabling students to make a strong start to their higher education journey. Furthermore, the patent and career support offered to the top three projects allows students to protect their ideas, provides guidance in patent processes, and makes it possible for projects to transform into concrete products. Projects ranking from 6th to 10th place receive honorable mention awards under the titles of “Good Idea,” “Original Method,” and “Sustainable Project.”
Who, how, and where should apply?
Prof. Ergüzel noted that the application process is designed to be accessible to all high school students and continued as follows:
“Preparatory, 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th-grade students studying in all official and private schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in İstanbul, Bursa, Sakarya, Kocaeli, and Yalova, as well as students from Science and Art Education Centers (BİLSEM) and Research Development Education and Application Centers (ARGEM), can participate in the festival.
Projects are accepted in three main categories: Science and Technology, Social Sciences, and Health Sciences. Applications are not open for individual student participation; all applications are made through advisor teachers.
All procedures, including the project application form, are carried out online via the official website, www.bilimvefikirfestivali.com. A maximum of 4 students can be involved in one project, and each student has the right to participate in the competition with only one project.”
Prof. Ergüzel also stated that projects that have previously won awards in other peer-reviewed and scientifically juried competitions like TÜBİTAK and Teknofest cannot apply to this festival. He said, “Students have the opportunity to present their projects not just to any jury, but to a scientific committee consisting of Üsküdar Üniversitesi's academics and expert teachers appointed by the Ministry of National Education. This experience serves as a direct rehearsal for defending ideas, receiving constructive criticism, and establishing professional communication in an academic environment.”
Every great invention begins with a small curiosity…
Prof. Ergüzel made the following call to young people:“Every great invention begins with a small curiosity. That idea you wondered 'Could it work?' might just turn into a project that shapes your future. The Science and Idea Festival is an invitation for you to take this first step. Trust yourself and your idea.”
Within the scope of the festival, monetary awards are offered to winning projects, incentives to advisor teachers, and a 75% education scholarship and patent support to students ranking in the top three. Additionally, incentives such as honorable mention awards, participation certificates, and an Üsküdar Üniversitesi Library Card await the students.
A total of 600 Thousand TL in awards…
Within the scope of Üsküdar Üniversitesi's 11th Science and Idea Festival, the final application deadline for projects has been set as March 13, 2026, and the award ceremony will be held on May 15, 2026. A total of 600 thousand TL in monetary awards will be given across all categories in the festival.