Turkey's first Science and Idea Festival, organized by Üsküdar University in cooperation with the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education for high schools, was held for the 10th time. Students who ranked in the 10th Science and Idea Festival, which received 534 projects from 56 schools in Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli, and Yalova, applying in teams, were awarded.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan said, "I am very hopeful about young people. Young people have eagerly embraced their projects and generated ideas. All of them can be useful, projects that can be registered and patented."
Istanbul Deputy Governor Mehmet Sülün: “An idea shaped by imagination gains the power to change the world when it meets science.”
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör: "For 10 years, we have been meeting under the roof of Üsküdar University, focused on science."
The 10th Science and Idea Festival (BFF), organized by Üsküdar University for high school students in cooperation with the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education, hosted colorful moments. The award ceremony of the festival, held at Üsküdar University Çarşı Campus, took place in the Emir Nebi Conference Hall with the participation of approximately 1200 students and advisor teachers. This year, the festival, organized with the motto “The Inventor Wins,” received 534 projects from 56 schools in Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli, and Yalova, with students applying in teams.
At the 10th Science and Idea Festival, projects focusing on the potential of artificial intelligence in areas such as health, environment, security, and education attracted attention. Sustainable products developed from waste materials, health technologies that enhance patient comfort, and socially beneficial projects prioritizing accessibility garnered great interest.
Young inventors, offering solutions across a wide range, from plastic pollution to disaster management, chronic diseases to equal opportunities in education, made a significant impact throughout the festival. The festival, held for 10 years, concluded this year by awarding future scientists and innovative ideas.
At the award ceremony, Istanbul Deputy Governor Mehmet Sülün, Üsküdar University Founding Rector and Head of the Executive Board Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör, and Üsküdar University Vice Rector and BFF Coordinator Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel each delivered a speech.
Deputy Governor Mehmet Sülün: “Every project is a reflection of curiosity, an ideal, and a belief in a better future”
Istanbul Deputy Governor Mehmet Sülün said, “An idea shaped by imagination gains the power to change the world when it meets science. Seeing our youth here today, carrying the courage to change that world, gives us all hope. I believe that the Science and Idea Festival will be a journey that enables our youth to think not only with knowledge but also with heart. Every project is a reflection of curiosity, an ideal, and a belief in a better future. I extend my heartfelt thanks to the architects of this valuable process, to all our educators who stand by our youth and guide them, and to our contributing institutions. Because with your support, these hopes flourish, and these lights shine. On this beautiful day when we applaud the architects of the future, I congratulate everyone who contributed and sincerely wish our youth success.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: "Science Festival Triggered the Birth of Teknofest"
Üsküdar University Founding Rector and Head of the Executive Board Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan emphasized the contributions of such events to the learning processes of young people and the scientific development of the country.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that the festival was first launched in 2014, based on the finding that the human brain learns best permanently in enjoyable and disciplined environments, adding that this initiative later triggered the birth of Teknofest, one of Turkey's most important technology events.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan said, “TEKNOFEST, which we all know today, emerged in Turkey. In fact, what triggered the emergence of this festival was the Science Festival held in 2020. Currently, really great work is being done at TEKNOFEST. It particularly opens up great horizons for young people. Because for a project to emerge, one must first dream.”
Dreams are necessary for projects to emerge
Emphasizing that one must dream purposefully for projects to emerge, Prof. Dr. Tarhan gave the example of Newton observing an apple fall and discovering the law of gravity. Prof. Dr. Tarhan stated that such great discoveries are preceded by a long period of thought and an “incubation period.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan noted that many of the technology valleys established in Turkey have not achieved the desired efficiency, emphasizing that the success of Silicon Valley in America depends not only on physical infrastructure but also on the right “mindset,” which is a “mental sanctuary.”
Prof. Dr. Tarhan: “21st century skill is teamwork”
Underlining that the 21st-century skill is teamwork, Prof. Dr. Tarhan expressed his confidence and hope in young people in his speech.
Prof. Dr. Tarhan drew attention to the increase in the quality of projects exhibited at the festival, saying, "I am very hopeful about young people. Young people have eagerly embraced their projects and generated ideas. All of them can be useful, projects that can be registered and patented."
Tarhan stated that Üsküdar University also supports young people in their patent processes and underlined the importance of courage in generating projects and dreaming.
Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör: "For 10 years, we have been meeting under the roof of Üsküdar University, focused on science"
Üsküdar University Rector Prof. Dr. Nazife Güngör emphasized that young people's interest in scientific studies and their achievements in this field are of great importance for the future of both Turkey and the world.
Prof. Dr. Güngör stated, "For 10 years, we have been meeting under the roof of Üsküdar University, focused on science, focused on projects," and added that life becomes more beautiful and meaningful with projects. Prof. Dr. Güngör noted that Üsküdar University aims to make small touches to young people's science-oriented projects and lives, saying, "As you pass through your science-focused roadmap, we try to support you as much as we can."
Üsküdar University is a science and invention production center…
Emphasizing that Üsküdar University is a science and invention production center, Prof. Dr. Güngör used the expressions, "We know that humanity is saved by science. We know that humanity achieves its freedom through science. With science, there will be a perfect world, a perfect future." She stated that since 2011, the University has attached great importance to scientific production as well as quality education and aims to raise young people as competent individuals in their professional fields.
Prof. Dr. Güngör said that the projects exhibited at the festival are a product of young people's efforts to transform their ideas into scientific outputs, adding, "Today, some will be deemed worthy of an award, but the others will not fail. The others will also be developed. The others will also gain value in other competitions." She congratulated all participating young people. Stating that undertaking a project is a success in itself and that young people showing this courage is admirable, Prof. Dr. Güngör said, "Today's world will now achieve success and be more perfect with entrepreneurial young people, with entrepreneurial minds like yours."
Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel: “70% of young people in Turkey want to start their own business”
Üsküdar University Vice Rector and BFF Coordinator Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel stated that entrepreneurship forms the foundation not only of economic but also of social development, emphasizing that proper guidance is critically important for young entrepreneurs to succeed.
Prof. Dr. Ergüzel stated that 100 million new ventures are established worldwide every year, but a significant portion of these ventures fail, drawing attention to the potential in this area by saying, "In countries where entrepreneurship is successful, the youth unemployment rate is 50% lower ."
Prof. Dr. Ergüzel stated that 70% of young people aged 18-24 in Turkey want to start their own business, but only 5% of them succeed, adding, "Because young people need more guidance in the project management process here."
Prof. Dr. Ergüzel stated that to address this need, Üsküdar University organized a science and idea festival for young researchers, saying, "We organized this science and idea festival to teach project management and guide our young researchers, which is one of the fundamental problems of higher education. In this way, we wish to facilitate their aspirations by teaching our young people to see their lives as a project and to manage their time, skills, and resources correctly."
Halide İncekara: “You all deserve an award”
Rector's Advisor Halide İncekara also stated that they are working on the topic “Notice, Contribute, Stand Out” at the Üsküdar University Special Talents Research Center, saying, “The teachers and students here are trying to notice and contribute. I heartily congratulate all of you. You all deserve an award.”
"Feeling Human" Statue Presented..
Following the speeches, Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan presented the "Feeling Human Statue" to Istanbul Deputy Governor Mehmet Sülün, Kocaeli Provincial Director of National Education Ömer Akmanşen, Beylikdüzü District Director of National Education Zekeriya Postacı, who contributed the most projects, Prof. Dr. Türker Tekin Ergüzel, and Informatics Valley General Manager Erkam Tüzgen.
Awards…
At the Üsküdar University 10th Science and Idea Festival, projects competed in three categories: Health Sciences, Social Sciences, and Science and Technology. Projects that ranked in the festival were awarded.
Within the scope of the 10th Science and Idea Festival, which received 534 projects from 56 schools in Istanbul, Bursa, Kocaeli, and Yalova, with students applying in teams, in each category; the first-place project was awarded 30,000 TL, the second-place project 25,000 TL, and the third-place project 22,500 TL cash prize. The top 3 projects in each category will receive “Patent Support” from Üsküdar University. The advisor teachers of the winning students also received an award equivalent to half the value of the winning project's prize.
A total of 500,000 TL in awards was distributed to the winning projects.
Among the students who ranked in the top 3 in each category separately, for those who list Üsküdar University's paid, 25% and 50% discounted programs among their first five preferences and are placed in one of these preferences, the discount rate is increased to 75%.
Winners in the Science and Technology category…
In the Science and Technology category, the project named YABAN (Plant Adaptation Analysis with Software) from Istanbul Atatürk Science High School came first. The students received their awards from Istanbul Deputy Governor Mehmet Sülün. The project “Theoretical Simulation and Practical Optimization of an Innovative Vertical Axis Fan” from Bursa Halil İnalcık Science and Art Center came second, and the project “Production, Characterization, and Optimization of Supercapacitors Charged Using Laser-Assisted Self-Synthesized Quantum Dots” from Bursa Özel Şahinkaya Science High School came third.
Award-winning projects in the Health Sciences category…
In the Health Sciences category, Istanbul Özel Bakırköy Uğur Anatolian High School achieved first place with its project ‘Algorithmic Serum Tracking System’. The award for the first-place project was presented by Üsküdar University Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan.
In the same category, Bursa Karacabey Ulviye Matlı Science High School secured second place with its ‘Ateş Kes’ project, and Istanbul Avcılar Özel Okyanus Science and Project High School secured third place with its ‘PHYTOSILVER: Developed with Biotechnology, Empowered by Nature!’ project.
Ranked in the Social Sciences category
In the Social Sciences category, students from Istanbul Özel Başakşehir Yenidoğu Science High School, who came first with their project ‘The Effect of Peer Learning Based Interdisciplinary Education Model on Young People's Acquisition of Technical Skills and Project Production Competence,’ received their award from Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan.
In the Social Sciences category, students from Istanbul Avcılar Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School took second place with their project ‘I Choose My Clothes with Image Processing Technique for the Visually Impaired,’ and students from Istanbul Bahçelievler Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Science and Art Center took third place with their project ‘Optimization of Istanbul M7 Metro Line Timetables with Fuzzy Logic Approach.’
Sustainable Project Award
On the other hand, projects ranked between 11 and 20 across all categories were given the “Good Idea, Original Method, Sustainable Project” award in the honorable mention category.
Furthermore, a plaque was presented to Beylikdüzü District Director of National Education Zekeriya Postacı, who submitted the most projects to the Science and Idea Festival. All participating students received a certificate of participation, and all participating schools received a plaque or a certificate of appreciation.
The ceremony, broadcast live on Üsküdar University Television (ÜÜ TV) and Üsküdar University's official Youtube account, concluded with participants taking a souvenir photo together
