At Turkey's first Science and Idea Festival, organized by Üsküdar University in cooperation with the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education for high schools, Deniz Cartı, Berk Çınar Aydemir, and Fuat Kağan Kalaycı from Doğan Cüceloğlu Science High School came first in the Science and Technology category. The project aimed to increase the efficiency of solar cells, and with the prepared setup, light harvesting was contributed, increasing solar cell efficiency by 4.3 times.
At the 9th Science and Idea Festival (BFF), organized by Üsküdar University in cooperation with the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education for high school students, the awarded projects showcased the imaginative worlds of young people.
This year, 416 students from 73 schools across Istanbul applied with 197 projects in teams for the festival, held for the 9th time with the motto 'Your Idea, Your Invention'. While the awarded students and their advisor teachers received their awards at a ceremony, the students' projects garnered significant attention.
Solar energy from renewable sources: clean and inexhaustible…
In the Science and Technology category, Deniz Cartı, Berk Çınar Aydemir, and Fuat Kağan Kalaycı from Doğan Cüceloğlu Science High School came first with their project titled 'Effects of Nanovoltaic Luminescent Nano Graphene Quantum Dot Solution and 7-Mercapto-4-Methylcoumarin Usages on Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells'. The students received their awards with their advisor teacher, Yonca Bozkurt.
Energy demand is increasing…
The project highlighted that increasing global population and industrialization continuously raise energy demand. While the use of fossil fuels meets most of our energy needs, it also leads to consequences such as global warming and climate change. The increase in energy consumption and the fact that fossil fuels will be completely depleted in the future emphasize the importance of seeking new energy sources.
The project emphasized that solar energy, as a renewable energy source, is highly ideal due to being clean and inexhaustible. It was also pointed out that with the development of nanoscience and nanotechnology today, studies on the use of nanostructured materials in solar cells are increasingly developing.
Solar cell efficiency increased by 4.3 times
In the first-place project by Deniz Cartı, Berk Çınar Aydemir, and Fuat Kağan Kalaycı from Doğan Cüceloğlu Science High School, the aim was to increase the efficiency of solar cells, and with the prepared setup, light harvesting was contributed, increasing solar cell efficiency by 4.3 times.
Didn't discard the peels, extended shelf life
In the Science and Technology category, Kudret Hümeyra Kula from Özel Okyanus Science and Project High School came second with her project titled 'Don't Discard the Peels, Multiply the Shelf Life'. The students received their awards with their advisor teacher, İdil Melis Dinç.
According to the project, which highlighted the increasing importance of studies on natural films that extend food shelf life, and according to 2019 data from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization; global pineapple production exceeds 30 million tons, with an average of 50% of the pineapple fruit becoming waste, and the increasing pineapple production each year significantly boosts waste volume, leading to environmental problems.
In this study, the aim was to extend the shelf life of foods by producing an edible film from pineapple peel, which is rich in cellulose, hemicellulose, protein, and phenolic compounds. It was also aimed to extend the shelf life of foods preserved by coating them with edible film produced from pineapple peel. If the project is realized, it will extend the shelf life of foods in a high value-added, eco-friendly, and natural way.
The Disaster Chair project aimed to increase safety during earthquakes
It was pointed out that the most important parts of the human body to protect during earthquakes are the head and neck areas, and the Disaster Chair project aimed to increase safety during an earthquake.
In the project, sensors will send an early warning signal before an earthquake, allowing people to evacuate to a safe place. Additionally, thanks to the helmet and backrest systems integrated into the chairs, it aims to increase the chance of survival by enabling the 'drop, cover, and hold on' action during an earthquake. The project addresses the long or short-term effects of earthquake tremors and also aims to reduce the risk of injury by protecting body parts.
Informing relatives when a crisis is detected with smartwatch technology
In the Health Sciences category, Elif İklim Sevim, Beyza Erdem, and Süveybe Sena Çetiner from Kağıthane Girls' Anatolian Imam Hatip High School came first with their project titled 'Seize The Day'. The students received their awards with their advisor teacher, Bilge Yılmaz.
The project titled 'Seize The Day', prepared for epilepsy, a common disease in childhood and adolescence, aims to free epilepsy patients from the daily epilepsy diaries they struggle to keep, and at the same time, to immediately inform patient relatives when a crisis is detected via smartwatch technology. The smartwatch also reminds the patient of medication times.
In the Health Sciences category, Naime Duru Sarıgül from FVM Özel Işık High School came second with her project titled 'Production of Alternative Mouthwash from Juniper, Cinnamon, and Sage Plants'. Sarıgül received her award with her advisor teacher, Gizem Türer.
In the Health Sciences category, Rumeysa Güdük, Ebrar Yabalak, and Rabia Alkış from Kağıthane Girls' Anatolian Imam Hatip High School won third place with their project titled 'Breath Of Life'. The students received their awards with their advisor teacher, Barış Turan.
Awarded in the Social Sciences category
In the Social Sciences category, Ahmet Ufuk Gökçe from Özel Çekmeköy Derya Öncü Anatolian High School, prepared under the mentorship of his teacher Nagihan Demir, came first with his project titled 'Different Perspectives on Refugees of European and Middle Eastern Origin, a Comparison of Turkey and Germany'.
In the Social Sciences category, Ömer Yağız Zengin and Toprak Acar from Özel Esenkent Okyanus Anatolian High School, under the mentorship of their teacher Feyyaz Bilici, came second with their project titled 'Sustainable Water Production from Atmosphere to Fields for a Waterless World'.
Efe Yargısal, Serra Yıldız, and Mahmut Arda Dursun from TED Özel Atakent Anatolian High School, prepared under the mentorship of their teacher Elif Buran, were awarded third place with their project titled 'Web 0.2 Supported Application for Teaching Turkish Proverbs and Idioms to Foreigners Through Film/Series Clips'.