With the support of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Health, Culture and Sports Department (SKS), the STEM Club organized a 'STEM Congress' within the scope of the ÜNİDES program affiliated with the Ministry of Youth and Sports. The two-day congress, held with the participation of expert academics, industry professionals, and young entrepreneurs, covered many different fields, from artificial intelligence to athlete genetics, from cybersecurity to biotechnology. Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who delivered the opening conference of the congress titled "PSYCHOLOGY 5.0 – Human and AI algorithms," stated that individual intelligence has been replaced by group intelligence. Emphasizing the information state of matter, Tarhan said; “The Phoenix is a bird of knowledge. It is a very powerful literary symbol that describes the transformation of information. The Phoenix of this era is artificial intelligence.”
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, Psychiatrist and Founding Rector of Üsküdar Üniversitesi, delivered the opening conference of the congress held at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Main Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall. Dr. Mehmet Kaan İldiz, Lecturer at the Software Engineering (English) Department of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, and Merve Sena Çınar, Co-founder and President of the STEM Projects Club, also made opening speeches.
Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan: “Group intelligence replaced individual intelligence”
Emphasizing the prominence of group intelligence in the 21st century, Tarhan stated that young people who want to seize the future should be talent scouts. Tarhan said, “Because there are many talents out there. Discovering these talents, paving their way, and directing state projects in this direction is one of the areas where we feel most responsible. There is a study conducted in the USA. According to this study, 70 percent of young people want to start their own businesses. Especially Generation Z and the new generation want to do their own work in management projects, but only 5 percent of this 70 percent can succeed. To succeed, they need to be part of an ecosystem. If they stay outside this ecosystem, their efforts easily fade away. Therefore, establishing a research and development ecosystem is essential. Because this seriously requires support and a strong network. In the past century, individual geniuses were at the forefront; names like Edison were the stars of their era. We are now in the 21st century, and this century is a period where group intelligence is at the forefront. Individual intelligence has now been replaced by group intelligence. Therefore, people who work as a team and produce together will succeed in this era.”
Tarhan: “Social transformation doesn't happen without mental transformation”
Giving examples from Silicon Valley, Tarhan stated that social transformation would not happen without mental transformation. Tarhan said, “Mental transformation is a very critical issue. For example, we always talk about Silicon Valley. What we call Silicon Valley is a mindset, not just a physical space but a mental environment. People working with that mindset can achieve the same success even without being there. Therefore, what we call Silicon Valley is a way of thinking, an understanding. Innovation is also like this; it starts with a mental change. If you want to innovate somewhere, changing machines is easy, but changing people's mindsets and prejudices is more difficult.”
“Artificial intelligence did not emerge by chance”
Stating that artificial intelligence emerged as a result of long-term accumulation, Tarhan said; “Artificial intelligence will have the same impact that the printing press had in human history. Last year we called this Psychology 5.0. Last year, two people received the physics prize. One is a geneticist, the other a cognitive psychologist. There were objections to this award in the physics community, but it was explained with such solid reasoning… The geneticist works on genetic algorithms. The cognitive psychologist works on artificial neural networks at the University of Toronto. So, one is interested in biologically-based computations, and the other in cognitive models that treat the mind like a computer. Both of these fields of study actually form the basis of artificial intelligence. What they put forward is fuzzy logic, that is, the calculation of fuzzy logic. Previously, in Newtonian physics, everything was black or white, governed by classical logic. Now we have moved beyond classical physics. In other words, artificial intelligence did not emerge by chance. It was formed by the accumulation of all these studies. The point that artificial intelligence has reached is a product of this long-term scientific accumulation.”
“We must determine the meaning and purpose of life”
Stating that artificial intelligence should be used as a tool, Tarhan said; “Another area where artificial intelligence algorithms can be used is psychotherapy. Some software has started to emerge now. The person types their problem on the screen, and artificial intelligence answers it. This situation has also created an anxiety among some psychologists, wondering ‘Will we no longer be needed?’ Because artificial intelligence can synthesize based on existing information, but its accuracy is not always guaranteed. In other words, we will not blindly trust artificial intelligence and shape our lives accordingly. We will use artificial intelligence as a tool. We will set the goal. Artificial intelligence can only accelerate us on this path. We must determine the meaning and purpose of life. Because humans are greater than artificial intelligence. Yes, the human body consists of substances like oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, phosphorus, but what makes a human being is far beyond these. When a person dies, not even 1 gram is lost from their body, but vitality departs. That is why it is a big mistake to see a human only as a mechanical or robotic being.”
“Artificial intelligence is the Phoenix of this era”
Emphasizing the information state of matter, Tarhan said; “We know the three states of matter: solid, liquid, and gas. Now, another new state has been discovered: the information state of matter. Everything starts with information. Then comes mathematics; everything has a calculation, there is calculability. This is where artificial intelligence comes into play. It emerged as calculable. Then comes design; the design of everything is formed. After design, energy, that is, physics, comes into play. The fourth step is chemistry. The fifth step is again chemistry, but now matter is formed. The sixth step is biology; life begins. So, we can think of existence in the universe in 6 scientific layers. Information comes first. That is why accessing information is very important. This idea actually exists in mythologies as well. In Persian mythology, there is the Simurg bird. In Turkish mythology, it is called Zümrüdüanka or Tuğrul. This bird is the bird of knowledge. It is born three times from its ashes, dies three times, and revives again. It is a very powerful literary symbol that describes the transformation of information. In psychology and therapies, we also use this Phoenix metaphor. Because even if a person experiences an event and is devastated, they can rise from their ashes again. Information does not perish. No matter how many storms occur, information is reborn. The Phoenix of this era is artificial intelligence. Computers, artificial intelligence... They find information, make mistakes, then find it again. They make mistakes again, find it again. This cycle continues. We should look at artificial intelligence with this perspective. We should see it as a tool to improve ourselves and achieve our goals.”
Dr. Mehmet Kaan İldiz, Lecturer: “My belief in their continued determined path is complete”
Dr. Mehmet Kaan İldiz, Lecturer at the Software Engineering (English) Department of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences at Üsküdar Üniversitesi, delivered the opening speech of the program. Ildiz said; “When the STEM Club first came to meet with me, I saw a parallel to my own areas of interest. That is, they all wanted to establish an interdisciplinary field from different areas, different working groups. The projects they developed and the activities they carried out required a discussion environment where different areas of expertise and students shared their views. This, frankly, was a part that excited me both in my own career and in my students’ careers. I have full faith that by participating in projects, Teknofest participations, and our professors’ research, they will continue their work with the same determination, belief, and self-confidence, addressing their shortcomings and developing themselves to decisively continue on their path.”
Merve Sena Çınar: “STEM is a community that builds the future”
Merve Sena Çınar, Co-founder and President of the STEM Projects Club, spoke at the opening of the event. Çınar said; “I thank our management and audit member friends, project directors, and project members who worked tirelessly day and night for the realization of this congress. I would also like to sincerely thank our stakeholders who did not withhold their support for the realization of this valuable organization. The sponsorship support provided under the ÜNİDES program affiliated with the Ministry of Youth and Sports greatly contributed to our congress reaching wider audiences. I especially thank Üsküdar Kırkambar Art Center, which will host our marbling workshop activities, our valuable academic professors who always make us feel their support, and our Founding Rector Prof. Dr. Nevzat Tarhan, who supported us today only in the opening speech. STEM: is a community that brings together science, technology, engineering, and mathematics, building the future. We not only talk about this approach but also strive to produce, share, and grow it.”
On the first day of the congress, Dr. Vedat Kamer, Lecturer at Istanbul Üniversitesi and Co-Founder of Mono Bilişim, contributed to the congress with his presentation titled “Free Software Philosophy,” Tansel Akgül, CTO of ArVis Technology, with “Quantum Computing Methods in Artificial Intelligence,” Cybersecurity Expert Süleyman Güneş with “An Overview of Cybersecurity,” Emre Savcı, Trendyol Group Tech Lead, with “AI Agent,” and Sultan Gül, Co-Founder of Microhibist Biotechnology, with “Possible: Entrepreneurships Blossoming with Women's Hands.”
Project presentations were also held within the scope of the Congress
The Complete Robot Project Team, System Admins Project Team, Air and Naval Systems Strategic Innovation Project Team, Cybersecurity Project Team, and Software Key Project Team shared their presentations with the participants.
Various workshops were held after the project presentations
A marbling workshop was held at Üsküdar Kırkambar Art Center. Activities such as a storytelling workshop and 3D printing painting were also carried out.
The congress continued for two days
On the second day of the congress, Prof. Dr. Korkut Ulucan, Director of KİMER, from Marmara Üniversitesi Dentistry, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, contributed to the congress with his presentation titled “Athlete Genetics.” Dr. Tayfun Gözler, Assistant Director of KİMER, Specialist at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Medical Genetics and Diagnosis Laboratory, with “Laboratory Animals.” Prof. Dr. Tunç Akkoç, from Marmara Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine, Basic Medical Sciences, with “Regenerative Treatments and Rejuvenation.” Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, Dean of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine, with “The Future of Health Professionals in the 21st Century.”
Turkish music recital was also held
Lecturer Tolgahan Üsküdarlı, Lecturer Ümit Atalay, Research Assistant Tarık Duman, and Eda Öztemur from Haliç Üniversitesi Conservatory performed a unique music recital.
Following the music recital, Clinical Psychologist Betül Erdoğan shared her presentation titled “Hardware and Software of the Human Brain: A Journey on Development and Attachment” with the participants.
Project presentations were also made on the second day of the congress
The Medigene Project Team, Biochem Project Team, and Mind Research Alliance Project Team presented their projects.
The closing speech of the congress was delivered by Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur, Dean of Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Medicine.
The congress concluded with a group photo shoot.