The 5th Scientific Research Summit titled “Transdisciplinary Approach in Science and Art” was organized by Üsküdar University Health Culture and Sports (SKS) Department and the Strategic Research and Development Club (ÜSAK). The concept of 'Transdisciplinary' was discussed at the summit, which brought together experts from various fields.
Üsküdar University Strategic Research and Development Club Advisor, Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication, Public Relations and Publicity Department Dr. Lecturer Nejla Polat, Researcher and Multidisciplinary Artist Nihal Konçu Akhuy, Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Art History Faculty Member and Associate Dean Prof. Dr. Nuri Seçgin, İstanbul Aydın University Radio, Television and Cinema Department Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hale Torun, Ebru Artist Hikmet Barutçugil, Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences TRGENMER Director Dr. Lecturer Cihan Taştan, Üsküdar Children's University and Bilsem Student Elif Sare Şentürk, İstanbul Kültür University Faculty of Art and Design, Art and Culture Management Department Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Reyhan Uludağ, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Vedat Akdamar, and Actor-Director-Writer Tamer Levent attended the program.
The opening speeches of the program, held at the Üsküdar University Central Campus Nermin Tarhan Conference Hall, were delivered by Üsküdar University Strategic Research and Development Club Advisor, Üsküdar University Faculty of Communication, Public Relations and Publicity Department Dr. Lecturer Nejla Polat, and Üsküdar University Strategic Research and Development Club President Ercan Büyüktepe.
Ercan Büyüktepe: “Transdisciplinary approach has an important place in research and development”
Emphasizing the results of their interviews on the concept of transdisciplinarity, Üsküdar University Strategic Research and Development Club President Ercan Büyüktepe said; “Interaction and cooperation among science, art, technology, and humanities are necessary to find solutions to today’s complex and interconnected problems. One of the main reasons for organizing this summit as a research club is to highlight the significant place of the transdisciplinary approach in research and development today and in the future. Relying solely on the knowledge and approach of a single discipline is no longer sufficient. The challenges we face require multiple perspectives and expertise. At this summit, our artists and scientists will come together to transcend the boundaries of their own disciplines and gain new knowledge and insights. Their experiences and discoveries demonstrate how productive transdisciplinary collaboration can be. The outcome of our own experiences and club activities is that; we observed that generally 4 out of 10 people had never heard of the transdisciplinary concept, 3 people had heard of it but didn't know exactly what it was, and the remaining 3 people knew its correct definition. Considering that our research universe consisted of university students, we concluded that the transdisciplinary approach, an important concept in science and art today, and its significance are not sufficiently known. Therefore, the importance of this concept should be emphasized with programs that will create more awareness to increase its recognition.”
Dr. Lecturer Nejla Polat: “A transdisciplinary approach has been needed”
Dr. Lecturer Nejla Polat pointed out that different disciplines need to work together in harmony to solve complex problems affecting a large portion of the world's population. Polat stated; “Today, to solve complex problems affecting a large part of the world's population, such as global warming, environmental pollution, sustainability, poverty, and inequality, different disciplines need to work together in harmony. To achieve this harmony, a transdisciplinary approach has been needed, recognizing that independent disciplines are insufficient in understanding and solving complex social and environmental problems. In interdisciplinary studies, while multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches may seem similar at first glance, they have some fundamental differences. Multidisciplinary approach refers to ‘different disciplines coming together within their unique characteristics and approaching the same problem from different perspectives,’ while transdisciplinarity is considered ‘an approach where these disciplines not only come together but also interact with each other to produce new, integrated, and holistic knowledge and understanding.’ The transdisciplinary approach is becoming increasingly important for solving complex problems in science, technology, and art. Transdisciplinarity not only helps solve existing problems but also paves the way for the emergence of ideas that will shape the future. In areas where art and science converge, artists and scientists can create more advanced ideas by bringing together both the aesthetic dimension of art and the functional dimension of science.”
Nihal Konçu Akhuy: “The use of art in different disciplines is an effort to build bridges between science and art”
Researcher and multidisciplinary artist Nihal Konçu Akhuy, stating that the Transdisciplinary Approach in Science and Art is seen as a popular approach worldwide today; “Science and art are universal languages that support each other. In every era, developments related to science and technology have influenced the individual's way of understanding and questioning the world. Art has influenced science, and science has influenced and continues to influence art. This is why the use of art in different disciplines offers fundamental strategies and benefits for the development of an individual's growth, education, and creativity. Working interdisciplinarily and integrating art and science is an effort to build bridges between science and art, rather than constructing walls. With today's technology, an artificial, virtual, and digital creation process has been achieved. This creative process has naturally affected the tools, equipment, and applications of the era in industry and art. Technology has provided the artist with endless creative design possibilities in the artistic creation process, enabling cooperation between technology and art. Today, in the interdisciplinary formation, technology, like other disciplines, continues to be both the source and the object of art.”
Prof. Dr. Nuri Seçgin: “Curiosity about art starts from ancient times”
Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University Art History Faculty Member and Associate Dean Prof. Dr. Nuri Seçgin delivered a presentation titled ‘Transdisciplinary Approach in Art History’. Seçgin stated; “I will approach the topic from an art history perspective. Curiosity about art begins in ancient times. There was no interest in the Middle Ages, or if there was, it was suppressed, but we see this interest reviving during the Renaissance. However, art history as a scientific discipline first began in the mid-19th century in Germany with the establishment of the art history chair at the University of Berlin. Looking at its history in Turkey, it begins about a century later, towards the mid-20th century, with the establishment of the art history chair at İstanbul University. The first studies on art history in Turkey were translations. After a certain period, original works were also produced, but in the context of the subject, we see that the studies were more superficial during these periods. Perhaps the conditions of that era necessitated this. Because we see that in almost every scientific discipline, areas of specialization in science are becoming increasingly specific.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hale Torun: “A society that loses its poetry loses itself”
İstanbul Aydın University Radio, Television and Cinema Department Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hale Torun delivered a presentation titled ‘The Role of Geography in Art’. Torun stated; “Instead of thinking about art alone, I prefer to approach it through humanity and its fundamental story. Everything I can say today was said thousands of years ago and continues to be said. It's about looking under the carpet. Poetry takes the place of the sacred. Mahmoud Darwish also said this; ‘What matters is poetry.’ A society that has lost its poetry inflicts wounds that it will never heal. A society that loses its poetry loses itself. Why are we ashamed to say we are an agricultural society today, after such a great civilization? Is being an industrial society a very important thing? Being an agricultural society is much more important. A door is a country, a heart, a thought, a structure. Those who conquer the East first destroy the door. The first to arrive destroys the door from here. Cities are not built haphazardly. Ancient cities are deliberately and intentionally established by choosing centers. We have many thought structures related to the East. Like women and humans. We have the character Leyla. We are a civilization that has been able to express women with poetry, songs, and music for very long periods, and to say that you only look at women this way or that way would be unfair to us. We came from where the mother goddess was. I think we are looking at this issue by being unfair to ourselves. The nobility of geography comes before everything else.”
Hikmet Barutçugil: “Calligraphy is also Transdisciplinary”
Ebru Artist Hikmet Barutçugil, stating that Ebru works are a book art and that these works address the concept of transdisciplinarity; “The one who makes the paper, the one who makes the calligrapher, the one who creates the aesthetic pleasure, the one who draws the lines are different. There is an art form, ‘Cetvel Keş’ (ruler master), who only draws lines; this is transdisciplinary. Calligraphy falls within the holistic scope of this transdisciplinarity. When we look at it, many unrelated things come together. Calligraphy, which encompasses many different concepts such as the stem of a rose, a horse's tail, moss, the earth itself, the patterns created by water, and the formation of marble, is also transdisciplinary.”
Dr. Lecturer Cihan Taştan: “Science is perhaps my field of art as well”
Üsküdar University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences TRGENMER Director Dr. Lecturer Cihan Taştan stated; “We are trying to produce things within science. Science is perhaps my field of art as well. I love science. The laboratory is also a place where I constantly look at things I'm curious about. We are trying to implement what we call transdisciplinarity in our field and create awareness. We are a lucky generation living healthy lives. In our country, 5 to 8 million people suffer from genetic diseases due to consanguineous marriages. We are looking for treatments for these. People suffering from such diverse diseases live in cages within their own universe. Because no one touches them, no one brings them out. Through these efforts, we want those children to come out and say, 'You saw us too, you recognized us too, and we saw you.' Being here from a very different field is strange for me, but I am very happy.”
Elif Sare Şentürk: “In every painting I create, I embark on a journey in my dreams”
Üsküdar Children's University and Bilsem Student Elif Sare Şentürk, mentioning that she reflects whatever she dreams of at that moment onto her canvas in her painting works; “When I paint, I actually try to reflect onto my canvas the things I want to achieve in my own dream world. I have given a name to my works; 'From Elif's Window.' As I said here, whatever is in my dream, my thoughts, my feelings, I usually depict my works on my canvas this way. Since childhood, I actually love reading books by scientists, experimenting, painting, playing the piano, and writing stories. I add my thoughts from the books I read to my paintings. While reading books, I create small dreams, and naturally, these dreams lead me to paint. At that moment, the dreams I formed in the story I read come to my mind, and that's how I find inspiration in my paintings.”
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Reyhan Uludağ: “Creativity should break away from the classical understanding of painting”
İstanbul Kültür University Faculty of Art and Design, Art and Culture Management Department Head Assoc. Prof. Dr. Reyhan Uludağ delivered a presentation on the transformation of painting into moving images and video art. Uludağ stated; “Actually, my field is naturally painting, but I will try to explain to you the connection of painting with video art, its connection with photography, and how these influence each other. Creativity should break away from the classical understanding of painting. Painting influences everything today, but the change in painting came with the invention of photography. The beginning of a more abstract style and a more intellectual style actually started with photography. Television became one of the most important elements of video in our lives, where both movement and visual perception are formed. The main reason for this was the inclusion of television in our homes. Because we all had televisions in our homes and could watch videos directly from there. Consequently, movement is very important today, but its foundation is not very active without drawing, pattern, and sketching. Handiwork and creativity should be present somewhere and combine with video to capture that art. Yes, dynamism is important, but creativity should break away from the classical understanding of painting.”
Vedat Akdamar: “Life is a right, while living is about how you sustain life”
Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Vedat Akdamar, pointing out that the art of living is a state that can be sustained according to pleasure and enjoyment after basic needs are met; “Are we merely pawns struggling in the nets of what we call fate while searching for happiness, or are we artists who create our own lives through our choices? The more appropriate title, as the art of living, is that life is a right, while living is about how you sustain life. It is a process and situation that can be continued according to taste and pleasure after basic needs are met. Art begins right here. The art of living describes how we all strive for happiness, make some choices for happiness, give up others, shape our lives around happiness, and guide our lives according to happiness. Although we may lack certain tools, in such a society, rightly or wrongly, we want to direct our lives towards a purpose to use our own talents and resources. He calls the individual's effort to sustain their life based on their own inner strength 'The Art of Living'.”
Tamer Levent “I believe what we discussed needs to be named in this era”
Actor-Director-Writer Tamer Levent, mentioning that art is a way of measuring the value of a work done, said, “Today, it's as if we conducted a mini 'Yes to Art' institute study here. We talked about all disciplines. For example, my esteemed professor Cihan Taştan asked, 'Which genetic factors ensure a product's quality?' He's talking about measurement and evaluation. Aristotle also refers to art as measurement and evaluation. We have a perception that there are fine arts, performing arts. When we say 'arts,' the word 'art' refers to 'Plastic Arts' in the field of fine arts. We were going to hold a seminar in Cyprus, and someone called from there. They asked, 'Mr. Tamer, what do you mean by plastic here? Do you mean plastic materials?' Now, there might be people who understand plastic arts this way, so I couldn't be angry with him, and we have no right to be, because is the essence of the concept 'arts' or 'art'? Or is it 'art'? Then we are also misusing the art of cooking. We are misusing the art of speaking because we don't fall into the category of 'arts.' When we look at it with this logic, none of these can be art, but we constantly add the word 'art' behind them. As if we want to prove it's something better. Now, which is correct and which is wrong? Is 'arts' correct, or is 'art' correct? People experience some setbacks, and this allows them to discover new understandings, but for a while, those setbacks are perceived as real by a certain segment, as if they were real. For it to be perceived that way, a conflict must have occurred. I demand the establishment of the 'Yes to Art!' Institute because I believe all that we have discussed, as a vision, needs to be named in this era.”
Actor-Director-Writer Tamer Levent signed his readers' books after his speech.
Exhibition 'From Elif's Window' drew attention
Üsküdar Children's University and Bilsem Student Elif Sare Şentürk presented her exhibition 'From Elif's Window' to the participants. Şentürk, providing information about her work on the theme of Elif, explained her works to the participants with the words; "Here, the vines are embracing Elif, but at first, I tried to make it resemble a rose, then I changed it and tried to make something else. I made a carnation flower because it is associated with the scent of Hz. Ali."
After the questions were answered, plaques were presented to the participants.
The summit concluded with a group photo session.