The "Science Café" events initiated nationwide under the leadership of the Council of Higher Education (COHE) were also held by Üsküdar University. In collaboration with the Ümraniye Municipality, the "Science Café Meetings" took place at Ümraniye Nation’s Garden.
Head of the Criminal Justice Master's Program Prof. Aylin Yalçın Sarıbey stated, “We try to make the silent witnesses at the crime scene speak using scientific methods, because they never lie.”
Dr. Cihan Taştan, Principal Investigator of the MESSAGE experiment, said: “We have been designing an experiment for about two years. Not a single student worked in the lab. We developed a robot, and this robot conducted the experiments. Our students managed to change the genetics of a cell by entering commands from home without ever stepping into the lab. We are trying to integrate artificial intelligence into this.”
Within the scope of the “Science Café” events launched simultaneously across universities in all 81 provinces of Türkiye by COHE in the last week of May, Üsküdar University brought science and the public together.
In collaboration with Ümraniye Municipality, Üsküdar University hosted an enjoyable and informative “Science Café Meeting” at Ümraniye Nation’s Garden. Delivering the opening speech, Assoc. Prof. Cihan Becan, Faculty Member in the Advertising Department of the Faculty of Communication and Coordinator of the Science Communication Office at Üsküdar University, said: “We are holding the Üsküdar University leg of the Science Café events planned to be launched in all universities as of the last week of May under the leadership of our Higher Education Council.”
Science, forensics, and the secrets of space were discussed
Moderated by Şaban Özdemir, Head of the Media PR Unit at Üsküdar University Corporate Communications Department, the event featured Prof. Aylin Yalçın Sarıbey, Head of the Criminal Justice Master’s Program, with her presentation titled “In the Pursuit of Justice: Tracing a Drop of Blood,” shedding light on the mysterious world of forensic science and evidence. Emphasizing the critical role of forensic science in the fight against crime and criminals, Prof. Aylin Yalçın Sarıbey said, “We try to make the silent witnesses at the crime scene speak using scientific methods because they never lie.” She noted that forensic science often deals with topics society prefers not tohear about, such as murder, injury, and homicide, yet these are real-life issues. “Our goal is to find the perpetrator. Criminals are always faster than us; they try to obscure the evidence. We, on the other hand, strive to make these silent witnesses speak and catch the perpetrator.”
The fundamental principle of forensic science: "Every contact leaves a trace"
Highlighting that the fundamental principle of forensic science is “Every contact leaves a trace,” Prof. Sarıbey explained: “We leave a trace on everything we touch. Our DNA on the rim of a bottle we drink from, our fingerprints on the table, and our shoeprints on the ground. We trace these clues back to reveal the story.” Emphasizing the importance of physical evidence as silent witnesses, she said, “They do not lie, they are not influenced, they are objective. As long as we apply the correct scientific methods and the most advanced technological methodologies.”
Prof. Sarıbey also touched on the fallibility of human witnesses due to fear, panic, pressure, or emotional motives like protecting a loved one: “We know scientifically that in a snatching incident, up to 70% of eyewitnesses may misidentify the suspect. This is not always intentional; fear, panic, or similarity can lead to errors. But a fingerprint or a bloodstain at the crime scene does not lie or mislead. DNA analysis tells us exactly who the person is, and that does not deceive us.”
The primary goal of forensic science is justice
She emphasized that achieving justice strengthens the public’s sense of security:
“When we identify the perpetrator and they are punished, people feel safe, and the damaged sense of justice is restored. This is the primary goal of forensic science.” Mentioning that the most well-known and frequently used evidence is the fingerprint, Prof. Sarıbey said: “We leave them everywhere. Even if criminals try to wipe them or wear gloves, or try to destroy them, fingerprints are still the most effective way we solve most cases.”
Fingerprinting enables the fastest identification
She noted that during major disasters like earthquakes, identification can be done most quickly using fingerprints. Even if body integrity is lost, if a fingerprint is available, the deceased can be identified and returned to their families. When fingerprints are not usable, DNA samples are collected and compared with relatives’ samples for identification.
Every shoeprint is unique!
Even shoes of the same brand and size leave different prints due to wear and individual walking patterns, said Prof. Sarıbey: “A nail might have punctured my shoe; glass might have cut yours. Someone else’s sole might be damaged. We’ve walked different paths—just like in life. And those paths leave their marks on the soles of our shoes.” She also mentioned the same applies to tire marks: “Cars do not travel the same roads; their tires wear differently, leaving a unique imprint, just like the wrinkles on our foreheads.”
How did the MESSAGE Science Mission emerge?
Director of Üsküdar University’s Center for Transgenic Cell Technologies and Epigenetics Application and Research (TRGENMER) and Principal Investigator of the MESSAGE experiment, Asst. Prof. Cihan Taştan, shared the exciting story of Türkiye’s first manned space mission, MESSAGE, in his talk titled “The Secret of Longevity Discovered in Space: Microgravity, Macro Discoveries.” “Our dream was always to take molecular genetics into space,” said Dr. Taştan at the beginning of his remarks, explaining that the fundamental question behind the MESSAGE (Microgravity Associated Genetics) Mission was whether human DNA can sense Earth's gravity and how it might respond to it. He shared that the project began in 2021 with three sophomore female students. As a member of the team behind Türkiye’s first genetic therapies, they leveraged their expertise to launch this space project. Once the President of Türkiye announced the country’s first space mission, their already well-developed idea and hypothesis were selected by the Turkish Space Agency and TÜBİTAK Space for astronaut Alper Gezeravcı to carry out in space.
We made many discoveries in space
Dr. Taştan noted that the first space mission was conducted by Alper Gezeravcı and the second by Tuva Cihangir Atasever. “Both of our astronauts conducted a total of 20 projects, and in doing so, we made many original discoveries recognized by both NASA and the European Space Agency,” he said. These discoveries are currently being developed into master’s theses and academic articles by students, Dr. Taştan added. “In a way, my story in molecular biology and genetics began with the curiosity for those small experiments we all started at home. It grew and now, for the first time, it has reached space,” he said.
There is no research area untouched by artificial intelligence
Dr. Taştan emphasized that artificial intelligence (AI) now plays a role in every lab, device, and research field. Massive health data collected from applications like E-Nabız (Türkiye’s national health database) could be analyzed through AI to revolutionize future healthcare services. “Millions of people’s lab results, disease data, and medication records are accumulating. Thanks to AI, we may enter a new era where, without even going to the hospital, one can write down their symptoms and interact with an AI-based tool, that is, maybe something like 'E-Nabız GPT', that could automatically determine your medication and dosage,” said Dr. Taştan, noting this is no longer a fantasy: just last week, a hospital staffed by 42 AI doctors was established in China.
“We now conduct experiments not in test tubes, but in lines of code, and they are hidden there…”
He shared that in their own lab, they use AI in many areas, such as understanding DNA, analyzing human body responses, identifying cancer risks, and determining treatments. “In a sense, we now conduct experiments not in test tubes, but within lines of code, and they are hidden there. Globally, this is the direction research is heading,” he said.
We built a robot, and it conducted the experiments!
Sharing an example from a recent paper accepted by Nature, Dr. Taştan said, “We designed this experiment over about two years. Not a single studPent entered the lab. We developed a robot, and it conducted the experiments. Our student was able to change a cell’s genetics by inputting commands from home, without ever stepping into the lab. We are now working to integrate AI into this process.”
“If we can lengthen telomeres in space, we may extend lifespan”
Dr. Taştan revealed that in samples collected from Turkish astronaut Alper Gezeravcı and two international astronauts, the "telomeres", which is DNA structures associated with longevity, were found to have lengthened during their short time in space. This discovery suggests that astronauts may have developed a DNA signature favorable to longer lifespans. He added, “All of us technically have a lifespan of 145 years. But smoking, stress, and unhealthy eating shorten it. If we can increase telomere length in space, we may be able to extend our lives.”
Emphasizing that these space studies have strengthened Türkiye’s position in the global space arena, Dr. Taştan said Turkish scientists are no longer limited to utopian dreams, and they are now delivering concrete projects. His message to the youth was: “Ask your questions.”
Bakır thanked everyone for their participation and said that COHE’s Science Café initiative is a great example of bringing science to the public. He emphasized that Üsküdar University will continue efforts to connect society with science.
Scientific discussions in a friendly atmosphere
During the event, held from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM, citizens had the opportunity to ask questions on topics they were curious about.
Accompanied by tea and coffee, the friendly conversation atmosphere made a significant contribution to making science part of everyday life.
The event concluded with a group photo.
Photo: Ayşegül Gündoğdu
Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)