“I am Reading, Istanbul is Reading” Promotion Ceremony Held

"I am Reading, Istanbul is Reading Promotion Ceremony" was held in Istanbul with the participation of Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır. At the ceremony, the "Cooperation Protocol for Increasing Science and Technology Awareness" and the "Cooperation Protocol for the Establishment of a Science Center in Küçükçekmece", which included bringing together 4,044 schools in Istanbul with TÜBİTAK Popular Science Publications, were signed between TÜBİTAK and the Governorship of Istanbul. The protocols were attended by TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal and Istanbul Governor Davut Gül signed.

“We donated 517,350 popular science books and tens of thousands of magazines to 4,044 schools”

Speaking at the ceremony, Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır said, “Today, with this meaningful project, we celebrate the 100th anniversary of our Republic; We are donating 517.350 popular science books and tens of thousands of magazines to 4044 schools in Istanbul. We are also establishing TÜBİTAK libraries in all of our districts in Istanbul, in 39 districts. Because our youth is our most valuable assets, today's and tomorrow's is the guarantee. We have great expectations from our youth and students. As we build Türkiye’s future, we walk together with our youth. We want our young people to acquire reading habits from an early age and become science literate.”

Kacır pointed to TEKNOFEST with the emphasis that we are taking steps that will bring our young people together with the culture of science and technology and enable them to do new studies in this field; “The participation of 1 million young people in 337 thousand teams in 44 technology competitions in 2023 shows that a spirit of social mobilization unique in the world was born in Türkiye. Of course, TEKNOFEST is just one of the opportunities we offer to our young people. To 16 thousand secondary and high school students in 125 Deneyap Technology Workshops that we established in all 81 cities of Türkiye; We organize 36-month free training in innovative technology fields. Again, Nature Education and Science Schools, Innovative Education Practices, Science Fairs, We ensure the development and establishment of science and technology culture through Science Festivals, Inclusive Society Applications Support Programs for Individuals with Special Needs, research and project competitions, and Science Olympiads.” said.

"We bring our children and young people together with science centers"

Drawing attention to the importance of Minister Kacır Science Centers “With science centers, we bring our children and young people together with science, encourage them to try and explore, and overcome them with their passion for science. Konya, Kocaeli, Kayseri, Bursa, Elâzığ, Üsküdar, Antalya, Gaziantep and Trabzon, including 9 large -scale science centers are serving. We will increase this number to 16 with Altındağ, Şanlıurfa, Düzce, Denizli, Samsun, Yozgat, Esenler Science Centers. ” emphasized.

"Good luck to Küçükçekmece Science Center Istanbul"

Kacır noted that approximately 9.7 million people have visited the science centers so far and said, ız In addition to 13 small -scale science centers operating in the current, 10 new centers will be offered to the service of our citizens soon. Today, we add a new one to these projects. In our Küçükçekmece Science Center, where we will perform the signing ceremony, Natural Sciences, Astronomy,,tr There will be 5 science workshops: Aviation and Space, Technology, Design and Mathematics. Our visitors will meet with many immersive trainings and events based on learning by doing and teamwork in our workshops. Our young people will experience the excitement of experiencing many scientific topics from basic sciences to future technologies in our 1000 square meter exhibition area. We will bring together society and science, and science and society. "I wish our Science Center good luck to our Küçükçekmece and Istanbul." he said.

“We gave a total of 3.1 billion lira of scholarships to more than 70 thousand young people.”

“With TÜBİTAK's scholarship and support programs, we will be with you in pursuing your ideals at every stage of your education life.” Kacır said, “Look, just in the last five years; Within the scope of our scholarship and support programs for our undergraduate and graduate students, we gave a total of 3.1 Billion lira of scholarships to more than 70 thousand young people. By reorganizing the TÜBİTAK BIGG program, entrepreneurship at university age We allowed our young people who want to establish one to apply.” he said.

Minister Kacır said, “With TÜBİTAK Popular Science Books, we have been bringing together readers of all ages with science and increasing interest in science for more than 30 years. We have reached a print run of over 28 million in the 1,157 works we have published to date. This year alone, we have reached a print run of more than 2 million in a total of 173 books, 40 of which are new.”

“Our aim is to bring science together with our youth”

Reminding that they published the Encyclopedia of Polar Sciences with the contributions of our scientists working within the scope of the National Polar Science Program and made it available to the whole world as open access, Kacır said, “With our TÜBİTAK Popular Science Journals, we have been contributing to becoming a scientific society for more than 50 years. Our science magazines reach 300 thousand citizens every month. From our popular science books to our Science and Technology, Science Kids and Curious Little magazines; from our Bilim Genç digital publications; science fairs, science festivals, science "With all these studies, talks and science centers, our desire and aim is to bring science to our youth." made his evaluations.

Your signature will be in the new success stories of the " Türkiye Century"

Giving advice to young people, Minister Kacır said, “As long as you do not give up dreaming, believing and working. Today, our young people have their mark on all the proud tables of the "National Technology Move". You will also have your signature in the new success stories of the " Türkiye Century". I have full faith in this: As we invest in our youth and remove the obstacles in front of them, many more Aziz Sancars and many more Selçuk Bayraktars will emerge from this country.” he said.

“I hope that this valuable project, which was initiated in Istanbul, will spread throughout the country and bring together all schools with TÜBİTAK Popular Science Publications.” Kacır said, “Istanbul is very lucky... We have been working together with our esteemed Governor since his term as the governor of Gaziantep. During his time in Gaziantep, they made a tremendous effort to bring Gaziantep together with Science Centers, Deneyap Technology Workshops, discovery campuses and TEKNOFEST. HE As a result of our efforts, the seeds we planted in Gaziantep are germinating step by step. Although 3 years have passed since Gaziantep TEKNOFEST, Gaziantep still continues to be one of the top 5 provinces of Türkiye in participation in TEKNOFEST competitions. Now this project is the result of our Governor's efforts and efforts. "Hopefully, we will bring much bigger works to our Istanbul again," he said.

“It is important to use science and technology for the right purposes”

TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal also emphasized in his speech, "We will introduce TÜBİTAK Books to our students throughout Istanbul." Thanking the Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır for his support and the Governor of Istanbul Davut Gül for his cooperation, Mandal drew attention to the importance of bringing together 4044 schools across Istanbul with TÜBİTAK Science Publications.

 Prof. Dr. Mandal said, “We had a difficult time last weekend, we had 12 martyrs. I pray God's mercy for all of them and offer my condolences to their families. However today's event becomes even more meaningful in these difficult times. Because our keywords in solving challenges such as pandemics, earthquakes and climate change-oriented food and water supply security were science and technology. Unfortunately, some use the technology they have to oppress humanity. That's why it's important to use science and technology for the right purposes and for the benefit of humanity. We want to secure our future by directing our young people to this field.” made his evaluations.

“We are laying the foundation for a safe future”

“It is extremely valuable for us to introduce our children to science and technology.” Mandal said, “We want to create science and technology awareness and culture in Istanbul. This process is an important milestone. We came together with the Governorship of Istanbul and agreed to have TÜBİTAK libraries in all our schools, starting from the youngest age groups - that is, kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, high school and all our other schools, and to regularly deliver curious little science children and science and technical magazines to our schools. "We are laying the foundation of an important and exemplary cooperation in building our future with science and technology and building our TEKNOFEST youth together," he said.

“We are making a first in Küçükçekmece”

Noting that they are pioneering a first in terms of science centers today, Mandal said, “We are striving to create science and technology awareness in Istanbul. At the same time, as in many districts, our science centers We invest in our future by creating workshops. We will be breaking new ground in Küçükçekmece. We will have a special science center with both workshops and exhibitions, and it will not be limited to these. We will improve our cooperation within the scope of this protocol in many of our programs. This is just one step, the beginning of an important process. We also met with our Provincial Director of National Education and we will cooperate in Istanbul's TÜBİTAK projects, teacher training and science Olympics. Being a part of this collaboration makes me feel lucky and responsible. This study will serve as a model and example for other provinces. “As TÜBİTAK, we are ready to do our part.” he said.

“I am Reading, Istanbul is Reading”

Within the scope of the cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Technology, Istanbul Governorship, TÜBİTAK and Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education on the 100th anniversary of our Republic, 517,350 popular science books and tens of thousands of magazines were distributed to 4,044 students from all levels in Istanbul. It was donated to the schools (kindergarten, primary school, secondary school, high school and Science and Art Centers). All schools and BİLSEMs in Istanbul were brought together with TÜBİTAK Popular Science Publications and support was provided to education and development.

This project, which was initiated in Istanbul, is aimed to expand throughout the country and to introduce TÜBİTAK Popular Science Publications to schools and students in all our provinces. In this context, TÜBİTAK special libraries were established and books were placed in 39 schools in 39 different districts of Istanbul, Istanbul Governorship and Istanbul Provincial Directorate of National Education.

Küçükçekmece Science Center

As part of TÜBİTAK's mission, cooperation is made with local governments to establish science centers and disseminate them throughout the country. In addition to our 2 large and 10 small-scale science centers in Üsküdar and Esenler, a new science center is opening in Istanbul. Within the scope of the Protocol signed with the Governorship of Istanbul, Halkalı Social and Cultural Facility Area Work on the establishment of Küçükçekmece Science Center is starting.

Küçükçekmece Science Center will have approximately 900 m2 of exhibition space and 5 educational workshops. Our Küçükçekmece Science Center will bring us one step closer to our goal of youth shaping the age by contributing to our country's development in the technological field.

Science centers are centers that bring people of all ages together with science, make science and technology understandable, and aim to increase the importance of science and technology in the eyes of society. Science centers achieve these goals by offering visitors exhibitions and experimental and hands-on activities that they can actively explore, touch and try. Science centers are one of the leading out-of-school learning environments where children and young people can experience scientific topics with interesting objects and develop a positive approach towards science. Curiosity, interest and desire to learn are supported in science centres.

16 large-scale science centers to date The contract has been signed, 9 of them are open to visitors. Our science centers, the first of which was opened in Konya in 2014 and located in 9 provinces, have been visited by a total of 9,677,675 people to date. In addition, 13 of our 23 small-scale science center projects were opened to visitors. A total of approximately 720 thousand citizens have benefited from these science centers so far.