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June 12, 2025 - GTU Office of Press and Public Relations
Gebze Technical University (GTU) launches its Science Communication Office, aiming to bring high school students together with science. As part of the launch, the event titled "Science Will Thrive With Youth" allows students to experience the university environment firsthand.
In line with its vision of connecting science with society, GTU has taken an important step by introducing the Science Communication Office. The launch event, held on June 11, 2025, at the Aeronautical Engineering Department, highlighted the university’s commitment to building bridges between young generations and the world of science.
As part of the event, a special program titled "Science Will Thrive With Youth" was organized in collaboration with the Bilim Kahramanları (Science Heroes) Association. A total of 45 students from science high schools in Istanbul and Kocaeli visited GTU, engaged in scientific conversations with faculty members from the Departments of Molecular Biology and Genetics and Aeronautical Engineering, toured laboratories, and participated in hands-on workshops. The event offered students a valuable opportunity to experience university life and take their first steps into scientific thinking.
Speaking at the event, GTU Vice-Rector Prof. Elif Damla Arısan emphasized the importance of effectively communicating the knowledge produced at universities to society, rather than limiting it to research processes. “Communicating science is a defining element of a university’s reputation. Competing on a global scale requires not only producing knowledge, but also sharing it effectively. The Science Communication Office has been established to meet this need,” she said.
Çiçek Tomrukçu (PhD), Assistant Manager of GTU’s Press and Public Relations Office, underlined that the mission of the Science Communication Office goes beyond students, aiming to spark a love for science among diverse segments of society. She also noted that workshops will be held especially for students interested in fields such as molecular biology, genetics, and aeronautical engineering.
As part of the event, Prof. İlyas Kandemir, Dean, of the Aerospace Faculty; Prof. Yelda Özden-Çiftçi, Head of the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, and faculty members Assoc. Prof. Mine Gül Şeker and Assoc. Prof. Özlem Akkaya held interactive science talks with the students. GTU academics also welcomed the students into their laboratories and introduced them to ongoing scientific research.
The efforts of the Science Communication Office extend beyond events. Applications are currently open for the “Meet Science: Research Internship Program”, which allows high school students to experience academic research processes firsthand.
Additionally, the “Academic Vision” article series—developed under the umbrella of the Science Communication Office—aims to communicate GTU’s academic work to the public in clear and accessible language.
Through the Science Communication Office, GTU aims to build a scientific bridge between high schools and universities, helping students engage with science from an early age, embrace a research-oriented mindset, and gain familiarity with the academic environment. At the same time, by making science accessible and inspiring, the university seeks to reach more schools and students with the message: “We’re on the road—see you at your school!” |
