The President of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, came together with the academicians and students of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University (KAEU). President of TÜBİTAK Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Rector of KAEU Prof. Dr. Vatan Karakaya, Vice-Rectors of KAEU Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kasım Karahocagil, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt, and Prof. Dr. Ahmet Gökbel, as well as academics and students, attended the conference held at the Ahi Evran Congress Culture Center on April 28, 2022. President of TÜBİTAK Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, who visited the office and examined the R&D greenhouse areas on-site before the conference, met with students and academicians at a fast-breaking dinner. After the iftar dinner, the conference started.
The Conference will be Useful for us to Benefit from TÜBİTAK's Horizon
Prof. Dr. Vatan Karakaya made the opening speech of the conference. Rector Karakaya, who started his speech by noting that he believed it would be a useful conversation for young people to be aware of the horizons of TÜBİTAK and its works, said that the visit honored them. Introducing the President of TÜBİTAK Mandal as the architect of regional development and specialization projects, Karakaya said that KAEU, one of the five specialized universities, pursued this path. Prof. Dr. Vatan Karakaya concluded his speech by stating that KAEU both contributed to the region and specialized in different fields, especially with advanced greenhouse technologies, roughage, physical therapy and rehabilitation hospital, and R&D greenhouse.
Pursue Your Scientific Curiosity with the Desire to Find Solutions to Important Problems
After the speech of Rector Karakaya, the conference started. President of TÜBİTAK Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, who started his speech by sharing his knowledge and experience about his career, said that TÜBİTAK attaches great importance to and supports student-based projects.
Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal addressed the youth with the words "Motive yourself to support the priorities of our country" and made recommendations for solution-oriented human resources. Dr. Mandal said, "Dear young people, be open to multidisciplinary opportunities to enrich your career. Seek solutions to important problems in pursuit of your scientific curiosity with the desire to find out. Explore in-depth the opportunities created by emerging technologies. Know your research area well and be active in collaboration networks. Shape your career orientation in line with current opportunities.”
You must be able to Meet the Needs of the Future
President of TÜBİTAK Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal explained to young people who were at the stage of shaping their career plans, that it would be possible to reach the output and impact-oriented solutions which were a must in order to cope with complex, dynamic, and ever-changing global problems, with the joint contributions of natural sciences, engineering sciences, health and life sciences, and social and human sciences. TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal also presented a near future perspective to young people through the main technological trends. Making evaluations on the technologies of the future under different topics such as Artificial Intelligence, Robotics and Nanotechnology, Space Technologies, Cyber Security, Advanced Materials Technology, and Personalized Medicine, Mandal said, “To make a difference in your field, you must be able to meet the need for individuals with high science and technology awareness and who transcend disciplines. It is up to you to be individuals who design, develop and produce technology, not just use it.”
TÜBİTAK Attaches Great Importance to National and International Research and Development Studies
Stating that TÜBİTAK contributes to the development of research and project culture in universities, President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal said, “We support our students studying at our universities to present their research outputs in national and international academic environments, thereby developing research-oriented collaborations. We are pushing the performance limits of our young human resources for the means of the future by making important contributions to the design and production of innovative technology. As TÜBİTAK, we attach great importance to national and international research and development studies such as TEKNOFEST and Electric Vehicle Races 'Efficiency Challenge' in order to promote designing and producing innovative technology. Providing information to the youth about the scholarship and support opportunities of TÜBİTAK, Prof. Dr. Mandal stated that a call has been made to support a total of 2,300 undergraduate students within the scope of the Trainee Researcher Scholarship Program (STAR). Prof. Dr. Mandal called on young people to apply for the program, whose application deadline has been extended until May 9, and said "Apply to our call for the STAR Program and join the research ecosystem."
28 Projects of Kırşehir Ahi Evran University were Supported by TUBITAK
The President of TUBITAK Mandal, who gave information about the 'Entrepreneurship Support Program (BIGG)' along with the scholarship and support programs offered by TUBITAK for undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral students, said that students studying at Kırşehir Ahi Evran University were also showed great interest in the 'University Students Research Projects Support Program' and benefited from the supports. Mandal informed that 28 projects of KAEU have been supported in the last 10 years and stated that this is an important number.
At the end of the conference, which was beneficial and productive and continued with the question-answer, the conference ended with the presentation of a gift to the President of TÜBİTAK Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal.
