Within the scope of the project called Science&Future, under the coordination of Sakarya University in partnership with Kocaeli University, Düzce University, and Sakarya Governorship, Düzce Governorship, Kocaeli Provincial Directorate of National Education and Türkiye Vakıflar Bankası T.A.O., academics from Kocaeli University met with Yahya Kaptan Secondary School students.
The first event within the scope of the project, which was prepared to increase the awareness and consciousness levels of primary and high school students about climate change, natural disasters, and resilient cities, was held with the contributions of KOÜ academics. The creation of resilient cities and the understanding of sustainable development were encouraged in the events attended by 60 students from Yahya Kaptan Secondary School.
Following the opening speech of Kocaeli University Faculty of Engineering Department of Environmental Engineering faculty member Prof. Dr. Sevil Veli, in which she gave information about the EU and the project, the presentations of the researchers began. Prof. Dr. Sevil Veli, who made a presentation to the students about green transformation in the first session of the event, conducted an experiment with the students on how water can be purified using activated carbon. At the end of the experiment, which attracted great interest from the students, Prof. Dr. Sevil Veli answered the students' questions.
In the second session of the event, the documentary film "From Flame to Healing: A Fire Story" was screened by Prof. Dr. Selma Koç Akgül and Associate Professor Aysel Çetinkaya, faculty members of KOÜ Faculty of Communication. The documentary, which reveals the damage caused by fires to living life and nature, aimed to raise students' awareness of fires. After the documentary screening, a conversation was held with the participation of Alkan Özdemir from the Kocaeli Metropolitan Municipality Fire Department about the causes and effects of fires and becoming a forest volunteer.
In the last session of the event, KOÜ Vice Rector and Faculty of Engineering Mechanical Engineering Department faculty member Prof. Dr. Elif Öğüt and Gölcük Vocational School Motor Vehicles and Transportation Technologies Department faculty member Canan Cimşit made a presentation on renewable energy resources and technologies. The aim of the event was to raise awareness among students about which energy resources are currently running out in the near future, the effects of depleted energy resources on climate change, and the renewable energy resources offered as alternatives to these resources.
70 Thousand People Will Be Reached in the First Stage with Science Festivals and School Activities
While it is aimed to reach a total of 50 thousand people with the European Researchers' Night activities, which will be held on the campuses of universities in three different cities for two years, it is aimed to reach 20 thousand students with experimental shows, competitions, and information activities to be held in secondary and high schools. As a result of the awareness-raising and dissemination activities to be carried out during the project, it is aimed to raise awareness of 1.5 million people about climate change and natural disasters.
