June 28, 2025

Coordinated by the Science Communication Office of the Council of Higher Education, “Science Café” meetings continue with various events organized by more than 150 universities across Türkiye.

In environments where science is accessible to everyone, university professors and citizens meet around the same table. The Science Café meetings, which attract great interest from citizens, bring together people from all segments of society; academics leave the laboratories, mingle with the public and share their scientific studies in a simple, understandable language.

Some listen with curiosity, some ask questions; each word brings one step closer to knowledge. The intense interest shown by citizens is the best indicator of trust and curiosity in science.

Erol Özvar, President of the Council of Higher Education, emphasized that the Science Café meetings held yesterday and today with the participation of more than 150 universities in 81 provinces are the world's largest science café event in terms of the number of participants and geographical coverage.

Özvar stated that they aim to bring science closer to the society and to show how important it is for people of all ages to connect with science, and that they are happy to be instrumental in these special moments where science meets society.

Özvar said, "Science Café meetings are a strong step towards the participatory society we dream of. These moments, where our citizens sincerely chat with our scientists and the light of science shines in the eyes of children, present a promising picture for all of us."

Özvar thanked all the teams who worked for the Science Café meetings, universities, professors, students, administrative and technical staff who worked devotedly in the field, and said, “I would like to extend my sincere thanks to all our people who participated in the events with great interest. We will continue to bring science together with society through our Science Café events and to share the knowledge we produce in our universities with our people more and more.”

-Science is with citizens everywhere in historical, touristic and symbolic squares-

On the second day of the Science Café events, Nevşehir Hacı Bektaş Veli University organized a Science Café meeting at the Cappadocia Living Heritage Museum, where CoHE Member Prof. Derviş Karaboğa gave a presentation titled "What is Artificial Intelligence? Journey from Honey Bees to Artificial Intelligence: ABC Algorithm".

In the event held by Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University, Prof. Mustafa Sarı explained the mucilage in the Marmara Sea to the citizens, while in the Science Café meeting held at the apiary in Gölyaka Kuyudüzü Village of Düzce University, Prof. Dr. Meral Kekeçoğlu discussed the subject of “Honey, the Miracle of Nature, and Science, the Guide of the Mind”.

While Ardahan University provided important information to citizens on the prevention of calf deaths, “Preventive Heart Health and Modern Treatments in the Light of Current Science” was discussed at the Museum of Ethnography of Ege University.

While Amasya University explained photography to the children living in the village in Boğazköy, Çanakkale 18 Mart University gave information to the public about the unknown properties and benefits of breast milk at the seaside.

At Samsun Ondokuz Mayıs University, Assoc. Prof. Metin Mutlu Aydın shared with the public the details of the domestic smart system

, which is an award-winning artificial intelligence project and offers special transition time for the disabled, elderly and children at pedestrian crossings with the slogan “Green light now knows you”, while Trabzon University held interviews with citizens on “What Does Science Tell Us in the 21st Century?” and Bayburt University on digital addiction and bee breeding.

Prof. İbrahim Özcoşar, Rector of Mardin Artuklu University, talked to the citizens at the Science Café meeting at Kasımiye Madrasa on the topic of "Sister Cities with Sister Souls: Mardin - Jerusalem", while Medipol University informed the participants about healthy nutrition and obesity at the event held at the Train Station.

Başkent University emphasized the importance of nutrition in the protection of heart health at the event held at the Turkish History Museum, while Erciyes University informed the participants about Trace Elements in Healthy Living at the meeting organized at Hunat Hatun Complex.

At the Cappadocia University's event, Cappadocia was discussed from the Middle Ages to today, while citizens came together for the event of Aksaray University titled “The Green Behind the White: The Secret Garden of Salt Lake” in Zinciriye Madrasah.

Science Café meetings continue with university events all around the country.