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ACADEMIC
The Ski Resorts of Today Will Be the Summer Holiday Destinations in 20 Years
The impacts of global warming which has effected Turkey, just like the rest of the world, will continue even more so in the coming years. Prof. Dr. Levent Kurnaz, Chairman of the Boğaziçi University Climate Change and Policy Studies, has made bold statements on the changes that global warming will bring in short and mid term. Kurnaz says that the tourism professionals should keep in mind the summer tourism of the future while building winter resorts.
ACADEMIC
Earthquake proof buildings will be designed with the ‘’Energy Principle’’
MISTI (MIT Science and Technology Initiatives) is formed with the idea of enabling Massachusetts Technology Institute and Boğaziçi University to do joint research projects. For their first project to be funded by international research, education and sponsorship, they are working on a method that focuses on energy, to make earthquake resistant buildings. We spoke to Assoc. Prof. Dr. Cem Yalçın from the Boğaziçi Department of Civil Engineering.
ACADEMIC
We have a long way to reach the ‘’perfect human’’
We got together with Boğaziçi University Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics Head Prof. Dr. Esra Battaloğlu, to discuss genome studies, personal treatment and the important progress that has been made in target treatments of diseases, along with the latest developments in these areas and her own research projects.
ACADEMIC
Cognitive Robots that Imagine Other’s Dreams and Make Them Come True
In the Boğaziçi University Department of Computer Engineering, under the assistance of Asst. Prof. Dr. Emre Uğur, there has been ongoing projects regarding cognitive robots and their learning methods. Uğur is using the tools of developmental psychology, he is focusing on robotics and how to train robots by teaching them using children as an inspiration.
ACADEMIC
Boğaziçi University - Cambridge University partnership for a future focused on bioeconomy
İstanbul Microalgae Biotechnologies Research and Development Unit (İMBİYOTAB) founded by Dr. Berat Haznedaroğlu, a faculty member at Boğaziçi University Environmental Sciences and has been continuing its activities at the Kilyos campus of the university. İMBİYOTAB and Cambridge University Microalgae Innovation Center (AIC) will conduct studies for research, academic knowledge sharing and education related microalgae biotechnology that will be funded by Newton Fund - Research Environment Links Program for a year.
ACADEMIC
Boğaziçi University Tarsus-Gözlükule Excavations Research Center in Mersin among the laureates of the Europa Nostra Awards 2019
The winners of the European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards 2019, Europe’s most prestigious honour in the field were announced today (May, 21st) by Europa Nostra, the leading European heritage network. The 27 laureates from 18 countries have been recognised for their impressive accomplishments in conservation, research, dedicated service, and education, training and awareness-raising. Among the laureates of the Europa Nostra Awards in the category Conservation is the Tarsus-Gözlükule Excavations Research Center, Boğaziçi University, Mersin. The winners will be honoured at the high-profile European Heritage Awards Ceremony on 29 October in Paris, during the European Heritage Congress.
ACADEMIC
“We are facing the risk of becoming a water poor country”
Lecturing the “Sustainability from Environmental and Social Perspectives” and “Social Aspects of Tourism” undergraduate courses in Boğaziçi University Tourism Administration Department, Dr. Akgün İlhan is a well-known scholar due to her studies on water. In addition to her radio programs “Su Hakkı (Water Right)” and “Sudan Gelen (From Water)” at Açık Radyo, Dr. İlhan writes about water crisis and climate change in various platforms and she is the author of ‘’Yeni Bir Su Politikasına Doğru: Türkiye’de Su Yönetimi, Alternatifler ve Öneriler” (Towards A New Water Policy: Water Management in Turkey, Alternatives and Suggestions). On April 22nd -The Earth Day, we discussed water with Dr. Akgün İlhan. As we spoke about a number of important subjects about Water; such as safe water, economical access to water, the cost of water, our water footprint; we also discussed the things that can be done on consumption basis.
ACADEMIC
A ‘congenial companion’ robot is being developed at Boğaziçi University
Levent Akın, professor of Computer Engineering at Boğaziçi University is known in our country for his pioneering research in the field of artificial intelligence and robotics. Led by Levent Akın, a team of researchers at Boğaziçi University Computer Engineering including Binnur Görer, İbrahim Özcan and Yiğit Yıldırım are developing a humonoid robot with emotions. Emotional interactions will be the most important characteristic of this robot: it will understand whether the person it is interacting with is sad or happy and react accordingly. We asked Prof. Dr. Levent Akın and his team about this “congenial companion”.
ACADEMIC
A project from Boğaziçi University and MIT to save İstanbul from flooding
“Drainage by Design: Optimizing Stormwater Infrastructure in Istanbul” project is among new studies that have been supported as part of MISTI (MIT Science and Technology Initiatives) - Boğaziçi International Research, Education, and Support Program that aims to carry out joint projects between academics and students from both Boğaziçi University and Massachusetts Technology Institute (MIT) and funded by Limak Foundation. Prof. Dr. Cem Avcı from Boğaziçi University Civil Engineering Department conducts the project together with researcher Dr. Mehmet Emre Çamlıbel and remarks that they will investigate the effects of climate change on Istanbul’s stormwater infrastructure and make suggestions in terms of optimization of the infrastructures in the city.
ACADEMIC
Are the time machines coming true?
The subject of whether traveling through time is possible came up again recently when Gordey Lesovik from Moscow Physics and Technology Institute made a statement. He said in his statement: “We succeeded to create an artificial condition in reverse motion of the time’s thermodynamic direction.” What does his statement mean? We asked Prof. Dr. Metin Arık from Boğaziçi University Physics Department, whether it is possible to travel through time. He said that the experiment does not make traveling through time possible as in the science-fiction movies, rather it is just a development in terms of the thermodynamic of the time.
ACADEMIC
GaN will replace silicon and shape the future
Asst. Prof. Nazlı Dönmezer from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Boğaziçi University is conducting research on strength-based technologies that will shape the future of energy.
ACADEMIC
Boğaziçi University will build Turkey and Europe’s first carbon negative integrated biorefinery
Boğaziçi University is continuing to work at full speed on a green and sustainable future. İstanbul Microalgae Biotechnologies Research and Development Center (İMBİYOTAB), which began working in 2017 in the Sarıtepe Campus, is now building the first carbon negative biorefinery of Europe to do studies on algae. The project titled "Integrated Biorefinery Concept for Bio-economy Driven Development" and led by Dr. Berat Haznedaroğlu from the Institute of Environmental Sciences of Boğaziçi University is also backed by the Competitive Sectors Program, which is designed to balance the regional differences across Turkey and promote economic development, and coordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the Directorate General for European Union and Foreign Affairs, and EU Financial Programs Department. İMBİYOTAB also signed a cooperation agreement with Turkish Airlines to produce domestic bio-jet fuel.
