28th International Dr. İbrahim Arıkan MEF Educational Institutions Research Projects Awards Announced

28th International Dr. İbrahim Arıkan MEF Educational Institutions Research Projects Awards Announced

At the ceremony held, awards were presented to the winners of the "28th International Dr. İbrahim Arıkan MEF Educational Institutions Research Projects Competition." MEF Schools and MEF University jointly organized this competition, named after MEF Educational Institutions Founder Dr. İbrahim Arıkan, which aims to encourage talented high school students in physics, chemistry and biology to pursue scientific research. Following the preliminary selection among a total of 701 projects submitted from around the world, 90 projects from 15 countries, including Turkey, advanced to the final stage. Among the projects displayed at MEF University between 7-9 May 2019, İzmir Özel Çakabey High School won first prize in physics from Turkey, İzmir Özel Oğuzhan Özkaya High School Science Division won first prize in chemistry, and Özel Antalya Sınav Anatolian High School won first prize in biology.

Among projects participating from abroad, Georgia won first prize in physics, Poland in chemistry, and North Macedonia in biology. American Robert High School (Istanbul) won the Innovation Award.

Speaking at the awards ceremony, Generational Researcher Evrim Kuran emphasized that this competition is an important platform that harmonizes education and entrepreneurship in Turkey. Noting the importance of Turkey's Generation Z becoming a generation that researches, questions and inquires, Kuran shared views on what competencies we need to equip future scientists with today. Kuran concluded with: "Renowned physicist Albert Einstein says 'I have no special talent but I am passionately curious.' In our era marked by dizzying change and defined by the word speed, being passionately curious can now be considered a special talent. 'Why' is a very valuable question. It leads us to wisdom. The greatest capital of the 21st century is hope, optimism and faith in the future. The world and demographics are changing. We have an aging world. We must think about the world's problems and ask what opportunities exist. The most valuable person is one determined to solve a problem in the world. Please do the same. Contribute to the world. Be more than a diploma. Descend into the well of your heart on the thread of your mind." The most notable projects among high school students' work were nanomaterials produced through green synthesis for biomedical, wastewater treatment and sensor purposes, production of functional polymers and composites, controlled drug delivery systems and artificial photosynthesis devices in the energy field. Projects addressing the effects of natural resources in biotechnological, therapeutic and environmental applications, applications based on combining data science with software, tissue engineering, investigation of disease-related basic science mechanisms, development of new and original measurement techniques through known experimental methods that can serve the public interest and provide original solutions to problems also received considerable attention. Open to participation by all young people beyond those studying at MEF Educational Institutions, in this competition it was encouraging to see that students were extremely knowledgeable about the research topics they selected and were able to set up systems according to their own needs. Participated by Turkey, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Georgia, Iraq, Montenegro, Kosovo, TRNC, Hungary, North Macedonia, Poland and Slovenia, students from abroad experienced the joy and honor of representing their countries in the international arena.

FIRST PRIZE PROJECTS IN THE COMPETITION (NATIONAL)

Physics: Portable Fresnel Reflection Based Fiber Optic Sensor İzmir Özel Çakabey High School Chemistry: Production of Artificial Bone Reinforced with Collagen and Titanium İzmir Özel Oğuzhan Özkaya High School Science Division Biology: Preventing Melanosis Using Shell and Seed Solutions Obtained from Pomegranate (Punica Granatum) Fruit Özel Antalya Sınav Anatolian High School  

FIRST PRIZE PROJECTS IN THE COMPETITION (INTERNATIONAL)

Physics: New Type Shock-Resistant Polymer Composite Georgia Chemistry: The Chemiluminescence of Luminol Induced By Bleaches - A Study Of Glows Over Periods Of Time Poland Biology: Growing Spice Herbs at Home-Aquarium Aquaponic System, Useful For The Family And Environment North Macedonia