Merve Sefa Kaya
The 18th annual Middle School Students Research Projects Competition's Regional Exhibition and Award Ceremony was hosted by Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU), and held at the Atatürk Congress Center. The event was attended by OMU Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Selim Eren, OMU Secretary General Prof. Dr. İdris Varıcı, Rector's Advisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Şener Şentürk, TÜBİTAK Project Competitions Samsun Regional Coordinator Prof. Dr. Yıldıray Topcu, the Provincial Director of National Education for Samsun Dr. Murat Ağar, and other educational directors, along with academics, teachers, students, and their families.
Initiated by the Ministry of National Education (MEB) under the project "This is My Work," and managed by TÜBİTAK since the 2016-2017 academic year, the competition runs simultaneously across 12 regional centers throughout Türkiye, including provinces like Amasya, Çorum, Giresun, Kastamonu, Ordu, Samsun, Sinop, and Tokat.
This year, our region alone submitted 2,339 projects across 10 different fields, contributing to a total of 16,712 applications nationwide. After evaluations, 104 projects advanced to the Regional Exhibition stage, showcased at OMU's Yaşar Doğu Sports Sciences Faculty Prof. Dr. Mehmet Yalçın Taşmektepligil Sports Hall over three days, drawing numerous students and teachers.
Of the projects evaluated, 15 have been selected as finalists by the jury and will represent our region at the upcoming National Finals Competition in Ankara.
At the event's opening, Prof. Dr. Yıldıray Topcu addressed the students: "Your teachers who have nurtured you, your seniors who visited the exhibition, and your professors here today are all travelers on this challenging journey. You are its youngest travelers, my companions. This competition, unlike any other, has no losers. Therefore, whether you win a prize today or not, the degree of appreciation you receive from your teachers, from us, and from your families is always the first place."
Prof. Dr. Yıldıray Topcu thanked everyone who contributed to organizing the event, saying, "Dear teachers, esteemed parents; we have watched our students with you in admiration. What wonderful children you have raised. To continue working with them, instilling the fundamentals of scientific research methods, has turned them into confident, diligent, curious, questioning young individuals who hold true to their values. We have all witnessed this together, and we sincerely congratulate you.”
Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Selim Eren began his remarks by thanking the participants: "The professionalism and enthusiasm in the students' presentations truly impressed me. I have been a jury member and advisor at these competitions for years, and it is a pleasure to share with you the increasing quality and success of the students' work. Parents who have devotedly raised these students deserve a big thank you. We recognize that our young starters would stumble along the way without our teacher colleagues. Thus, I am very grateful to the teachers who have fostered a culture of projects. Finally, thanks are due to the National Education Directorate's and TÜBİTAK's educational administrators for their encouragement and guidance."
Vice-Rector Eren expressed the university's interest in welcoming these talented students to various departments in the future. "Our university, being nearly half a century old, stands among the leading institutions in Türkiye in terms of scientific research, education, and health. We are among the foremost universities in research development and projects. With 53,600 students and 2,318 academics, we are a large family aiming to contribute to developing the region and the country."
The program concluded with an award ceremony followed by a group photo session.
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