The ninth Science Café event organized by the Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Science Communication Office (SCO) was held at the OMU House of Science, Art and Culture under the title “Folk Beliefs from Past to Present.” Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Kızıldağ, a faculty member of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature, shared with participants the historical journey of folk beliefs, how the concept of belief has changed and transformed throughout the ages, its traces in our culture, and its reflections in contemporary life.

At the opening of the event, which was moderated by Burcu Düzgün Çoban, OMU Rector’s Advisor Prof. Dr. Emine Şendurur provided brief information on the historical development and content of the Science Café events and stated: “It is very valuable for us that Hasan Hodja accepted our invitation. He is a scholar who has conducted extensive fieldwork and possesses an exceptional level of knowledge. He shares such fascinating insights during conversation that I am sure you will all benefit greatly from this engaging talk.” She then invited Assoc. Prof. Dr. Hasan Kızıldağ to take the floor.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Kızıldağ addressed the historical journey of folk beliefs, how the concept of belief has changed and transformed over the centuries, the place of folk beliefs in collective social memory, and their relationship with rituals. As an expert in Turkology, Folklore, and cultural heritage, and as an academic known for his doctoral dissertation titled “Traces of Shamanism in Siberian Turkish Epics” and his publications in this field, Kızıldağ offered participants the opportunity to approach folk beliefs from a scientific perspective.

During the event, questions such as the role of folk beliefs within a changing social structure, the relationship between the modern individual and ancient cultural elements, and future cultural projections were discussed. Participants accompanied the presentation in an interactive atmosphere and had the opportunity to consult the expert on issues they were curious about.

The Science Café event provided an enjoyable and educational atmosphere by bringing together different segments of society around the common ground of science, culture, and everyday life.

In addition to OMU Rector’s Advisor Prof. Dr. Emine Şendurur, the ninth Science Café meeting was attended by Science Communication Office Coordinator Lecturer Mürsel Kan, Asst. Prof. Dr. Ufuk İnal, Lecturer Dr. Elif Şefik İnal, international students from various countries, primarily from the Turkish world, studying in OMUTurkish, as well as graduate students and students from the Faculty of Communication.