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Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) hosted the Campus Meetings program organized ahead of the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2026, which will be held in Türkiye for the first time.

The program, held at the OMU Atatürk Congress and Culture Center, was attended by Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın; Vice President of the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) Fatih Dulkan; Advisor to the Minister of Industry and Technology Emine Doğrukök; Secretary General of the Middle Black Sea Development Agency (OKA) Mehlika Dicle; astronaut Tuva Cihangir Atasever; Vice Rectors Prof. Dr. Alper Kesten, Prof. Dr. Çetin Kurnaz, and Prof. Dr. Ayşe Pınar Sumer; Secretary General Prof. Dr. Erhan Burak Pancar; as well as academics and students.

International Astronautical Congress 2026 to be held in Türkiye for the first time

Regarded as the world’s largest and most prestigious international space event, the International Astronautical Congress (IAC) will be held in Türkiye for the first time in its history. The 77th edition of the congress will take place in Antalya on 5–9 October 2026. Coordinated by the Ministry of Industry and Technology and hosted by the Turkish Space Agency (TUA) and SAHA Istanbul, the event will be preceded by a workshop organized by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) on 2–4 October 2026.

Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın: “IAC is an inspiring meeting point for young people”

Beginning her speech by thanking participants, Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın stated:

“This prestigious organization is not only a platform where current developments in the space field are discussed, but also an inspiring meeting point that strengthens international cooperation and motivates young people. For Türkiye, it presents a historic opportunity to enhance the international visibility of our scientific capacity, academic expertise, and technological vision.”

“The space economy is evolving into a dynamic structure fueled by universities and young researchers”

Rector Aydın emphasized that space studies have moved far beyond the classical concept of “exploration,” becoming a strategic and sustainable economic field generating high added value:

“Today, space activities contribute to the global economy not only through direct operations such as satellites and launches, but also through data and technologies that support sectors ranging from agriculture and transportation to environment and defense. In this respect, the space economy has evolved from being solely a state-driven domain into a dynamic structure fueled by the knowledge production of universities, innovative solutions of entrepreneurs, and the creative power of young researchers.”

“Academic work combined with space technologies creates strong societal impact”

Stating that sustainable progress in these areas is possible through qualified research infrastructure, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strong human resources, Rector Aydın said:

“At OMU, the academic work we carry out with an inclusive and sustainability-oriented approach produces strong societal impact when combined with space technologies. In agriculture, satellite imagery and remote sensing data enable the optimization of water use, increased crop productivity, and early prediction of climate risks. In environmental studies, Earth observation systems support the monitoring of forest areas, protection of coastal and aquatic ecosystems, early detection of disasters, and scientific analysis of climate change impacts. In engineering, space-based data, sensors, and artificial intelligence applications contribute to the development of energy-efficient, smart, and sustainable technologies.”

“Research at our university will contribute to the congress”

Highlighting that the OMU Observatory provides a strong scientific infrastructure for research and education in astronomy and space sciences, Rector Aydın concluded:

“Our observatory enables students to transform theoretical knowledge into practice, develop data production and analysis skills, and participate more actively in multi-centered research projects through integration with national and international observation networks. The International Astronautical Congress aims to bring together space agencies, universities, research centers, private sector representatives, and young researchers under one roof, encouraging scientific knowledge sharing, technological innovation, and international cooperation. We attach great importance to our students and academics participating not only as observers but also as active stakeholders in the space ecosystem and the congress process. We firmly believe that the research conducted at our university in observational astronomy, space data analysis, remote sensing, and related disciplines will make meaningful contributions to the congress and that cooperation with the Turkish Space Agency will support both our academic capacity and Türkiye’s strategic goals in the space field.”

TUA Vice President Dulkan: “The space economy will reach 1.8 trillion dollars in the 2030s”

Emphasizing that the congress will bring together global space agencies, public institutions, the private sector, and academia, TUA Vice President Fatih Dulkan noted that this meeting will strengthen Türkiye’s space vision and ecosystem at the international level and pave the way for multilateral cooperation.

“Today, the space economy has reached approximately 600 billion dollars and is expected to exceed 1.8 trillion dollars in the 2030s. Compared with traditional economies growing at annual rates of 3–4 percent, this represents a remarkable outlook,” he said.

“We want to see a Türkiye shaping space policies”

Dulkan also underlined the strategic importance of space activities for scientific advancement, technological capability, and national security, stating that Türkiye should not remain a country that merely imports technology and services but should become one that develops its own technologies and helps shape global space policies.

“Türkiye currently has the highest number of submissions to IAC”

Noting Türkiye’s growing participation and success in recent IAC events, Dulkan said that more than 70 papers were accepted at IAC 2025 and around 50 academics and students delivered presentations. He added that, as the host country in Antalya, Türkiye aims to raise this level even further. As of 6 February 2026, a total of 1,024 abstracts had been submitted for IAC 2026, with Türkiye leading with 203 submissions, followed by the United States, China, and Russia.

Presentations delivered as part of the program

Within the program, IAC 2026 Director and Advisor to the Minister of Industry and Technology Emine Doğrukök delivered a presentation titled “Introduction to the IAF and IAC.” Prof. Dr. Arif Karabeyoğlu then spoke on how to prepare a paper for the IAC and key points to consider. Astronaut Tuva Cihangir Atasever provided detailed information on space missions, experiments, and outcomes.

The program concluded with a group photo after a Q&A session with participants.

Courtesy visit to the Rector

Following the program, TUA Vice President Fatih Dulkan, OKA Secretary General Mehlika Dicle, astronaut Tuva Cihangir Atasever, and IAC 2026 Director Emine Doğrukök visited Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın to thank OMU for hosting the Campus Meetings ahead of the 8th International Astronautical Congress (IAC) 2026. Rector Aydın presented plaques to the guests.