Organized by Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) Science Communication Office (BİO) in cooperation with the Samsun Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services, the event titled “Fine craftsmanship, great impact: Women’s employment in surgical instrument production” shed light on the crucial role of women’s labor in the healthcare technology sector. The event was held within the scope of the Year of the Family initiative.

Encouraging women to pursue careers in the surgical instrument manufacturing sector

Experts discussed the indispensable contribution of women in the production of surgical hand tools, a field that requires high precision and attention. The main goal of the event was to encourage women participants to pursue careers in this sector while raising awareness of both the technical and social dimensions of production processes.

Examples showcased how women’s labor integrates into quality management systems

The event featured Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yaşar Barut from OMU Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Child Development, who delivered a presentation on “Career and vocational choice.” In addition, Alp Eren Şahbazoğlu, Quality Management Systems Specialist at Bahadır Medical Instruments, shared practical examples of how women’s labor is integrated into quality management processes in the field.

Speakers emphasized the “invisible yet highly valuable” contribution of women to Samsun’s success in the health technology industry. They highlighted that increasing women’s participation in technology and production is not merely a matter of equality, but also a significant gain in terms of quality and sustainability.

Prof. Dr. Mustafa Aras, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Yaşar Barut, OMÜBİO Academic Advisor Assoc. Prof. Dr. Emine Şendurur, BİO Coordinator Lecturer Mürsel Kan, and Lecturer Dr. Elif Şevik İnal expressed their gratitude to the participants from the Department of Social Services for their active involvement and valuable contributions to the event.

Women participants stated that it was their first time meeting with scientists, and they appreciated the sincere and welcoming atmosphere. They emphasized that they gained useful and informative insights from the event and expressed their wish for similar activities to continue in the future.

Moderated by Burcu Düzgün Çoban, the event concluded with a question-and-answer session. Beyond technical discussions, it aimed to create awareness of the social dimension of labor, its relationship with gender, and the unseen contribution of women in production processes. The organization ended with a shared wish for expanded employment opportunities in health technology fields.

Background

The OMU Science Communication Office (BİO) was inaugurated on 12 May 2025 by President of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK) Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar, Samsun Governor Orhan Tavlı, and OMU Rector Prof. Dr. Fatma Aydın. Following its official opening, the first “Science Café” event provided scientific project writing training to students from OMU Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School.

The office held its first off-campus event on 30 May 2025 in the Kurtahmetli neighborhood of Çarşamba, focusing on combating the brown marmorated stink bug — a pressing agricultural problem. Scientists and local farmers gathered to transfer scientific knowledge directly to the field and develop solution-oriented approaches.

The third Science Café, held on 27 June 2025 at the OMU Science, Art, and Culture House, focused on the role of artificial intelligence in the sustainability of cities in the digital age. The event featured the project “Development of a tracking-based smart pedestrian crossing signal system” developed by OMU faculty members and students.

Another event took place on 22 August 2025 at Kurupelit Marina in Samsun’s Atakum district, covering two important topics: “Our water is running out! What does science say, and what should we do?” and “First aid: The golden minutes of saving lives.”