Bio:

Osman Süreyya Kocabaş was graduated from History Department at TOBB University of Economy and Technology 2014. He continue Master’s Degree at Hacettepe University. He deals with the history of science and history of thoughts and beliefs. He has been working as researcher at Konya Science Center since 2014.

Abstract:

Organizing Thematic Summer School

Konya Science Center (KSC) has organized a summer school under the theme of science history three times. At this panel, we want to share some of our substantial experiences about organizing this thematic summer school targeting high school students.

KSC summer school curricula is based on some topics of basic science fields: chemistry, astronomy, physics, and mathematics. The school lasts for four weeks; each week is dedicated to a theme talked through lectures, presentations, and workshops. The activities demonstrate how the scholars have contributed to universal science, emphasizing their scientific contributions to the World.

Activity examples include: calculating future eclipses with Antikythera mechanism and al-Biruni’s mechanical calendar, making Kindi’s perfume and Razi’s ink, drawing Islamic geometric patterns, making and looking far with old-technical telescope, calculating huge numbers with Napier’s Bones, illuminating a lamp by coiling up Tesla’s Coil, etc.

After this school, students prepare some articles about history of science and these are published as a booklet by KSC. This course aims to encourage students to inquire about pathways of scientific adventure, especially our scientific past. Our goal is to encourage organizing this kind of thematic summer schools in other science centers.