Turkey Science Centers Foundation
Turkey Science Centers Foundation is an NGO established with the vision of creating a knowledge-based society; raising the interest of Turkish society towards science, scientific thought, new Technologies and leading industries of the world and particularly supporting the young generation to develop the necessary skills and know-how through interactive education.
Turkey Science Centers Foundation has established the first Science Center in Istanbul, in 1998. The founders consist of academicians, educators, businessmen, managers and artists. Its mission is to create a knowledge based society and to guide and provide knowledge for science centers to be founded in other cities of Turkey. To grow curiosity and imagination in children and to drive them to ask and explore the unknown, Science Center offer endless exploration for them with over 100 hands-on exhibits and simulation rooms. Plus its daily programs, Turkey Science Centers Foundation organizes Science Schools, Science Festivals, workshops, seminars and several other events. Every year, Science Center welcomes 80.000 visitors; they are mainly student groups in the weekdays and families at the weekends.
Turkey Science Centers Foundation provides a free-learning environment for children, teens and adults to help them discover the unknown. In The Science Center, over 100 hands-on exhibits are being displayed like long whale skeleton, Mediterranean seal skeleton, green sea turtle, meteorite, planetarium, black hole model, 20 million years old tree and exhibits about physics, brain, mathematics and space.
The Science Center organizes:
- International Volvo Adventure Competition: This project is organized since 2006. Its aim is to encourage students to design creative projects to find sustainable solutions to the environmental problems.
- Time for Nano Project: With other 12 European participant countries and under the leadership of Ecsite, BridA and IDIS, Turkey Science Centers Foundation makes a contribution of the development of Nano-Kit and Nano Contest.
- International “Kid Witness News” Competition with Tekofaks Panasonic: The project purposes to make student conscience about environment and communication subjects.
- “Global Enlightenment Poster Design” Competition with Philipps: It is aimed to raise awareness of global warming in Turkey among children.
- “This is My Story” Competition with TNT: The purpose of the competition is to reach the children who have been inspired by the books they have read through the donation campaign.
- Earthquake and Fire Education: Visitors are attending to a brief “Fire and Earthquake Preparation Course” through the Earthquake and Fire Simulation Rooms. Thus, 100.000 persons are informed about being prepared in case of an Earthquake and Fire.
- Renewable Energy Tree with BP: Producing electric power through Energy Trees solar panels and a wind mill.
- Science School: In summer and during half term, Science Centre organizes Science School for children aged between 7 and 14. Science School contains courses, workshops, tours and science experiments.
- Hulda Project: Hulda, the 100 year old sailing boat of the Turkish-Swedish artist Ilhan Koman will host creative workshops by visiting 9 European countries and Istanbul. Turkey Sciences Center Foundation is responsible for designing scientific workshops.