Atatürk University is the only institution entitled to receive the grant provided by Horizon Europe, MSCA-Citizens programs for organizing activities that bring researchers and other individuals in the society together and encourage young people to science in all of the European Union and partner countries.

“Funded as part of Horizon Europe Marie Skłodowska-Curie actions (MSCA-Ctizens), European Researchers' Night is a Europe-wide event aiming at connecting researchers with the community. European Researchers' Night, a science and research festival celebrated simultaneously in more than 250 cities in Europe on the last Friday of September every year, is so important in that it is a great opportunity for researchers to show the diversity of science and its impact on citizens' daily lives, and to stimulate interest in research careers, especially among young people.

In this direction, Atatürk University Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı and the project team came together with members of the press at the Project Development and Coordination Office to share the details of the project prepared by Assoc. Dr. Selda Örs, an academic member of Faculty of Agriculture, Department of Agricultural Structures and Irrigation, sharing information about the budget, content and completion time of the project.

Rector Çomaklı: We have achieved a very serious increase in the number of projects compared to the past”

Rector Çomaklı stated that since the day they took office, they have been using incentive systems as well as various infrastructure and support offices in order to develop the research and project culture of the university and to enable academicians to produce in this field. Because of this, a very serious rise has been observed in the number of projects compared to the past..

"We are making efforts to ensure that the university takes its targeted place in the national and international arena. Among the applications made to the 2022 call of the European Union within the scope of scientific activities, Atatürk University is the only one which applied as the coordinator and sole executive. The project was entitled to be funded."

Total Cost of the Project 146 Thousand Euros

Rector Çomaklı underlined that the project, conducted by the Project Development and Coordination Office, under the coordinatorship of Assoc. Dr. Selda Örs, with a budget of 146 thousand Euros, is Atatürk University's first European Union project coordinatorship.

"It is very exciting and proud to be among the top ten universities in our country in terms of project development. We have recently held an international meeting to develop a joint project with our Eastern Anatolia Observatory. We have established this culture in our university. As a self-sufficient university, we continue to serve the country's higher education. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Project Office Coordinator, project coordinator and research academics working at various faculties of our university, who contributed to the preparation of the project, and wish them success in their studies." Çomaklı added.

Assoc. Dr. Örs: “Our project will bring Erzurum to the forefront”

Selda Örs began her speech giving information about the project, thanking Rector Çomaklı for his precious support. "It is difficult to get support because Horizon Europe projects are prestigious projects. We are happy to carry out our project for the first time as the sole coordinator in a city outside of the cities like Ankara, İstanbul and İzmir which are mostly supported. This project, which brings the city to the forefront and has a very social aspect, will bring students and the public together. The purpose of our project is to encourage our young people to pursue careers in science and research and to collaborate with researchers. Within the scope of the project, which will last for 2 years, various experiments will be carried out and experiences will be made in the events to be held at the Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Cultural Center in September 2022 and 2023." she said.

Stating that agriculture has come to the fore with the pandemic, Örs stated that climate change is on the agenda and that the climate phenomenon has been one of the most talked about topics in recent years, and that all the processes and processes of the products produced in this direction, from the soil to the table, will be shown to the students and the public with the "Science from Nature to Table" project. She also said she believes it would come to fruition.

The press conference ended with questions answered.