At Atatürk University, Minister Kacır  and Turkey's First Astronaut Gezeravc met with youthful people.

Atatürk University welcomed Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır and the inaugural Turkish Astronaut Alper Gezeravcı as distinguished guests as part of the Youth Meetings.

 The 'Youth Meeting' program was hosted by the Rector of Atatürk University, Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı at the Cultural Center 15 July National Will Hall with the participation of by numerous students, governor of Erzurum Mustafa Çiftci, mayor of Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality Mehmet Sekmen, administrators of public institutions, representatives of non-governmental organizations, academic and administrative staff.

 "We Continue to Train Human Resources for  Researchers in Science and Technology," stated Rector Çomaklı.

 Çomaklı began his inaugural address by extending his gratitude to Mehmet Fatih Kacır, the minister of industry and technology, Alper Gezeravcı, the inaugural astronaut of Turkey, and all the attendees.

 Rector Çomaklı asserted that their efforts are directed towards the "Turkey Century" objective established by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, while also continuing to educate human resources in science and technology. He further stated that the endeavor "is one of the vision projects of the Republic of Turkey and will significantly contribute to our national space program in terms of science and technology." Atatürk University and the Eastern Anatolian Observatory, which houses the largest telescope in Turkey and will provide infrastructure, are both institutions of national and Erzurum-based prestige. The Eastern Anatolian Observatory, which has been granted Research Infrastructure status in accordance with Law No. 6550, will proceed with its contributions to the national space program and space sciences as "Turkish National Observatories" under a larger and collaborative framework with TÜBİTAK National Observatory, with your assistance. Undoubtedly, the commissioning of the Eastern Anatolian Observatory by the Turkish National Observatories, which is scheduled to receive first light and reopen this summer, will substantially advance Turkey's space objectives. "Thanks to this major investment, Erzurum has already become a center of attraction in space sciences and optical technologies," said Çomaklı.

 "The Sign of the National Technology  Movement in the Sky"

 Rector Çomaklı asserted that significant initiatives that instill a sense of national pride have been executed in recent years in accordance with the National Technology Move and Tuürkiye Century Vision: "Turkey Century imprinted its imprint on the heavens with Bayraktar, Akıncı, Anka, Kızılelma, and Kaan." We are delighted to have Mr. Alper Gezeravcı present with us today as the Turkish Space Science Mission has commenced a momentous chapter in the annals of our nation. These initiatives, which have a significant impact on the global standing of our nation, will continue to resonate with and inspire our youth. "The real owners of the Türkiye Century vision and the future are our most valuable assets, our students," according to him.

 Rector Çomaklı concluded his address by extending gratitude to all attendees and the Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır and our nation's inaugural astronaut Alper Gezeravcı for their visit to Atatürk University. He stated that the visit had a profound impact on the morale of the entire university community, with particular emphasis on the students.

 "Erzurum is the City of Science and  Wisdom," said Mayor Sekmen.

 Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Sekmen asserted that the city, with its madrasahs, universities, and numerous science centers constructed in recent years, maintains its status as a historical epicenter of science. He further stated that the city has conducted numerous studies in alignment with the National Technology Move and has incorporated numerous new projects into its agenda to support this vision. Mayor Sekmen, who stated that he believes the establishment of such a significant organization in Erzurum, the city of science, will provide young people with new opportunities, noted that Turkish youth can accomplish anything if they have faith in it. Furthermore, if they have faith in themselves and their nation, all barriers will be removed. He wished that the program would be fruitful.

 "Erzurum Meets the First Turkish  Astronaut," reported Governor Çiftci.

 Mustafa Çiftci, the governor of Erzurum, asserts that young people's professional development is considerably impacted by interactions with role models. In this regard, he considers the first Turkish astronaut Alper Gezeravcı's meetings with young people in Erzurum to be extremely beneficial. He expressed his belief that the students would benefit from their collaboration with the individual who made the program a reality, and he further expressed his optimism regarding the program's efficacy.

 Minister Kacır: "Turkish Youth Aspirations  Have Elevated Above the Horizon."

 "Esteemed youth of Erzurum, a city renowned for its frigid climate, hospitable inhabitants, gusty winds, and valiant individuals, esteemed brothers and academics of our esteemed university, I am delighted to be in this august assembly with you today in Erzurum, a historically and culturally rich metropolis that pays homage to our nation's first astronaut, Alper Gezeravcı." Mehmet Fatih Kacır, the Minister of Industry and Technology, commenced his discourse by expressing his delight at acquainting the audience with the Turkish youth. He further asserted that they have demonstrated their capabilities when hindrances are eliminated from the way.

 Minister Kacır, speaking at the event hosted by Atatürk University, expressed his delight at being at the institution, which holds a special place in the higher education landscape of the country due to its research-oriented mission and the achievements of its research support programs at TÜBİTAK. He further addressed the youth by stating, "You possess the means to propel the nation's technological advancement. We consistently prioritize Turkish youth as the Teknofest generation, involving them in the development of all programs and projects as we progress along the national technology corridor under the guidance of our President. Because we hold the conviction that Turkish youth possess the capability and talent to secure the most prestigious employment opportunities globally in their respective fields, provided that we support them and eliminate the barriers that currently stand in their way. Young Turks demonstrated this. Turkey has now established itself in space. "From now on, future generations will walk this path," according to him.

 "We Sought to Advance and Compete with the  World"

 Minister Kacır elaborated on the Turkish Space scientific Mission as follows: "In the course of our National Space Program, we undertook the significant undertaking of conducting our inaugural manned space science mission." We sought to broaden the scientific community's perspective on space. We desired for our scientists to conduct these investigations during the astronaut's scientific mission. Our objective was for them to be able to compete globally and surpass their competitors. Propelled into space while bearing the Turkish star and crescent flag, our citizen conveyed the aspirations of the nation's youth beyond the horizon. Although this is unprecedented, it is not the last. It will proceed with its interplanetary missions. "We will achieve many great things together with the efforts of you, our scientists," according to him.

 Alper Gezeravcı: "Our nation places an  immeasurable value on science and scientists."

 Turkey's first astronaut in space, Alper Gezeravcı, expressed his pride in meeting young people in Erzurum, the city of culture, history, and civilization. He further stated that he was honored to accomplish one of Turkey's significant objectives on the centenary of the Republic while standing before the youth. Declaring that Turkey maintains a steadfast commitment to space investments, Gezeravcı shared with the students the procedures he undertook prior to his 14-day space mission and the scientific experiments he conducted while in orbit. "Once I was chosen for the project, we commenced training in the United States," Gezeravcı stated. The primary training facilities of NASA were utilized. Instruction took place within the space laboratory that was designed using one-to-one modeling. Module training was also conducted in Japan and Germany. We were instructed in survival techniques. In addition, there were scientific endeavors that required our attention. For our experiments, we visited our scientists in their laboratories in each metropolis. We subsequently convened in Ankara to revise every experiment. "Finally, we worked on our experiments in America," he indicated.

 "Rapid advancements have been achieved in  the domain of spacecraft."

 As he recounted his space travels to the students, Gezeravcı stated: "Plants, algae, and propolis were investigated in preparation for research into space life support systems." We are confident that each of the scientific endeavors undertaken by our personnel will yield significant outcomes. This mission is extremely valuable in our opinion, not only for the thirteen scientific investigations that were conducted as part of it, but also because it unequivocally demonstrates the regard in which our nation values science, our scientists, and the opportunities that we provide. Despite being among the most recent nations to establish its own space agency in the realm of space operations, our progress has been exceptionally swift. This is most strongly demonstrated by the scientific voyage we have undertaken. "With these thoughts, I would like to express my gratitude once again to our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, who believed in us and mobilized every opportunity, to all our relevant unit managers, and to all the Turkish people who never stopped praying."

 Minister Kacır and Gezeravcı concluded the program by offering guidance to the youth and taking photographs.

 Directorate of Corporate Communications – March  25, 2024