President of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA), Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Şeker was the guest of Atatürk University to attend the Biodiversity, Agriculture and Food Symposium. He and his accompanying delegation completed the first day of the program by visiting the Biodiversity Application and Research Center.

Within the scope of the Biodiversity, Agriculture and Food Symposium, where biodiversity, which refers to the various life forms that exist on earth, including all living things and the ecosystems they live in, the participants, who were guests of Atatürk University, visited the Biodiversity Application and Research Center under the leadership of Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı. The future of agriculture and agricultural products necessary for the continuation of humanity were discussed during the programme.

Prof. Dr. Gültekin: “We Conduct Joint Research with International Scientists”

Within the scope of the visit accompanied by the Center Director Prof. Dr. Levent Gültekin, the Biodiversity Science Museum was visited, where the studies carried out as a center were talked about. Noting that there are basically 4 laboratories in the Application and Research Center, such as the animal and plant kingdom laboratory and taxonomy and molecular systematics, and that they conduct joint research with international scientists and convey information to the society with the education and application laboratory, Gültekin said that they intensively scan every corner of the world, especially the Eastern Anatolia Region. He stated that they protected the special species they found and said that they made an intense effort to fulfill their responsibilities towards future generations.

There is a collection of 250 thousand individuals and 10 thousand species in the museum.

Sharing information with his visitors about the Biodiversity Science Museum established within the Application and Research Center, Prof. Dr. Levent Gültekin said that the collection consisting of 250 thousand individuals and 10 thousand species collected in 60 years from all over Turkey, especially Eastern Anatolia, is carefully preserved in the museum. In the museum are giant mammoth, dinosaur and whale replica collections, as well as many species of plants, insects, mammals, reptiles, fish and fossils dating back millions of years. Stating that high-level scientific research has been carried out with the support of Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı, Gültekin noted that it is aimed to protect biodiversity and contribute to society in terms of education.

Rector Çomaklı: “The Center and our Museum have become a source of pride for us”

Rector Çomaklı stated that they designed the Research Center and the museum to function together, adding: "We brought our center together by bringing together the scientific materials of our country with the 60-year-old collections of Atatürk University, in international cooperation, including Eastern Anatolia, Turkey and neighboring countries. We have made an intense effort to establish this center since the first day I took office. The point the center has reached today has become a source of pride for us."

President Şeker: “As TÜBA, our support is with you…”

Emphasizing that biodiversity plays an important role in the ecosystem, TÜBA President Prof. Dr. Muzaffer Şeker said that each life form in the ecosystem is unique and that every organism in the world has the right to exist, whether it is valuable to humans or not. Talking about the existence of a social responsibility of the current generation towards future generations, Şeker said: “This responsibility imposes on us the necessity of protecting all living organisms in the world. It is very important to take the necessary precautions to protect our biodiversity, which is under threat today, and to pass it on to future generations."

Emphasizing that this and similar formations are very important in bringing science together with society, President Şeker stated that he appreciated the establishment of such a valuable center in Erzurum, located at the intersection of Eastern Anatolia. Emphasizing that the museum is especially valuable for children to meet and socialize with science, Şeker said that, as TÜBA, they will provide the necessary support for the center to further develop and conduct qualified publications and research.

The visit ended with the guests visiting the museum and taking a souvenir photo.

CORPORATE COMMUNICATION DIRECTORATE – 22.09.2023