Children, youth, and families come together with science at the Mevlana Community and Science Center

A Certificate Ceremony for the 2025 Spring Term was held at the Bornova Municipality Mevlana Community and Science Center. A total of 177 students who participated in the Science Clubs and the newly launched Python Programming Workshop received their certificates. During the event, Mayor Ömer Eşki shared the story of the center’s founding and thanked all contributors. Volunteers from Ege University also received certificates of appreciation for their support.

The ceremony, held at the Bornova Municipality Mevlana Community and Science Center / Young Explorers Science House, featured colorful and joyful scenes. At the event, which was attended by Bornova Mayor Ömer Eşki, students who joined the Science Clubs and Python Programming Workshop were awarded participation certificates, while Ege University students who supported the project received certificates of appreciation. Families shared in the excitement throughout the program.

Mayor Eşki: “Not just a building, but a center of life”

In his opening speech, Mayor Ömer Eşki recalled the journey of the Mevlana Community and Science Center from its founding to the present. Reminiscing about his time as a municipal employee in 2010, he said:

“It was 2010. I was 24 years old and working as a staff member at Bornova Municipality. Prof. Dr. Kamil Okyay Sındır was the mayor then, and we inaugurated this place. If I remember correctly, it was the third science center in Turkey at the time. Our main goal was to instill a love of physics, chemistry, biology, mathematics, and astronomy in children.”

Mayor Eşki emphasized that women and children, especially from the Mevlana and Yunus Emre neighborhoods, have become more engaged with life through this center, stating:

“Without you, this building would just be a pile of concrete. But with your presence, with what you teach your children, and with the knowledge you bring home, this place has become something truly special. I sincerely thank the mothers who mobilize to teach even a single word to their children, our dedicated educators, and our team members who continue organizing this program.”

165 children met science, 23 university students supported them

The Science Clubs workshops, held between March 10 and May 17, 2025, welcomed 165 elementary and middle school students. Over the course of 10 weeks, students participated in hands-on activities in fundamental sciences such as physics, chemistry, and biology. Meanwhile, 23 undergraduate students from Ege University served as teaching assistants as part of their "Community Service Practices" course, supporting the children and implementing the scientific content they developed.

First Graduation from the Python Workshop

The Python Programming Workshop, held for the first time this year, offered foundational programming education to undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral researchers. The 10-week program covered the basics of the Python language and an introduction to data science, and was successfully completed by 12 participants.

Educator Aytekin Tan: “We combined science with play”

Speaking at the ceremony, science center educator Aytekin Tan emphasized how the activities boosted children's interest in science, stating:

“We strive to create an environment where children can learn while having fun and nurture their curiosity. The support of parents is also one of the most vital parts of this process.”