The Science Communication in Education Summit took place on 19–20 September 2025 at the University’s Turgut Özal Culture and Congress Centre. Organised by the Faculty of Education, Science Communication Office and SAU Foundation Schools, it brought together teachers, education administrators, parents, students and academics. Its published aims included making educational research accessible to teachers, pupils, parents and education professionals. [4, 5]
For the 19–20 September 2025 summit, the Graduate School of Education stated that participation was free. The Faculty of Education’s completion report identifies the Turgut Özal Culture and Congress Centre as the venue and records attendance by teachers, education managers and parents alongside university participants. The fee statement applies specifically to this summit. [22] [4]
The completed programme comprised three panels, four workshops, 36 oral presentations and 16 poster presentations. Topics included artificial intelligence, relationships in the digital environment, bullying and sustainability literacy. [4]
Sakarya University and local organisers published the following invitations for events on campus.
A public notice on 30 April 2025 invited students and other interested people to a free sports interpreting talk by Beşiktaş JK interpreter Fatih Nar. The notice scheduled the talk for 18:30 that day at the Turgut Özal Culture and Congress Centre. [14]
The Culture and Civilisation Workshops opened with sessions on Yunus Emre and Yusuf Has Hacib. The 7 May announcement advertised free participation at the Turgut Özal Culture and Congress Centre. [15, 16]
On 8 April 2025, a public notice invited music enthusiasts to attend the State Conservatory’s Turkish Folk Music Concert free of charge at the Turgut Özal Culture and Congress Centre at 20:00. [17]
The Faculty of Art, Design and Architecture invited students to a free screening of award-winning films from the 21st Akbank Short Film Festival. Its notice scheduled the campus screening for 23 December 2025 at 13:30 in Gizem Firit Hall. [18]
Sakarya University hosted campus-based educational activities for families, educators and children during 2025. Public invitations and reports of completed activities document opportunities for people beyond the enrolled student population to engage with university expertise.
The Culture Branch invited families to Esentepe Campus for its programme of 7–31 July 2025. The schedule included a parent–child workshop on 8 July, health activities on 17 July and safety education and archery on 31 July. [19]
The University’s 15 July notice invited pupils attending summer Qur’an courses to Wednesday learning sessions at the campus green space behind the former SAÜSEM building and at Genç Ofis. Activities included first aid, entrepreneurship and creative thinking. [8a, 8b, 20]
From 30 July to 1 August 2025, prospective students and their families met academic and administrative staff at the University’s Promotion Days. Staff answered questions about degree programmes, double majors, Erasmus+, careers, accommodation and scholarships. [21]
The University’s public invitation of 18 August 2025 welcomed all families to its Family Year campus programme, scheduled for 18–22 and 25–29 August. Educational activities included information stands and workshops on entrepreneurship, family life, health and social issues. [1]
A follow-up report published on 19 August documents information stands operating on the campus walkway and families attending the From Idea to Invention entrepreneurship workshop delivered with Sakarya Teknokent. The participating public institutions provided information on family services, safety and culture. [2]
A separate report published by the Sakarya Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services on 26 August confirms an on-campus foster-family information activity. Families received individual explanations about foster care and informative brochures. [3]
The University announced a school-holiday programme for children aged 6–11 on campus for 20–31 January 2025. It offered hands-on educational activities for the semester break. [7]
In summer 2025, the University launched and completed its ‘Kampüste Öğren, Kampüste Keşfet’ (Learn on Campus, Discover on Campus) project, a campus-based summer programme for children offering guided discovery and educational activities. The programme’s launch and successful completion were each reported on the University’s news portal [8a, 8b].
In 2025, the University’s Accessible Life and Support Coordination Office organised a Family Festival for Children with Special Needs (30 May 2025), hosting families of Nilüfer Special Education Practice School on campus. Student communities (Special Education, Altın Adımlar, Turkuaz Preschool and Social Work) prepared games and activities for the children, with the aim of raising awareness and supporting families’ participation in social life [12].
On 7 May 2025, Sakarya University established a Science Communication Office (Bilim İletişimi Ofisi) under the auspices of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK). The office aims to share academic knowledge with the wider public and serves as an institutional platform for public engagement with university research [9].
In 2025, the Science Communication Office delivered a series of public science talks (‘Bilim Söyleşileri’) open to the local community through the ‘Bilim Kafe’ (Science Café) format. Topics addressed included earthquake preparedness in Turkey, food safety and label literacy, digital addiction among young people, and autism awareness. The autism awareness session was held at the Sakarya Metropolitan Municipality Social Development Centre. Sessions were recorded and made available on the University’s YouTube channel [10a, 10b, 10c, 10d].
On 24 December 2025, the Faculty of Education hosted an Early Childhood Science Education exhibition from 11.30 to 14.00. Approximately 400 children aged 48–72 months from four local schools participated. Student teachers facilitated practical activities on rain formation, day and night, seasons, life cycles and shadows. [6]
In 2025, Sakarya University hosted the European Researchers’ Night event on campus. Secondary school and high school students participated in hands-on science experiments, engaging directly with university researchers and gaining first-hand experience of the scientific process [11].
The ‘Gelecek’ten Gelecek’ (Future from the Future) project, run by the Fikir ile Gelecek student community with support from the Ministry of Youth and Sports and completed in June 2025, offered a three-day programme for high-school-level participants: introductions to university departments (Medicine, Psychology, Management Information Systems, Law, Mechanical Engineering, International Trade and Gastronomy), a career talk with Vice-Rector Prof. Dr. Özer Köseoğlu, and sessions with alumni speakers [13].
Figure 1. Science Communication in Education Summit, 19–20 September 2025. Official photograph accompanying the Faculty of Education completion report. Source [4]
Figure 2. Science Communication in Education Summit, Faculty of Education gallery, September 2025. Source [4]
Figure 3. Science Communication in Education Summit, Faculty of Education gallery, September 2025. Source [4]
Figure 4. Public information stands on the University campus during the Family Year programme. Official gallery published on 19 August 2025. Source [2]
Figure 5. Family Year campus programme, August 2025. Source [2]
Figure 6. Family and Social Services information stand in the same campus programme. Official gallery published on 19 August 2025. Source [2]
Figure 7. Early Childhood Science Education exhibition, 24 December 2025. Official Faculty of Education photograph. Source [6]
Figure 8. Early Childhood Science Education exhibition, Faculty of Education gallery, December 2025. Source [6]
Figure 9. Early Childhood Science Education exhibition, Faculty of Education gallery, December 2025. Source [6]
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