STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) Competition organized for the middle school students under the "Know What You Breathe: Mobilizing Communities for Air Quality in the Black Sea Basin (AIRQUEST) project, supported by the EU and carried out by Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) Technology Transfer Office, was held at BEUN Ereğli Faculty of Education.

In the competition organized to raise awareness for the prevention of air pollution and promote problem solving abilities, students presented their projects developed with engineering-based approaches to the jury. Producing solutions to environmental problems with an innovative approach was one of the most interesting sides of the activity.

Held with Wide Participation

AIRQUEST Project coordinator, member of BEUN Faculty of Engineering Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Gürbüz, member of BEUN Ereğli Faculty of Education Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bayram Gökbulut, academic member of Faculty of Engineering Asst. Prof. Dr. Gülçin Demirel Bayık, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Elif Öztekin, member of BEUN Faculty of Economics and Administrative Sciences Asst. Prof. Dr. Hilal Gümüş, member of BEUN Teoman Duralı Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences Asst. Prof. Dr. Behice Ceyda Cengiz, instructor at STEM training, Teacher Serkan Topbaş, academics, teachers, students, and parents attended the event. The jury consisted of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Gökhan Gürbüz, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Muhammet Özdemir, Asst. Prof. Dr. Gülçin Demirel Bayık, Asst. Prof. Dr. Elif Öztekin, and Asst. Prof. Dr. Hilal Gümüş.

Many Innovative Projects

As a result of the jury’s evaluation, Kdz. Ereğli Şahinde Hayrettin Yavuz Science and Arts Center, supervised by Teacher Adnan Akyüz was declared the winner. Eco Engineers team, consisting of Özgür Deniz Kaya, Said Erdem Telli, Çağan Öztürk, Yusuf Eymen Dağlıoğlu and Emir Keleş were awarded the first prize with their project titled “Microalgae-Based Open Photobioreactor: An Innovative Approach to Reduce Air Pollution”.

Zonguldak İbrahim Fikri Anıl Middle School İfa Technology Club, supervised by Murat Kara took the second place.”Air-Purifying Streetlamp” project prepared by Deha Eren Örenli, Yusuf Doruk, Atabey Arın Kesik and Bade Angın was ranked the second.

Two different projects were declared the “third”. The project titled “Eco-Breathe” devised by Kepez İzmirlioğulları Middle School student Kerem Yahya Gülgün, supervised by Teacher Emine Ertem, and the project titled “Lavu-Loji” designed by Zonguldak Bahçeşehir Koleji Middle School students Ahmet Çağrı Akgün and Kuzey Aksoy, supervised by teachers Şifanur Karakılçık and Elif Terzi were awarded the third place.

Ranking teachers and students in the competition will participate in the International STEM Exhibition, to be held in Bulgaria in June. BEUN members will represent Türkiye on the international platforms along with the project partners from Bulgaria, Ukraine, and Trabzon.

The program concluded with the presentation of certificates of participation to all participating students and supervisors.