Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University (BEUN) has made another initiative that brings scientific project production culture together with academic process. The project titled “Techno-Ecological Village Laboratories” developed in the master’s class “Project Management” of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bayram Gökbulut, an academic member of BEUN Ereğli Faculty of Education, was entitled support as part of the 4009 Support Program for the Rural Schools, which was announced by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) for the first time.

Project proposal prepared at the end of the collaborative project development as part of the master’s class by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bayram Gökbulut and BEUN Graduate School of Social Sciences students Şifanur Karakılçık, Zeynep Vural, Salih Danışmaz, Umut Topuz and Selma Kazkondu was entitled support as it was considered as a qualified result of hands-on learning in graduate schools.

The Project Developed at BEUN Will Meet Students in Rural Areas

The project will be carried out by the Director of Kdz. Ereğli Şahinde Hayrettin Yavuz Science and Arts Center (BİLSEM) Serken Çakır. Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bayram Gökbulut will serve as a researcher and a specialist in the project, while BİLSEM Chemistry Teacher Gürol Keserci will serve as an educator and the Dean of Faculty of Maritime Prof. Dr. Şaban Çelikoğlu as a speaker.  Master’s program students Salih Danışmaz, Şifanur Karakılçık and Zeynep Vural will take on the role of educators in the project.

As part of the project to be held between 16-18 September 2026, it is aimed to strengthen the availability of science and technology among students in rural areas and raise them as individuals who not only use digital technology, but who design and produce.

Science, Technology, and Nature Will Meet in the Same Project

As part of the “Techno Ecological Village Laboratories” project, students will design interactive electrical circuits inspired by the local culture, transfer agricultural knowledge into digital media through block-based coding applications, model mathematical designs in nature using three-dimensional pens, develop augmented reality applications, join STEAM activities, watch planetarium shoes and observe the sky using digital telescopes. It is aimed at contributing to students developing skills such as computational thinking, problem solving, engineering design, spatial thinking, and scientific awareness and to grow up as individuals who will be nature conscious, will research and produce.

A Strong Collaboration Between BEUN and National Education

4009 Support Program for the Rural Schools, which was announced by the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) for the first time in 2026 aims to promote scientific knowledge and technology culture among students in rural areas and local people, increase science literacy, and increase the number of hands-on training centers. In this respect, the project is considered to be a successful example of strong collaboration between Zonguldak Bülent Ecevit University and Ministry of National Education.

Rector Özölçer: “Our University Will Continue to Implement Projects That Bring Science and Public Together”

In his remarks on the subject, BEUN Rector Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Özölçer stated the following:

“We believe it is of great value that educational activities on the graduate level are not limited to theoretical knowledge but turn into projects. It is of great importance that the project, prepared as part of the graduate level class given by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bayram Gökbulut, is entitled support under the 4009 Support Program for the Rural Schools. This success is a significant result of active participation of students in project creation processes and application focused educational approach.

With this project that aims to bring science and technology to all parts of society, students in rural areas will be more enthusiastic about science and develop their skills in production and research. I express my gratitude to the President of Council of Higher Education Prof. Dr. Erol Özvar for his visionary approach in strengthening the scientific production capacity of universities. I would also like to thank the President of TÜBİTAK Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın, who supports scientific research and project culture aimed at society, and TÜBİTAK community.

I wholeheartedly congratulate Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bayram Gökbulut, a researcher in the project, Serkan Çakır, project manager, Dean Prof. Dr. Şaban Çelikoğlu, educators, and graduate level students. Our university will continue to add value to our country with initiatives that produce scientific knowledge, develop projects, and prioritize social contribution.”