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Academic Explorations

To showcase intellectual curiosity and self-directed learning in a specific field.

Academic ExplorationsActivities

YGA Summit

by Kuzey Kaan Koltuk

Science Meets Conscience: My Amazing Experience at YGA Summit 2025!

So, What’s YGA Anyway?

YGA (Young Guru Academy) is an international non-profit that started right here in Turkey back in 2000. Their main goal? Raising what they call “double-winged” leaders. Basically, they believe we need two wings to fly: one for science and technology, and the other for conscience and values. It’s all about using tech to make the world a better place! You’ve probably heard of the WeWALK smart cane or Twin Science kits—those were actually dreamed up by YGA volunteers.

Guess what? Out of thousands of people, I was lucky enough to be picked for this year’s YGA Summit! It’s such a big deal for me. Now, my eyes are on the next prize: finishing the second stage to become one of the 30 official volunteers they pick every year. Wish me luck!

Highlights from the Summit: Big Ideas & Even Bigger Names

1. Dreaming Big with Hakan Aran and Ahmet Eren

The summit kicked off with some of the biggest names in Turkey showing how they support young dreamers.

  • Hakan Aran (CEO of İş Bankası): He made a great point! He said tech isn’t about showing off power—it’s about helping people. Their “Science Movement” with YGA isn’t just about coding; it’s about giving kids a whole new way to see the world.
  • Ahmet Eren (Chairman of Eren Holding): He reminded us that real success isn’t just a bunch of numbers on a page. It’s actually about seeing a spark of hope in a child’s eyes in a small village in Anatolia. How cool is that?

2. Science is for Everyone: Prof. Dr. Mehmet Toner

Mehmet Toner is a legend who works at Harvard and MIT. He gave us a real-talk session about life. His advice? Don’t be afraid to fail! He told us to look at failure as just another piece of info and to never stop being curious. He thinks the leaders of tomorrow are the ones who can take smart science and use it to help people on the street.

3. Heart-to-Heart on Leadership: Sinan Yaman

When YGA’s founder Sinan Yaman got on stage, he really made us think. He said something I’ll never forget: “Being a volunteer doesn’t mean working for free; it means putting your whole heart into what you do.” It’s not just about being smart; it’s about being a “school of conscience.”

4. Awesome Success Stories: WeWALK, Twin, and Upschool

We got to see how startups born in YGA have gone global. Social entrepreneurs like Asude Altıntaş and Gökhan Meriçliler shared how their tech is helping millions of people. It’s proof that when you combine a smart brain with a good heart, you can really change things!

5. Energy from the Field: Aleyna, Rukiye, and Rakel

The best part? Hearing from the volunteers themselves! Rukiye, a high school student, talked about her internship at İş Bankası, and Aleyna shared how she found her confidence through field work. Even Rakel came all the way from Italy to show that we’re one big global family.

6. The Big Finish: “Finding Your Own Crescendo”

The musician Beril Sarıtun closed the show in the coolest way. She turned the whole hall into a giant drum circle using Ravel’s Bolero! As the rhythm got louder (that’s the “crescendo” part!), it felt like a symbol of all of us coming together to make a huge noise for good.

What’s Next? Going for the Top 30!

This summit wasn’t just an event for me—it’s my new compass. Being around people who care so much about science and kindness has given me so much hope.

I’m so proud to be a YGA candidate. But the journey’s just getting started! If I make it through the next round, I’ll be one of the 30 volunteers for this year. I’ve taken my first step toward being a leader who cares, and now I’m ready to keep that fire burning!

PS: This post was written with the support of AI

#YGA #YGASummit #ScienceAndConscience #FutureLeaders #DoubleWingedYouth

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Academic Explorations

MEB’s New Rule on AP Exams: Only for Enrolled Students

by Engin

The Turkish Ministry of Education (MEB) has recently introduced a new rule that changes how AP (Advanced Placement) exams are organized in Türkiye. Until now, students whose schools did not offer an AP program could register to take the exams at another accredited school. With the new regulation, this will no longer be possible.

What Changed?

From now on, accredited schools are only allowed to organize AP exams for their own enrolled students. This means that students from outside these schools cannot take the exam there, even if the school has College Board authorization.

What Does It Mean for Students?

This decision may cause challenges, especially for students who study AP subjects through private courses or schools without an AP program. In the past, they could still take the exams at a different accredited school. Now:

  • Limited access: Only students of accredited schools will sit for the exams.
  • Pressure on schools: Every school that offers AP may need to become its own exam center.
  • Uncertainty for outsiders: It is not yet clear how students outside these schools will take the exams in the future.

What About Public Schools?

At the moment, this rule does not apply to public schools. Students in public schools can still take the AP exams at another public exam center. However, questions remain about students who prepare for AP through courses but are not enrolled in AP schools.

Looking Ahead

The new rule aims to standardize exam practices, but it also creates uncertainty. Some ask whether MEB might one day create its own central exam centers for all AP students. For now, families and students need to follow the updates closely and plan their AP journey more carefully.

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Academic Explorations

Copernıcus Project

by Engin

Eyes Watching the Earth

Have you ever wondered if we could protect our planet better by watching it from space? The European Union’s Copernicus Project is doing exactly that!

This project uses special satellites called Sentinels to observe Earth from above. They monitor the atmosphere, oceans, forests, and even mountains. Thanks to this system, floods can be predicted earlier, forest fires can be spotted quickly, and farming can become more efficient.

One of the most important parts: Open Data!
All the information collected by Copernicus is free for anyone to use. That means a scientist, a student, or even a startup can access this data and create something new. For example:

  • A student could use it for a school project on climate change,
  • A company could plan smarter irrigation for crops,
  • Environmental groups could track ocean pollution.

Because of this open data policy, Copernicus helps not only Europe but the entire world.

In the end, the Copernicus Project shows us something powerful: data from space is not just science fiction—it shapes our real lives every day. And since it’s open to everyone, it’s not only for governments but also for people like us. Who knows? Maybe one day you’ll use this data to create a project that helps change the world!

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