Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank attended the opening ceremony of Antalya Science Center and Antalya SCIENCEFEST in Kepez district of Antalya and expressed his pleasure to bring Turkey's largest science center to the city and to open the science and technology festival SCIENCEFEST, which will be one of the most important events in the region. Varank emphasized that they care about spreading the culture of science in society with the science centers they have established. Reminding that they have established science centers in 6 provinces so far, namely Konya, Kocaeli, Kayseri, Bursa, Elazığ and Istanbul, Varank stated that they are continuing to establish science centers in Gaziantep, Şanlıurfa, Düzce and Denizli.

"We have opened Turkey's largest science center in Antalya and the first science center in the Mediterranean. This place has become a huge science complex with its technological equipment, applied workshops, interactive exhibitions and library." Varank said that applied workshop trainings will be given in the fields of biology, chemistry, science, mathematics, astronomy, robotics, coding, wood and design. Underlining that young people will discover by observing, touching, hearing and experimenting, Varank said that thanks to fun and effective trainings, young people will taste the sense of curiosity at a young age and develop original ideas.

"Let our young people be inspired by seeing and touching concrete achievements and products"

Providing information about the center, Varank said: "In the Dokuma Factory campus we are currently in, apart from the science center, there are Cemil Meriç Library, Botanical Park, City Museum, Martyrs Museum, Modern Arts Gallery and Toy Museum. In other words, this place appeals not only to our youth but also to everyone from 7 to 77 with its culture, architecture and thematic fiction. The best example of this is BİLİMFEST, which brings together science enthusiasts of all ages. Dozens of scientific activities, workshops and exhibitions, competitions, stage shows, fun science shows and family games await our citizens from all over the region. All of our rare institutions such as TÜBİTAK, Turkish Space Agency, ASELSAN, HAVELSAN, ROKETSAN, TAI, TÜMOSAN are here. You will be able to watch the stunning shows of our pride, Solo Türk and Turkish Stars in the sky. We also exhibit our domestic and national technological products, which are our pride, in the festival area to inspire our young people. We want our young people to be inspired not by listening to the sad stories of our national projects that were blocked in the past, but by seeing and touching concrete achievements and products."

Minister Varank invited young people from the surrounding provinces to the Science Center and BİLİMFEST with their families, saying that the experience they will accumulate here will have a strong impact on their lives. Pointing out that the conferences and interviews to be given by experts will leave traces in the minds of young people, Varank said, "Antalya Science Center and BİLİMFEST will contribute to the spread of our vision of the National Technology Move, and to the upbringing of ethical Turkish youth who are equipped with the skills of the era and the future, who are beneficial to humanity. You will see that among you will be respected scientists, successful engineers and original designers who will shape the field."

"We must instill awareness of science and technology in our children"

Pointing out that success is a team game, Minister Varank said: "Neither a good project, a hard-working student, nor a fully prepared curriculum is ever sufficient for success. Success is a team game, an ecosystem. Only if we work together, if we join hands, we can take our country to where it deserves to be, far beyond the level of contemporary civilizations. We all have certain responsibilities in this team game. Dear parents and teachers, the most critical task is yours. We must instill in our children an awareness of science and technology. Instead of squeezing them into narrow molds, we should seek, find and extract the gems within them. We will give them the opportunity to trial and error, to fly away, to make mistakes, and we will even lead them. We should prepare our children or students not for high positions and good salaries, but for useful sciences and successful initiatives that will serve the whole of humanity."

Stating that whatever work is done, it must be given its due, Varank said that one must be patient, work hard, discuss, dream and never give up. Pointing out that it is not the smartest, those who work the hardest or have the most opportunities who achieve success, but those who never give up, Varank said that the Ministry of Industry and Technology is the biggest supporter in this sense. Stating that they named the vision "National Technology Move", Mustafa Varank said, "We said that with this vision, Turkey should develop its own technology in the most advanced fields, train the most successful scientists, produce the biggest brands, produce the best products and develop the most original design. For this, we carry out activities for all our students from primary school to university age with the understanding that the tree bends while it is young."

"This year TEKNOFEST fire will burn in the Black Sea"

Noting that they opened science centers in cities where everyone can go, Varank reported that Deneyap Technology Workshops, where they provide training in areas such as design, robotics, coding, space and nanotechnology, serve in 55 provinces. Reminding that they brought 42 international schools that train the best software developers worldwide to Turkey, Minister Varank said, "With TEKNOFEST, which is now a world brand, tens of thousands of teams and hundreds of thousands of young people compete in rockets, electric and autonomous vehicles, UAVs, submarines and projects they have developed. I invite all our young people and their families to Samsun from August 30th to participate in TEKNOFEST 2022. This year, TEKNOFEST fire will burn in the Black Sea."

"Applications to participate in our sky observation festivals will continue until April 15"

"We have sky observation events that our children can attend with their families. This event, which we previously held only in Saklıkent, has now spread to other cities in Anatolia." Minister Varank said, "Our children and their families who want to participate in our sky observation festivals can make their applications until April 15."

"Applications for the STAR program have started"

Varank explained that they carry out the Trainee Researcher Scholarship Program (STAR) through TÜBİTAK and that they provide experience to young people in R&D projects carried out or supported by TÜBİTAK, and that they have started to receive applications for the STAR program, which will provide scholarships to 2300 more students, as of today.

"I experienced the excitement of Kepez Science Center from the very beginning"

President of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal stated that Kepez Science Center has a special importance for him in his speech. Mandal said, "Kepez Science Center is a special occasion of excitement for me. When I took office, we had 6 science centers. Kepez Science Center was at the beginning of the road. In 2018, when I took office, I experienced that excitement from the very beginning, I know how much effort was made."

Emphasizing that science centers in the world were initiated to raise awareness of science and technology in society, Mandal stated that there are nearly 3 thousand science centers in the world. Pointing out that science centers previously existed to see what science is and to explain the events based on science, Mandal pointed out that this situation has changed since the 2010s and said, "Science Centers have turned into places where young people who go there, rather than sightseeing, touch science, say 'I can do it too' and respond to today's challenges. When we look at more recent history, we see that work has been done to address not only today's challenges, but also those of the future."

Noting that there are 7 exhibitions within the scope of the Science Festival, Mandal said, "We have workshops for all age groups, starting from pre-school. 8 workshops, 160 experiment sets are set up on an area of 2600 square meters."

Stating that they witnessed three events taking place simultaneously in Kepez, Mandal said, "The opening of the science center, science festival and science festival are being held at the same time. This organization is moving to a point that will compete with TEKNOFEST."

Stating that he chatted with young people in the area, Mandal said, "The biggest contribution comes from our young people. Our young people who say 'I will be able to solve future problems' are here." He noted that he remembered the TEKNOFEST organized in September. Mandal also reminded that this year's TEKNOFEST will take place in the Black Sea Region.

Emphasizing the support of Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank at every stage of the construction of the science center, Mandal expressed his gratitude to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan for his support.

Following the speeches, Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, Akdeniz University Rector Prof. Dr. Özlenen Özkan, Kepez Mayor Hakan Tütüncü, MPs and protocol members opened the science center and the festival.

Minister Varank toured SCIENCEFEST with the President of TÜBİTAK

Bakan Varank ve TÜBİTAK Başkanı Mandal, TÜBİTAK Popüler bilim yayınları standında çocuklara bilim teknik ve bilim çocuk dergileri hediye etti. Stantları ziyaret eden Varank, Akdeniz üniversitesi mühendislik fakültesi öğrencilerinin Tufan elektromobil %100 aracına bindi.

Minister Varank also opened the Antalya Science Center and chatted with young people together with the President of TÜBİTAK. Minister Varank then went to the workshops within the scope of the 4007 Science Festivals Support Program with the accompanying delegation and made examinations.

Starting on March 31st, SCIENCEFEST will end on April 2nd.

Turkey's largest and the region's only science center

Antalya Science Center, which will bring together the intriguing aspect of science with the historical texture of the restored old Dokuma Factory, was established on an area of 12,500 square meters. The center has 14 exhibition areas and a conference hall for 210 people. Antalya Science Center is a science center that will serve not only Antalya but also the region with its Joyful Steps, Open Air, Fundamentals of Science, Earth and Space and Virtual Reality themed exhibitions.

Antalya Science Center, the 7th of TÜBİTAK Science Centers, aims to bring together individuals from different age groups and with different backgrounds with science, to make science and technology understandable and accessible, to increase the importance of science and technology in the eyes of society, and to encourage individuals to experiment and discover through experimental and applied activities.