2020 METU Alumni Day

The traditional METU Alumni Day has been celebrated annually with the participation of METU alumni, faculty members, students, members, and their families since 1991.

In the morning of this special day, the alumni get together at METU Culture and Convention Center (METU CCC), and in the afternoon, they meet up again at their departments for various activities.

In the traditional medal ceremonies, the alumni, who celebrate their 10th, 20th , 30th, 40th, 45th, 50th and 55th graduation anniversary, are presented their medals.

In this regard, the alumni of the 10th, 20th, 30th, and 40th years are kindly asked to submit a Medal Application Form, which is usually announced in late January so that their names can be engraved on the medals.

We believe that our alumni are the best ambassador of METU to the outside world. The success and achievements of our alumni encourage our students. In that sense, we are always proud to see our alumni interacting with our current students and faculty.

The alumni who come together once a year on the Alumni Day stay together with our recent alumni network, “ODTÜM”, at anytime and anywhere!For further details please visit our web page.

We are looking forward to seeing you for the upcoming METU Alumni Day on June 27, 2020, Saturday.

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Next Generation Wing Design

Professor Yavuz Yaman and his team from METU Aerospace Engineering Department has developed Turkey’s first task compatible aircraft wings that can change their shapes. The airplane using a deformable wing system was successfully flown within the frame work of a TUBITAK project in partnership with the Turkish Aerospace Industry (TAI). The new wing design will result in fuel efficiency, environmental friendless and economical flights.

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Professor Gökalp at METU

Professor İskender Gökalp, who is between the researchers returned to Turkey by TÜBİTAK 2232 Scholarship Program to Leader Researchers, continues his research at METU.

Professor Gökalp has been performed his studies in France after graduating from ITU Aeronautical Engineering Department. Professor Gökalp and his team continue to support Turkey’s efforts to manufacture domestic engine at METU.

The Third METU Speed Networking Meeting Held

The third “METU Speed Networking” meeting was held in cooperation with the Department of Statistics, METU Career Planning Center and METU Alumni Office on Saturday, December 07, 2019, at Yüksel Proje Building. More than 150 alumni, faculty members, junior, and senior students attended to this special event.

We would like to thank the Statistics Department instructors and the students of the Statistics Club for their contribution.

We will continue to perform speed networking activities with the participation of our respected alumni and students.

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Burhan Alkar Exhibition

The exhibition of Burhan Alkar, who is the sculptor of “Space and Youth Monument”, has been opened on December 20, 2019. The monument which became one of the most important icon of our campus is also known as “C Aldım” sculpture. You can visit the exhibition to see the valuable works of Burhan Alkar in the METU CCC Exhibition Hall until January 15, 2020.

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AdımODTÜ Free Dinner for Students at Cafeteria!

AdımODTÜ has offered a surprise “New Year’s Dinner” to all METU students in the Cafeteria on December 27, 2019. METU faculty members and staff joined to this special event and had their dinner together with our students. 6000 students have been attended to AdımODTÜ dinner.We would like to thank our donors for making this special event possible.

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Recycling is fun with New Recycling Machines!

Recycle machines were installed on our campus within the framework of a joint project of AdımODTÜ and ODTÜDEN. Students can contribute the recycling by disposing of plastic, metal, and glass wastes in the campus. In return, they can collect points and get various gift from ODTÜDEN.

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OpenMETU

METU Open Science Platform, OpenMETU, was built in order to compile the scientific and intellectual outputs produced at our university and to create an open-access to institutional academic archives in accordance with the international standards in order to ensure long-term preservation and continuity of access. In this context, METU Open Science Conference and the opening of OpenMETU (https://open.metu.edu.tr/) was held on December 20, 2019 at METU CCC Hall.

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METU Science and Technology Collection Exhibition Area Renovated

METU Science and Technology Collection Exhibition Area has been recently renovated and the website of the center has been renewed.

The Exhibition Area opens its doors again on February 19, 2020.

The following workshops have been recently added in the Exhibition Area.

(i) LEGO Makerspace (within the science center thanks to donations from LEGO Education),

(ii) Coding and 3D printer workshops (within the Science Workshops building),

(iii) Audio Guide for Classic Car Exhibition [through Audio-Visual Systems Research and Production Center (GİSAM) support],

You can listen to a sample at the following link: http://bit.ly/2NOIu1s

(iv) Göbekli Tepe workshop (within the Science and Technology History Exhibition building),

(v) Recycling workshop within the scope of environmental activities.

The highly motivated and experienced academic staff at the Science and Society Center serve an annual average of 28,000 K-12 students free of charge.

Registrations for the workshops that will be held throughout the spring semester will start on February 10, 2020.

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METU’s Recycling Application Makes Recycling Fun

The new recycling program on campus makes recycling at Middle East Technical University both attractive and fun. With the goal of recycling plastic, metal, and glass waste, the program aims to increase the number of recycling booths, the first of which have been placed in front of the Department of Basic English, the ODTÜDEN Store, and the dormitory area.

For more information please visit the website.

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TÜBA-GEBİP Award to Asst. Prof. Batur Ercan

Assistant Professor Batur Ercan from the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering has been selected as one of 28 people to receive the award, which was is within the framework of the Turkish Academy of Sciences Outstanding Young Scientists Award Program.

Asst. Prof. Batur Ercan received the TÜBA-GEBİP Award for his research on biomaterials and tissue engineering. His research aims to control cellular functions by changing the surface properties of implants, i.e., surface chemistry, morphology, roughness, etc., placed into the body to interact with tissues. For further information you can visit our website.

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Bio-mechanical Research Team Applies for Patent

Assoc. Prof. Ulaş Yaman and his team, who developed solutions to eliminate the need to use special support structures used in the production of complex parts of 3D printers, has applied for a patent.

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“Science is Life” on TRT Radio 1

METU Science Communication Team prepared a science program in cooperation with Turkish Radio and Television Corporation (TRT) to be broadcasted on Radio 1. The program, airing with the name “Science is Life”, was created by METU faculty and students using the GİSAM studio. The radio program aims to present the joyful and playful nature of science to impact the multitude of parts of society by providing examples from daily life. You can listen to the program every Monday on TRT Radio 1 (93.3).

You can also listen to the podcast of the show using the following link:

https://basinda.metu.edu.tr/icerik/podcast.

Science at Home

The METU Science Communication Team (METU-SCT) and Pergamon Production have recently produced a science and technology television show with engaging content. The show was filmed on the METU campus and was hosted by Cengiz Eşiyok and METU students, who are the winners of the competition organized by METU-SCT. You can access all episodes of the first season from the following site:

https://www.trt.tv/belgesel/bilimin-ev-hali (in Turkish)

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ODTÜDEN for Kids

The ODTÜDEN store expanded its product range for newborns and children. There are many new pieces for little METU fans that you will love in the ODTÜDEN store. Please do not hesitate to visit their campus store or their website for online shopping.

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ODTÜLÜ

Today, games play an increasingly important role both in adult education and child development. But what role will it have with humanity at the point where it has come today, as we move on to the next step of civilization?

In this 67th issue, ODTÜLÜ focuses on such humans and brings together articles that will support our understanding of the game concept and our changing, transforming world.

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2020 Memorial Medal Request Applications Started

METU Alumni Day will be celebrated on Saturday, June 27, 2020 from 10.00 am to 5.30 pm with various activities in METU.

The 2020 Memorial Medal Application Form is now available on our website mezun.metu.edu.tr .

Alumni celebrating their 10th, 20th, 30th, and 40th graduation anniversaries are invited to fill out the form to apply for Memorial Medals.

The medals for those alumni celebrating their 45th, 50th, 55th, and 60th graduation anniversaries will be automatically prepared without their request. However, we recommend that all alumni confirm that their names are on the list of Memorial Medal Application Form and, in case of any problem, please contact us via mezun@metu.edu.tr .

The program details of the Day and Memorial Medal Ceremony will be announced on our website soon.

We will be pleased to welcome you at METU on Alumni Day.

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Project Grant of 13 Million Euros for METU

The Ministry of Industry and Technology’s Competitive Sectors Program, now in its second phase, has funded two projects at METU. This funding is within the scope of the Instrument for Pre-accession Assistance (IPA), which is co-funded by the European Union and the Republic of Turkey.

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Magnificent Cold: Antarctic and Arctic Expeditions

Assist.Prof. Korhan Özkan was the guest of the Science Café interviews on 19 February 2020. Korhan Özkan participated in three expeditions to the North Pole and two to Antarctica, both for the purpose of conducting ecological research. In Turkey, he continues these studies in high altitude lake ecosystems that have features similar to polar ecosystems.

You can get more detailed information on the link below to watch his talk about “Magnificent Cold: Antarctica and North Pole Expeditions.”

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Horizon 2020 eNOTICE Project “Serious Game” from METU Team

The METU Team of Horizon 2020 eNOTICE Project has designed a “serious game” for places such as hospitals and disaster areas, aiming to educate both officials and the wider public in cases of any biological weapons use, epidemics or disasters.

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Laser Assisted Small Pyramid Production

The “Laser Assisted Surface Texturing for Silicon-Based Solar Cells” method, developed by Assist. Prof. Selçuk Yerci and his team, decreases the cost – while increasing the efficiency – of silicon solar cells.

The new method allows for damages during the wire cutting process to be eliminated without the need for chemical etching. In order to eliminate the cutting damage area, laser beam scanning is performed on the washers instead of a standard abrasion. Vertical pyramids of controlled dimensions are produced with the surface etching process following the same laser scanning process.

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METU Alumni Europe Gathering

“METU Alumni Europe Gathering” will be held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands on May 1st and 2nd 2020!

The program will kick off with a historic city walking tour on Friday May 1st afternoon, and will continue on Saturday May 2nd with a boat tour through the Amsterdam canals, followed by dinner.

If you’re interested, please check out below link and register before 31st March 2020!

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Alumni Discount at METU Cyprus

To produce METU graduates who are equipped to help the world, METU Northern Cyprus Campus offers a 20% discount on tuition fees for children of METU alumni.

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METU Career Fair

METU Career Fair was held at the METU Culture and Congress Center (CCC) on February 27-28, 2020 with 70 important participants from the private sector, public and foundations. The AR-GE, BEST, GGT, IEEE and VT communities also contributed to the fair organized by the METU Career Planning Application and Research Center (CPARC).

Nearly 3000 students and alumni had the opportunity to have one-on-one meetings, learn about job and internship positions and share their resumes through stand visits.

Private interview rooms designed and developed by the METU CPARC at the fair were used by our students for the first time in the “Career Booth” CCC exhibition hall. These Career Booths enabled participating companies to carry out more productive interviews with our students.

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Science and Technology Week

METU Science and Technology Collection Exhibition Area awaits its visitors with its renewed face. Various events were organized within the scope of the Science and Technology Week. For detailed information, please visit their webpage .

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AdımODTÜ Free Movie Screening Night

AdımODTÜ held the eighth free movie screening event on the evening of February 18, 2020 in the U3 Lecture Hall in the Physics Department. Nearly 400 METU students attended the free movie event where the Joker movie was shown.

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AdımODTÜ Undergraduate Research Projects

AdımODTÜ created a fund to support the research efforts of undergraduate students through donations. This year, nearly 100 applications were made to our project proposal call and 57 undergraduate research projects were found worthy of support by the jury. The undergraduate research projects to be supported by AdımODTÜ this year can be accessed at https://adimodtu.org.tr/pdf/SupportedProjects-2020.pdf.

To support the undergraduate research projects, you can visit the link below.

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Online Distance Education at METU

The precautionary measures regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19) implemented at our university have been taken and are being updated in accordance with the recommendations and guidance provided by the Council of Higher Education and the Ministry of Health, and through constant interaction with these institutions.

Initially, the online distance education process began with various projects and programs conducted without compromising the quality of education, especially during this crucial early period.

This distance education process, which started on March 23, 2020 in the Spring Semester of Pre-School, Associate, Undergraduate and Graduate courses in the 2019-2020 Academic Year, continues via both asynchronous and synchronous instruction.

In the asynchronous course option, lecture notes, PPT presentations, reading files, assignments and other resources are presented weekly through the ODTÜClass system, and asynchronous interactive discussions can be held with students through the ODTÜClass forum service. In the synchronous course option; the Blackboard Collaborate, Zoom and BigBlueButton applications are supported, which can log up to 100 people at the same time.

Academic staff members and students will be able to get assistance about online education at the following website https://its.metu.edu.tr/uzaktanegitim/en/. On this website, there are tools for faculty members to render their courses appropriate for online education, resources and answers to frequently-asked questions.

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AdımODTÜ Internet Scholarship

METU switched to online distance education during coronavirus closure.Connected to this, we would like to provide an internet scholarship, for 3 months at 75 TL per month, to 1,200 METU students who are in need of support and who will continue their spring term via online education. Support will primarily be provided to students who receive a meal and a dormitory scholarship. If donations increase, our other students will also be supported.

You can support the project via https://adimodtu.org.tr/proje/odtu-internet- and send your messages to our students if you wish.

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Precautions Taken at METU

The precautionary measures regarding the Coronavirus have been, and are continuing to be implemented very carefully at our University since the very beginning of the pandemic.

All the regulations at our University regarding the Coronovirus are being renewed according to the unfolding circumstances here, with the specific purpose of minimizing physical interaction among individuals. Every regulation that related to the activities of our shared areas of use in this particular situation is made by taking into consideration the number of staff who are still working at this period.

In this context, primarily the Dormitories, Triple Amphitheater, Yüksel Project Amphitheater, Culture and Convention Center, Cafeteria, Social Building, Garages, Main Cafeteria, Library, Sports Halls, Society and Science Center Buildings, and all Buses have been disinfected.In addition, sanitizer devices are being installed in all buildings within the campus, and information regarding the necessity of cleaning the common areas and classes is already being regularly sent to all our units.

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Informational Note about COVID-19

METU Science Communication Team has posted a youtube video with Assist. Prof. Müslüm İlgü, from the Department of Biological Sciences of METU,about the Coronavirus.

Dr. İlgü briefly gives the answers of the main questions such as: where are the viruses found, how do they spread into our bodies, what distinguishes Coronavirus from the others, and who are most affected by the Coronavirus,among others.

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“Donut Language”

You can start talking English any time with “Donut Language”, developed by instructor Jason Steinberg, METU Department of Modern Languages, and Orçun Çevrim,
a student in the METU Computer Engineering Department. The founders of the software say that “Donut is a native speaking teacher in your pocket.” All you have to do is download
the application from the GooglePlay Store
or visit the webpage.

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METU Press on “Teacher Library”

Children’s books published by METU Press (Publishing) can be accessed from the “Teacher Library”, in cooperation with METU and Ministry of National Education. All teachers can immediately download the application from their Android or iOS phones and start reading.

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METU Design Factory against COVID19

METU Design Factory, like all the constituents of our university, is rapidly working towards solutions that could help the global community, especially healthcare professionals, in their fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Towards this purpose, the METU Design Factory Team has developed solutions that can be easily manufactured and customized if necessary. Our current plan is to deliver this protective equipment to healthcare personnel as fast as possible. All designs and manufacturing details for these solutions are accessible at the link below. Rapid prototyping or simple hand tools can be used to manufacture these models.

You are more than welcome to contact us if you need more information or to offer help.

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Dear Members, Alumni and Friends,

I deeply hope that you, your families and your loved ones are safe and well.

METU faces serious challenges from the global pandemic. All precautionary measures regarding the Coronavirus implemented at our university are being taken and updated in accordance with the recommendations and guidance provided by the Council of Higher Education and the Ministry of Health, and through constant interaction with these institutions.

In line with the Council of Higher Education’s guidance about Coronavirus and in common with other Turkish universities, METU has suspended all face to face teaching. Instruction in the Basic English Department and all associate degree, undergraduate and graduate courses has been carried out via distance education since 23 March 2020.

METU is undertaking a collective effort to respond to COVID-19 in many different ways. We have combined all of our science, technology, and research capabilities and experiences to address the direct and indirect aspects of Coronavirus. You can follow our scientific efforts against the pandemic
through the “News from METU” website.

As the president of METU, please allow me to thank our faculty members and staff doing their best to encourage our students to continue learning and moving forward. And finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank our alumni for keeping the METU spirit alive and maintaining our solidarity in these difficult times.

Dear METU Family,

Please stay safe and healthy. We look forward to the day when we all return to our beautiful campus.

Hope to see you soon at METU.

Best Regards,

Prof. Mustafa Verşan Kök

President

METU Ranked in Top 10 in THE Impact Rankings

According to the Impact Rankings 2020 results announced by the world universities ranking institution Times Higher Education (THE), METU has become the university with the best results among the Turkish universities, taking place in the top 10 in the title of “clean water and sanitation”.

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Prof. Haluk Külah and his Team Awarded “ERC-2020-PoC”Grant

The project called “New Generation Hearing Implants”, directed by Prof. Haluk Külah from the METU Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering and his team, was awarded as the only grant from Turkey within the scope of the “ERC-2020-PoC” call.

The aim of the Project is to eliminate the downsides to creating the first fully implantable, low-power, energy-harvesting next generation cochlear implant that mimics the natural hearing mechanism of the ear.

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Chloroquine against Covid-19

METU scientists synthesized chloroquine, previously used for the malaria
cure. Assoc. Prof. Akın Akdağ from the Department of Chemistry said, “We
started preparations for publishing our work in international journals. We
are very happy to have achieved success in working with our students. ”

METU scientists also announced that they would be able to produce larger
quantities if they can find support for their project.

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Vaccination Studies against Covid-19

You can reach the information given by Prof. Mayda Gürsel from the
Department of Biological Sciences about the vaccine intended to be
developed against the new coronavirus through the below link.

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METU GÜNAM Granted for “Turkish Photovoltaic Technologies Platform” Project

The “Turkish Photovoltaic Technologies Platform” Project submitted by METU GÜNAM (Center for Solar Energy Research and Applications), together with 8 other national partners to the “Call for High Technology Platforms,” opened within the scope of the TÜBİTAK Center of Excellence Support Program (1004 Program), has been accepted and passed to the next stage.

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2020 METU Alumni Day Postponed

METU Alumni Day, which we announced to be held on June 27, 2020, has been postponed to a later date by our University within the “Measures Taken with the New Coronavirus (COVID-19)”. In line with the unfolding developments over the coming months, the new date to be determined for 2020 METU Alumni Day will be shared with you on our website, social media accounts and mail list.

Thank you once again for your understanding and support for the measures taken during the fight against the coronavirus outbreak.

We hope to meet face to face with all our graduates on Alumni Day.

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Online Live University Promotion for High School Students

Middle East Technical University started delivering live online
presentations for high school students and their families – the first
university in Turkey to do so. High school students preparing for the
university entrance exam can follow METU’s social media accounts and
website for further information about online live presentations.

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METU Zero Waste Unit Placed 2013 Waste Collection Boxes

Zero Waste Unit, established in 2019 within the METU Directorate of Administrative and Financial Affairs, has started to work on the establishment of the Zero Waste Management System and placed waste collection bins at various points throughout the campus.

The aim of the initiative is to reach the highest level of benefits at the lowest cost in the various processes of waste reduction, separation at the source, temporary storage, collection, transportation and processing by using the Zero Waste Management System. METU aims to obtain the Basic Zero Waste Certificate by completing the installation of the Zero Waste Management System by 31 December 2020.

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AdımODTÜ Internet Scholarship Project

Within the scope of “AdımODTÜ Internet Scholarship Project”, we have started providing scholarships to our students who need internet. We would like to express our gratitude to all METU graduates and friends who have supported the initiative.

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Happy METU Day!

This year we are celebrating the 64th anniversary of the establishment of METU.

Middle East Technical University was founded under the name “Orta Doğu Yüksek Teknoloji Enstitüsü” (Middle East High Technology Institute) on November 15th, 1956 to contribute to the development of Turkey and Middle Eastern countries, with the specific goal of training people so as to create a skilled workforce in the fields of natural and social sciences. “Arrangements and Procedures as for the Foundation of METU, Law No 6887” was enacted on January 29th, 1957. Finally, the “Foundation Act No 7307”, which sets forth the particular standing of METU and describes the conditions rendering METU as a juridical entity, was enacted on May 27th, 1959.

Therefore, we celebrate the 27th of May as METU Day and hold a special ceremony in its honor. In the first section of our METU Day celebrations, we present METU Outstanding Service and Appreciation Awards in the KKM Kemal Kurdaş Hall. In the second part of the ceremony, Turan Baskan Service and Incentive Awards are given to the administrative staff of our university. The Service Plaques are presented to our retired academic and administrative staff who have given service to our university for 20 years, and Service Documents are given to our members who have completed 45, 40, 35, 30, 25, 20 service years at METU.

2020 METU Day celebrations are planned to be held on the Opening Day of the 2020-2021 Academic Year because of the continuing COVID-19 precautions.

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AdımODTÜ Internet Scholarship

We initiated the “AdımODTÜ Internet Scholarship Project” to provide
scholarships to METU students experiencing internet access problems.
Thanks to the donations of METU graduates and friends, we have supported
more than 650 students so far. We wish all our students good luck in the
finals!

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Undergraduate Program Webcasts

We continue to promote our undergraduate programs online through our official Youtube account (Youtube.com/middleastechuniv) as part of the distance learning process we began on March 23, 2020, undertaken with valuable support from our departments.

You can find the presentations made so far below. We kindly ask for your valuable support in delivering this information to students preparing for the university entrance exam and to their families around you.

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METU Science Communication Team

A webinar on “Designing Games that Resonate with Learners and Learning” was held on Tuesday, May 26, 2020, at 9.30 pm (US time at 2.30 pm), with the organization of METU GİSAM President Prof. Dr. Kürşat Çağıltay and Researcher Dr. Çiğdem Uz Bilgin from MIT Eğitim Arcade/Yıldız Technical University, in cooperation with METU Science Communication Group. Prof. Eric Kopfler, Head of Comparative Media Studies and Writing, and Director of Scheller Teacher Education Program and The Education Arcade of MIT, attended the webinar as the speaker.

The webinar was broadcasted in English and in Turkish.

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METU at First Glance

How many students are studying at METU? What is the capacity of our dormitories? How many laboratories, lecture halls, and classrooms are there? You can discover METU at first glance prepared by the METU Institutional Development and Planning Office, (IDPO) to find answers to all such questions you may have. Please click the link below for more information.

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Three Awards to the METU Team from the 23rd IBECC

The student team of Prof. Semra Aşcıgil, the faculty member of the Department of Business Administration at METU, won first and first runner up prizes in the prize category “graduate division” of the 23rd International Business Ethics Case Competition (IBECC), which was initially planned to be held in Boston between April 22-24, 2020 but was untimately held as a virtual competition due to the epidemic.

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My METU Short Film/Video Competition

The deadline for applications to the My METU Short Film/Video Competition 2020 has been extended until 1 September 2020. A new theme, We Missed METU, has also been added to our competition to account for the COVID-19 epidemic. From the eyes of alumni, employees, and students of METU, we want to leave films as an inheritance to the future in such categories as comedy, thriller, memory, documentary, and promotion, etc. reflecting the METU culture/spirit.

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ODTÜDEN

ODTÜDEN web site is now ready for shopping online with its renewed interface. You can find brand new and restocked products and make donations for scholarships via AdımODTÜ & ODTÜDEN’s collaboration.

For further information please visit ODTÜDEN.

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Online Promotion from TanıtımODTÜ

TanıtımODTÜ (Promotion Office) is busy promoting METU to prospective students online due to the COVID-19 outbreak.

We began in May by explaining the variety of opportunities that our university offers via live broadcasts from our METU YouTube account. Then, we brought together academicians, graduates, and even students from several departments with prospective METU students for virtual get togethers. These live broadcasts are ongoing and you can access new as well as past promotions from the METU YouTube account.

TanıtımODTÜ will hold its first Virtual Fair on 27-28-29 July 2020. The fair includes participation from all departments, with whom our prospective students will have a chance to participate in video meetings between 10:00 – 20:00. These students will also have an opportunity to participate in video interviews once a day with the departments. Additionally, the fair will showcase activities such as a campus tour with a drone and “Ask the Rector Advisor” sessions

From the 4th of August until the end of the Preference Period, our prospective students and their families will be able to reach TanıtımODTÜ and departments through the channels we will announce on the adayogrenci.metu.edu.tr webpage.

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Webinar by Prof. Jeppesen and Prof. Beklioğlu

METU Biological Sciences faculty member Prof. Meryem Beklioğlu and Prof. Erik Jeppesen organized an online seminar with the support of the METU Science Communication Team. The online seminar was webcasted live in both English and Turkish on July 8th. Dr. Jeppesen, who is a panel member of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize winner IPCC2007, is currently continuing his studies at our university within the scope of the TÜBİTAK 2322 International Fellowship for Outstanding Researchers Program. Details regarding the content of the seminar are given below.

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KPM Online

Our postgraduate programs are promoted through the live webcasts put on by the METU Career Planning Application and Research Center (CPC), incorporating valuable contributions from the graduate school principals, alumni, and graduate students.

Our students can participate in the sessions live on “Zoom” by filling out the registration form on the CPC webpage or the one sent them by e-mail. The presentations are also webcasted on the CPC YouTube channel.

We kindly ask you to share the CPC presentations with the students who might be interested in it. You can find both coming and previous webcast programs below.

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EBA TV

The METU Science Communication Team prepared a fun science-themed program series to be broadcasted on the digital education platform EBA TV, with the support of our students, staff, and faculty members, and with cooperation from the Ministry of National Education and TRT. It will be streaming in the summer school program of primary and secondary school students in between courses.

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Root Cell Treatment with Ascidiacea

METU Institute of Marine Sciences is developing an anti-aging and treatment model using the ascidiacea within the scope of the ‘Marine Stem Cell Project”.

Assoc. Arzu Karahan from METU Institute of Marine Science told that “Ascidiace, commonly known as the ascidians or sea squirts, can totally repair themselves”.

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METU IVMER Joins CERN Openlab as a Research Member

Middle East Technical University Application and Research Center for Space and Accelerating Technologies (IVMER) has joined CERN openlab, a public-private partnership run by CERN (the European Laboratory for Particle Physics) that works to drive innovation in computing technologies. The agreement was signed on April 1, 2020.

METU IVMER will carry out joint operations with gluoNNet within this CERN openlab collaboration. Together, the project members will develop particle-tracking algorithms for quantum computers and will investigate the possibility of using these within industry, such as for data analysis related to aviation or logistics.

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Study in Turkey

Study in Turkey YÖK Virtual Fair 2020 is taking place on July 20-22, 2020. We will be welcoming our prospective students at our virtual booth. The prospective students can meet our university representatives and get valuable information about METU student’s life, scholarship opportunities, and accommodation facilities. You can visit the virtual fair using the link below.

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Alumni Discount at METU Cyprus

To produce METU graduates who are equipped to help the world, METU Northern Cyprus Campus offers a 20% discount on tuition fees for children of METU alumni.

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ODTÜDEN

On ODTÜDEN’s newly updated website, you can find brand new and restocked products and make donations supporting the book and stationary needs of our students via AdımODTÜ & ODTÜDEN’s collaboration. We look forward to the valuable support of all METU friends.

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Dear METU Alumni,

On August 14, 2020, I was reassigned as the President of METU, a position which I have held for four years with great honor and pride. During these four years, our university has gained many achievements in national and international areas.

We have been selected as “The Most Successful University” in the TÜBİTAK 2018 Entrepreneurial and Innovative University Index. In 2018, we have also become “The Most Successful University” in education and training according to the results of YÖK Universities Annual Monitoring and Evaluation. We have been chosen as “The Most Successful Research University” according to the results of Research Universities Performance Evaluation in both 2017 and 2018. In the “Corporate Award” category of the YÖK Outstanding Achievement Awards, we received the “International Cooperation Award” in 2017 and the “University-Industry Cooperation Award” in 2019. METU received 23 European Union projects and 29 international projects. METU’s 2nd and 3rd ERC projects were awarded between January 2017 – December 2019, with a total budget of 4 million Euros. METU is the only Turkish state university to receive an ERC project. Our “Solar Energy Research and Application Center (GÜNAM)” has received the first-ever twinning project among Turkish universities. Our Teknokent revenues have exceeded 1.4 billion dollars.

In our first term, we opened our new Technopolis building, CoZone area, İvmer centers, KALTEV, and our new classroom building, and renovated our cafeteria. We organized science cafe events, environmental activities, speed networking events, and fundraising campaigns for our students. We initiated the METU Alumni Newsletter, reaching more than 60,000 alumni monthly, and implemented the ODTÜM Network Project.

In the footsteps of our Great Leader Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, our university will continue to honor his principles and revolutions, secularism, gender equality, fundamental freedoms, the rule of law, and the truths of reason and science.

Prof. Mustafa Verşan Kök

President

Dilhan Eryurt Became a Doodle on Google!

On the 20th of July, Turkish astrophysicist Dr. Dilhan Eryurt, a star in the field of astronomy, became a doodle on Google. On this day in 1969, Dr. Eryurt was honored with NASA’s prestigious “Apollo Achievement Award” for her contribution to the moon landing that year.

In 1961, Dr. Eryurt began to work as the only woman at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center in New York. She was the first Turkish woman to work as a scientist at NASA, and her research on the evolution of stars led to an unexpected discovery about the history of the solar system.

After Dr. Eryurt returned to the METU Physics Department as a staff member in 1973, she established the Astrophysics Department there. In 1988, she first served as the Head of the Department of Physics at METU’s Faculty of Arts and Sciences, and then retired in 1993 after serving as the Dean of the Faculty of Arts and Sciences for five years. In addition, she was also honored with Turkey’s TÜBİTAK Science Award in 1977.

Lithium Attack in Electricity Storage Technology

METU Energy Materials and Storage Devices Research Center (ENDAM) President Professor Tayfur Öztürk emphasized the importance of battery technologies in the automotive and renewable energy sector and explained the importance of lithium in the storage of electricity.

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METU Memorial Frame

Our newest premium quality METU Memorial Frames are on sale at ODTÜDEN. You can purchase these special frames, which are carefully prepared to display your most precious memories in METU with pride.

You can also donate to our students’ book and stationery needs while shopping online at ODTÜDEN.

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Meet the METU Science and Communication Group

Science communication which aims to inform and raise awareness of
science-related topics in society has lately become an important topic all
around the world. In this respect, METU Science and Communication Group
perform several science-oriented activities to bridge the gap between
science and the public. You can click on the link below to access the
science communication activities they have performed so far as well as the
new ones.

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EBA TV on Broadcast

Our science program, which is prepared in partnership with the Ministry of
Education to contribute to popularize science and promote university life
among primary and secondary school students, is now being broadcast on EBA
TV.

We would like to express our gratitude to the METU Science Communication
Group, Society and Science Application and Research Center, and GİSAM,
which supported the preparation of the program. Furthermore, we would also
like to thank our students, staff, and faculty members.

You can get the information and watch the generics of the program from the
link below.

> watch

AdımODTÜ

AdımODTÜ continues to support our students in many different projects with
your valuable contributions. You can continue to support their numerous
projects, which are oriented towards our student needs, scientific
researches, and social services. You can show your support by sharing
their announcements and also by voluntarily participating in AdımODTÜ
projects. Please check their website for further information.

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Opening of the Academic Year 2020-2021

The opening of our University 2020-2021 Academic Year was held on October 12, 2020, with the University Administration’s visit to the Supreme Leader Mustafa Kemal Atatürk in Anıtkabir. The official ceremony in the Culture and Convention Center was not held due to the Pandemic. Our Rector, Prof. Mustafa Verşan Kök delivered a message for the Academic Year Opening. Referring to the establishment purpose and achievements of METU in his message, Prof. Kök made a statement regarding significant goals in the new period. Prof. Kök stated that “Since the day it was founded, METU has been an international university that symbolizes an understanding of education which cares about universal values and development, strives to develop an awareness of social responsibility, and fulfills a leading and pioneering role in the shaping of individuals who have the potential to create and sustain scientific, technological, cultural and environmental changes and follow the principle of lifelong learning.” Prof. Kök also welcomed the new METU students and stated that “I congratulate all of you for your determination and devoted work that brought you to METU as a result of long years of effort. METU is a university where only the best students meet with the most successful academics in their fields in Turkey and globally. This meeting is also supported by many science, culture, art, and sports activities that will accelerate your personal development. We expect you to participate in various social and intellectual activities such as seminars, concerts, theaters, movies, and talks held every day at many points of the campus after the pandemic period. We believe that you will continue your education life with this perspective of our university, where education and research activities are carried out in harmony and with the strong tradition of learning from each other at the forefront, and you will always keep these features alive inside and outside METU.”

You can reach the full message using the link below.

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METU Orientation 2020

The newest members of METU family were welcomed by ourtraditional “Orientation Event”on Friday, October 9, 2020. This program was performed live and online because of the Pandemic.

Within the orientation program’s scope, our new students got information about the academic and administrative units, cultural and sports activities, and distance education in METU. Our students had the chance to learn about METU with a fun contest presented by Mehmet Auf, the script consultant and actor of the TV series”Çocuklar Duymasın” and “En Son Babalar Duyar”.A live campus tour with drone footage, and departmental presentations were performed in the afternoon session.

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Asst. Prof. Dicle Dövencioğlu Awarded by The L’Oréal-UNESCO “For Women in Science”

Assistant Prof. Dicle Dövencioğlu, from the METU Psychology Department, was awarded within the scope of the “For Women in Science” program, in cooperation with
L’Oréal-UNESCO by her “Multidimensionality of softness perception in viscoelastic materials” project. This award is granted to support women’s contribution to science
and to contribute to setting role models by drawing attention to gender equality in science, to support female researchers in the field of science, to reward excellence,
and to ensure the recognition of young and talented scientists by L’Oréal Türkiye, which has been in cooperation with the UNESCO Turkey National Commission for 18 years.

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Two Awards to METU in the 2ndNational Universities Patent Competition

METU received two awards, including first prize, in “Patenting Turkey – 2nd National Universities Patent Competition” organized by the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office (TÜRKPATENT) at the ceremony on October 16, 2020. The competition was organized to increase university students’ awareness of patents as one of the most critical technological development tools and enable students to gain knowledge and experience in patent research and patent applications.

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“Best Scientists” special award in European Rover Challenge 2020 to METU Machinery and Innovation Society

The METU ROVER project was received the “Best Scientists” special award at the European Rover Challenge 2020, the most prestigious space and robotics competition in Europe, supported by the European Space Agency (ESA). METU ROVER took 4th place in the overall ranking in the competition held in Poland, where 33 international teams took part in the final. The METU ROVER project continues its activities within the METU Machinery and Innovation Society (METU MECH), involving 29 students from different departments.

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METU and TÜBİTAK host H2020 Black Sea CONNECT project, Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda online workshop

The Black Sea Strategic Research and Innovation Agenda (SRIA) Stakeholder Consultation Workshop, coordinated by the METU Institute of Marine Sciences and organized within the scope of the EU H2020 Black Sea CONNECT Project, which is the first multi-partner Horizon2020 consortium coordinated by METU, was held on September 16, 2020. The workshop was held online with more than 150 representatives from universities, public institutions, the private sector, and civil society.

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3D Modeling Competition

The METU Society and Science Centre (TBM) is organizing an award-winning competition, “3D Model for Barrier-Free Life!”, to improve high school students’ three-dimensional modeling skills and increase their awareness of the 3D printing process. Participants will be requested to present a solution to the problem they have determined in the context of an event / a phenomenon / a subject from our daily life by designing a three-dimensional model that can help disabilities.

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Department of Economics alum honored to be the first Turkish student shortlisted as “Highly Commended Entrants”
in “The Global Undergraduate Awards”

Altuğ Aydemir, 2020Department of Economics graduate, was honored to be one of the 12 economists shortlisted as “Highly Commended Entrants” in “The Global Undergraduate Awards.” METU is a member of this prestigious international academic award program within the scope of the AdımODTÜ Undergraduate Research Project. Entrants with research papers ranked in the top 10% of submissions in their category are shortlisted as “Highly Commended Entrants”.

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ENERJİM SENSİN Acceleration Program

In cooperation with ODTÜ TEKNOKENT and ELDER, and under the coordination of EMRA, the “ENERJİM SENSİN Acceleration Program” will be organized to bring together in-house initiatives, and projects with a minimum TRL-4 level.

Companies that are accepted to participate in the program will be provided with access to the press and stakeholders, cooperation opportunities, and meeting opportunities with investors and potential customers. Also, a total of 300,000 TL will be awarded to the selected projects.

Applications will be accepted until Sunday, 20 December 2020.

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Show your METU Spirit

AdımODTÜ continues to support our students with your valuable contributions. You can continue to support their projects, which are oriented towards scientific research and social services. You can show yourMETU spirit and support our students, not only financially supporting their projects but also helping in the dissemination of the projects or even voluntarily participating in them.You can check their website for further information.

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ODTÜDEN Book Sales

2020-2021 Academic Year Fall Semester textbooks are on sale onwww.odtuden.com.tr with a 10% discount.

ODTÜDEN web site is now ready for shopping online with its renewed interface. You can find brand new and restocked products and make donations for scholarships to METU students.

For further information please visit ODTÜDEN.

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ODTÜM Network is now on LinkedIn

Dear METU Alumni,

Our two-year old ODTÜM Network has reached over 21.500 members, thanks

to your participation and support.

However, ODTÜM Network user statistics over time show that very few

users with an activated account from all categories (alumni, faculty,

students) actually returned to the platform after their initial login, a

problem commonly encountered on other platforms. In that sense, we decided

to open “ODTÜM”, the official METU alumni network group, connected to the METU

Alumni Office LinkedIn account for you.

Among the popular social media platforms, LinkedIn consistently comes up

as morecommonly used and conducive to network-building and communication

than more specialized platforms like ODTÜM Network.

ODTÜM is a closed group that our alumni, faculty and senior students can join

through their existing LinkedIn accounts. Alumni joining this group can

contact their former classmates and professors, support METU through

various projects, share job announcements and stay informed about career

opportunities.

We hope to remain in touch with you, our esteemed ODTÜM Network users,

on the LinkedIn ODTÜM group.

Best Regards,

METU Alumni Office

A New Co-working Space for METU Students

METU students will soon have a new, easily accessible, and comfortable co-working environment on campus. Designed to offer alternative spaces students can use to study, collaborate and take part in activities, the new Co-working Space will be located by the A4 campus entrance, on the site of the former gendarmerie buildings. The construction is currently underway, and the space will be available for student use in September 2021.

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ODTÜLÜ Magazine Special Issue on COVID-19

The new issue of ODTÜLÜ magazine focuses on the source of the greatestglobal shock of our time, the COVID-19 pandemic, and features projects METU has supported as part of the collective human effort against it since the pandemic began.

As a token of our gratitude, we have dedicated this special issue to healthcare workers as well as all other essential workers on the frontlines of the battle against COVID-19.

Please click the link below for the ODTÜLÜ COVID-19 Special Issue (in Turkish).

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Celebrating the “60th Anniversary” of METU’s First Alumni: The Class of 1960

Although the pandemic precluded us from convening for METU Alumni Day in June 2020, we wanted to honor the 60th anniversary of the First Graduating Class of METU, the Class of 1960. To express our gratitude to them for setting us on the path towards our current position as a leading university, we have sent each member of the Class of1960 their own “60th Anniversary Memory Medal”.

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METU ROMER Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Center on the Way

METU is preparing to launch ROMER, the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Technologies Research and Application Center. Leading the project is Assoc. Prof. Erol Şahin, the Founding Director of the METU KOVAN Research Laboratory. Dr. Şahin says ROMER will take robotics and artificial intelligence research in Turkey to a whole new level, creating critical technologies, particularly for the defense and manufacturing industries.

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“PONDERFUL”: A ‘Wonderful’ Horizon 2020 Project on ‘Ponds’:

METU is now part of an 11-country consortium collaborating on a large-scale environmental project, thanks to the efforts of Prof. Meryem Beklioğlu from the Biological Sciences Department and her team, including Prof. Zuhal Akyürek from the Civil Engineering Department and Asst. Prof. Antoine Dolcerocca from the Sociology Department. As the only Turkish partners in this Horizon 2020 project entitled, ‘PONDERFUL’, Professor Beklioğlu and her colleagues will be working over the next 4 years to explore the use of ponds and pondscapes as a nature-based method contributing to mitigating the effects of climate change and conserving biodiversity, among other important goals.

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Publication by Assoc. Prof. Ulaş Yaman and Prof. Melik Dölen Receives Acclaim

The IISE Transactions Journal has chosen the paper entitled, “Generation of Patterned Indentations for Additive Manufacturing Technologies” by Department of Mechanical Engineering faculty members Assoc. Prof. Ulaş Yaman and Prof. Melik Dölen as “Best Design and Manufacturing Application Paper”. IISE Transactions is one of the main journals of the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers, which has been formally recognizing the accomplishments of prominent researchers with awards since 1993.

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EEE Graduate and RA Berkay Özbek Wins TÜBİTAK 1512 Grant

Berkay Özbek, a graduate research assistant at the METU Electrical-Electronics Engineering Department, supervised by Prof. Haluk Külah, has won a TÜBİTAK grant through the 1512 Techno-Entrepreneurship Capital Support Program. Mr. Özbek, who also did his undergraduate studies at METU EEE, aims to design a system for pacemakers that will fully eliminate the need for batteries.

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METU Part of Turkey’s First Joint Research Center: NÖROM

METU is joined by Gazi and Ankara Universities in establishing Turkey’s first joint research center through a YÖK (Council of Higher Education) initiative. The Neuroscience and Neurotechnology Research Center (NÖROM) is the first outcome of a YÖK effort to propel large-scale R&D in prioritized fields by enabling collaboration among Turkish universities with unique strengths in strategic fields and to ensure the efficient use of public funding.

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International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebrated with 3D Modeling Competition

METU students took part in the first of a new annual competition called “3D Modeling for a Barrier-Free Life!”. The winners were announced during a well-attended online ceremony led by President Prof. Dr. Mustafa Verşan KÖK on the 3rd of December, which is known globally as International Day of Persons with Disabilities. The creators of the winning projects, selected from among the many competition entries, were informed about their prizes during the ceremony.

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