T3 Foundation Board Chairman Dr. Elvan Kuzucu Hıdır met with young people at MAKÜ

Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University (MAKÜ) organized a program titled “The Century of Technology in Turkey: Conversation with Youth” as part of its 20th-anniversary events. The event, held at the University's Conference and Exhibition Hall, was conducted with high participation within the framework of MAKÜ BEST events. 

The opening speech of the program was made by MAKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar. Dalgar stated that they attach importance to technology-focused organizations and expressed that students are supported during the preparation process for competitions. Emphasizing that technology production is a matter of “self-confidence,” Dalgar said that Turkey has reached a point today where it develops advanced technology with its own engineers and youth.  

“Sometimes spring comes with a single flower”

Defining the National Technology Initiative as a story that provides a foundation of self-confidence to a nation, Dalgar recalled the dream of the late Özdemir Bayraktar with the words “Let a child come, let them touch an airplane”. He stated that the sentences that build and inspire the future are often short, clean, and genuine like this. Showing Mehmet Âkif’s address “Fear not!” as an example of this simplicity, Dalgar responded to those who fall into pessimism by reading the saying “Spring does not come with a single flower” in reverse: “Sometimes spring comes with a single flower; without that one person, nothing happens.” he said. 

The speaker of the event was Dr. Elvan Kuzucu Hıdır, Chairman of the Board of Trustees and Member of the Board of Trustees of T3 Foundation. Hıdır shared her career journey with the youth and said that the question “Why can’t we do it?” is decisive in technology production. She stated that the National Technology Initiative is not a slogan but a movement that grows with determination. 

Hıdır stated that TEKNOFEST is a “vision stage” for young people and noted that the competitions have dimensions of developing algorithms, producing engineering solutions, meeting with industry, and transforming into initiatives, in addition to producing projects. 

Hıdır reminded that the last application date for TEKNOFEST, which will be held in Şanlıurfa between September 30 and October 4, is February 20, and invited young people to apply. She expressed that producing accurate information in the age of social media and artificial intelligence is a responsibility and said that digital platforms should be evaluated as production areas instead of consumption areas. 

The program ended after the section where students' questions were answered.