The "BBGNight-TR" project, coordinated by Yıldız Technical University, has been awarded funding under the European Union’s Horizon Europe Program. The 24-month project, to be carried out in partnership with Istanbul Technical University, Gazi University, and the Ministry of National Education, aims to bring science and society together in the fields of climate change, health, and digital transformation.

Yıldız Technical University (YTÜ) has achieved yet another significant milestone under Horizon Europe, one of the European Union’s most prestigious programs in the fields of research and innovation. The BBGNight-TR (Science & Future Night: Engaging Researchers and Citizens in Climate, Health, and Digital Transitions in Türkiye) project, prepared under the coordination of Prof. Dr. Afşin Yusuf Çetinkaya, has been awarded funding under the Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions (MSCA) – European Researchers’ Night and Researchers at Schools (MSCA & Citizens) call for proposals.

The project, to be carried out under the coordination of Yıldız Technical University, will include Istanbul Technical University, Gazi University, and the Ministry of National Education as project partners.

Numerous scientific and social events will be held

Over the course of the 24-month project, European Researchers’ Night events, Researchers at Schools activities, citizen science initiatives, science communication events, science cafés, interactive exhibitions, and interdisciplinary science demonstrations will be held. The project aims to establish a sustainable science communication ecosystem that strengthens the transfer of knowledge between researchers, educational institutions, decision-makers, and the public, and to promote the principles of open science and responsible research and innovation at the grassroots level. 

A bridge for social engagement will be built

Through BBGNight-TR, a strong bridge will be built between scientific knowledge production and social engagement on the themes of climate change, health, and digital transformation; to increase researchers’ direct engagement with society, develop science literacy, encourage young people’s participation in the research and innovation ecosystem, and strengthen Turkey’s international research and innovation capacity in line with the priorities of the European Research Area. 

Aligned with the European Union’s priorities

BBGNight-TR was designed to be consistent with the European Union’s European Green Deal, Digital Europe vision, and EU Missions.

Through the science communication and citizen engagement models to be developed under the project, the goal is to promote the principles of open science and responsible research and innovation across society and to increase the societal impact of science.

In this regard, BBGNight-TR stands out not only as a project that supports scientific research but also as a significant European Union initiative that strengthens sustainable collaboration among universities, public institutions, and society, and contributes to Turkey’s international research and innovation ecosystem.