Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır and the first Turkish Astronaut Alper Gezeravcı met with young people at Erzurum Technical University (ETU) as part of Youth Encounters.

Minister Kacr and Astronaut Gezeravc, as well as Erzurum Governor Mustafa Iftçi, Erzurum Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Mehmet Sekmen, ETU Rector Prof. Dr. Bülent akmak, protocol members, academics, and a sizable number of students, attended the event, which took place at the Engineering and Architecture Faculty Conference Hall.

Rector Çakmak: We Trust Our Youth

Taking the podium to deliver the opening speech, Rector Bülent Çakmak emphasized the significance of the National Space Program as a crucial milestone for Turkey's space endeavors. He stated, "This year, we have admitted our first students to the Aerospace Engineering Department within our Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. I believe that the young friends in the audience who are currently studying in the Aerospace Engineering Department are the most excited for your coming. As a university, our competence in this field has once again been confirmed in the studies published by TÜBİTAK, which map out the competencies of universities. In this study conducted by TÜBİTAK, our university ranked in the first zone in the field of Aerospace. Additionally, one of our technology teams, working at our Crystal Entrepreneurship Center with the support of the Ministry of Industry and Technology, received a score of 97.7 in the NASA-sponsored CANSAT Model Satellite Competition, placing third in Turkey and eleventh worldwide. Formun Üstü

He continued, "You are the guarantee of our country's future. You witness the atrocities happening in the world. Unfortunately, we live in an unjust world where the powerful can do whatever they want. Therefore, your duty is to do your job in the best possible way and appreciate the opportunities provided to you. As you can see, there are no schools, universities, temples, or hospitals left in Gaza. The stronger we are, the more we continue to be the rising voice of the oppressed. We trust you, and we sincerely believe that you will build the future of our country."

Mayor Sekmen: We Will Achieve Many Goals Together with Our Youth

Following Rector Çakmak, President Sekmen took to the podium, emphasizing that the greatest asset of a nation is its human capital. He stated, "The better we prepare our youth for the future, the more secure the future of our nation will be. I see that our students have a great passion for technology, science, and knowledge. Together with you, esteemed youth, we will achieve much more significant goals for our country and nation."

Governor Çiftçi: My Recommendation to Our Students is to Work Considering the Oppressed and Victims

Starting his speech by expressing his pleasure in hosting Minister Kacır and Astronaut Gezeravcı in Erzurum, Governor Çiftçi remarked, "We are delighted to welcome our esteemed Minister and Mr. Alper Gezeravci in Erzurum, a city adorned with traces of ancient civilizations, embellished with Seljuk and Ottoman heritage, and the city where the foundations of the Republic were laid. My advice to our students is not only to strive for their own betterment but also to work diligently while considering their families, our country, and all the oppressed and victims around the world. With these sentiments and thoughts, I greet you with respect and affection, and I wish our program to be beneficial for our city and our students."

Minister Kacır: Turkish Youth Can Achieve All Kinds of SuccessFormun Üstü

Addressing the audience about Turkey's Space Science Mission, Minister Kacır expressed their belief that Turkish youth would achieve success in every aspect if the barriers in front of them were removed. He stated, "We are aware that our greatest strength multiplier is our young and dynamic population. The median age of our population is 33, whereas in Europe it is 43, and in Germany it is 47-48. We are 15 years younger than them. If we continue to pave the way for our youth, we will achieve our National Technology Initiative goals one by one. I believe that if we all stand by them; our young people have the ability and competence to succeed in becoming the best in their fields globally. Turkish youth have proven this. The gains we have made in the National Technology Initiative over the past 22 years have been possible thanks to young people like you, who have enabled Turkey to develop critical technologies independently, produce them, and export them competitively to the world."

Astronaut Gezeravcı: I Set a Goal That Can Be a Source of Self-Confidence for Our Youth

Following Minister Kacır's speech, Alper Gezeravcı shared his journey of becoming an astronaut and his experiences during his time at the space station. He mentioned, "I began to examine the project carried out by the Turkish Space Agency on TÜBİTAK's website. I realized that I met all the criteria listed in the approximately 4-page requirements list. In a field that I had never even dared to dream about until that day, I set a goal that could be a source of confidence for the young people who will be the guarantee of our future on the 100th anniversary of our country. I tried to read the resources of astronauts, agencies, and authorities who have done this job and are still doing it. Then, I applied. I went through many tests and was selected. During the astronaut selection process, there were 22,000 applications from 27 countries. In the application process conducted in our country, 36,000 of our citizens applied. We became the 22nd country among 193 countries that have been able to send their people to space and conduct scientific missions in space."

The youth meeting concluded with Rector Çakmak presenting gifts to Minister Kacır and Astronaut Gezeravcı, followed by the taking of a commemorative photograph.Formun Üstü

Corporate Communication and Promotion Directorate, March 25, 2024