Bilkent, TÜBİTAK Host "Science Culture" Event

On Friday, September 24, Bilkent University hosted the European Researchers' Night (ERN), an event celebrated in 200 European cities simultaneously. TÜBİTAK organized Turkey's event. The ERN event aims to promote scientific research among young people and to emphasize the appeal of being a researcher and viewing the world scientifically.

The ERN addressed everyone, from seven to seventy, but especially sought to engage students who will be the scientists of the future. TÜBİTAK President Prof. Nüket Yetiş explained that the goal of the organization was to introduce the young to the beautiful world of science.

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Bilkent Musicians Win Awards

FMPA Alum Wins Brahms Award

Osman Özgür Ünaldı, Faculty of Music and Performing Arts graduate, won second place in piano in the 17th International Brahms Competition, held in Pörtschach, Austria, on September 5 to 12. Ünaldı is the first Turkish artist who has won this award in piano.

Osman Özgür Ünaldı was born in 1984. He started piano training with Prof. Seçkin Gökbudak at Konya Selçuk University in 1991. In 1998, he received a fellowship and studied piano with Gülnara Aziz at the Faculty of Music and Performing Arts at Bilkent University. During his study at Bilkent University, he won many awards in numerous national piano contests. In 2004, Ünaldı was one of six finalists in the 15th International Piano Contest held in Rome. He has attended many master classes and worked with notable pianists such as Sebastian Benda, Dimitris Sgouros, Michael Markov, Kamerhan Turan, Robert Roux,

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Teaching Consultant Seeks Volunteers

Dr. Christopher Knapper, professor emeritus of psychology at Queen's University, Kingston, Canada, visited Bilkent last week to discuss ideas for the university's new initiative on teaching development. Knapper explained that he was making a preliminary visit to plan a Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL). The CTL would offer resources and support to current faculty with the aim of developing new and effective ways of enhancing student learning.

Knapper visited Bilkent in June to deliver several daylong workshops for teaching staff. Bilkenters showed up in such good numbers and gave such positive feedback that Knapper was invited back to investigate the feasibility of establishing a permanent office to conduct professional teaching development.

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