Recently, Bilkent Erzurum Laboratory School hosted Nihat Berker, the rector of Sabancı University. Prof. Berker, a theoretical physicist, is also emeritus professor of physics at MIT, where he served on the faculty for 25 years before returning to Turkey in 2004. He has been rector of Sabancı since 2009; his accomplishments there include the development of a summer school program in which high school students take university courses.
Prof. Berker’s visit began with an orientation to the school by General Director James Swetz, Elementary and Middle School Principal Gülcan Ataman and High School Principal Akın Metli. Following this, he toured the school’s award-winning facilities, visited classes and talked with students and teachers.
In his presentation “Motivation, Empathy and Success,” Prof. Berker gave students examples of successful Turkish students both abroad and in Turkey. He also had a roundtable discussion with a group of BELS teachers and met with a group of 80 parents. He advised parents on their role in the university selection process and warned them not to push their children into professions that the latter might not have any interest in. His visit culminated in a dinner with members of the BELS PTA (Parent Teacher Association), who offered insights into the history and culture of Erzurum.