Bilkent University National Nanotechnology Research Center’s (UNAM) Dr. Ayça Arslan recently received an award through the Science and Society Directorate of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TÜBİTAK) for her leadership in the “My DNA Summer School” project. The award was for second prize in the “4004 – Nature Applications Encouragement Award” category of the Science and Society Support Programs Project Encouragement Awards, which were organized for the first time this year.
At the award ceremony held on October 14, 2026, as part of the Türkiye Science Communication Summit, the second-place prize of TRY 150,000 was presented for Dr. Ayça Arslan to Prof. Dr. Hilmi Volkan Demir, UNAM Governance Board Member and Chairman of the Executive Board, by Minister of Industry and Technology Mehmet Fatih Kacır and TÜBİTAK President Prof. Dr. Orhan Aydın.
Held at UNAM from August 15 to 22, 2022, the “My DNA Summer School” project made science more accessible to 60 female students in the 9th and 10th grades who demonstrated scientific potential but faced socioeconomic disadvantages. The project aimed to encourage greater participation of young women in science and technology by sparking their scientific curiosity, helping them recognize their potential, and supporting them in shaping their future educational and career aspirations.
Led by Dr. Ayça Arslan and her team of UNAM graduate researchers, the program gave students the opportunity to explore UNAM’s advanced research infrastructure firsthand. Through scientific research training, students gained hands-on experience in isolating their own DNA, staining bacteria, observing living organisms under microscopes, and modeling proteins using bioinformatics tools. They also engaged in experiments, presentations, and scientific competitions, gaining firsthand insight into scientific research processes.
By promoting equal access to science education and encouraging young women to build confidence in their scientific abilities, the project helped participants not only gain practical scientific experience but also shape their future educational and career goals. In the evaluation survey conducted at the end of the program, students most frequently highlighted their ability to acquire new knowledge and develop greater awareness of their career choices as their key takeaways. To assess the project’s long-term impact, the team reconnected with participants in September 2026. The follow-up revealed that 84% of those reached had chosen to pursue undergraduate studies in health sciences, basic sciences, or engineering and were currently enrolled in degree programs in these fields. These findings highlighted the project’s potential to encourage young women to pursue scientific disciplines and support them in shaping their career aspirations.
For many years, UNAM has been inspiring the next generation of scientists through its UNAM Science Workshop, welcoming more than 500 high school students from different schools to explore its advanced research facilities. Designed to spark scientific curiosity and make science and technology more accessible, the program offers students firsthand exposure to scientific research through laboratory visits, hands-on experiments, and interactive activities spanning biology, physics, nanomaterials, optical fibers, and nanotechnology.
