Project Team

Project Coordinator

Assoc. Prof. Nilay Öztürk 

Assoc. Prof. Nilay Öztürk is a faculty member in the Department of Primary Education at the Faculty of Educational Sciences, Bahçeşehir University and at the BAUSTEM Center. She received her bachelor’s, master’s, and Ph.D. degrees in Science Education from Middle East Technical University. During and following her doctoral studies, she conducted research for six months at the University of Missouri and for one year at the University of Minnesota. Her research areas include teacher education, K-12 science education, and the teaching of socioscientific issues. She has numerous national and international publications and has served as both a coordinator and researcher in completed and ongoing national and international research projects.

 

Project Researchers

Assoc. Prof. Yasemin Özdem Yılmaz

Assoc. Prof. Yasemin Özdem Yılmaz received her bachelor’s degree in Science Teaching, her master’s degree in Science and Mathematics Education, and her Ph.D. in Elementary Education from Middle East Technical University. After her undergraduate studies, she worked as a teacher in schools in Türkiye and the United States. She completed her master’s and doctoral studies on the preparation of science teachers in argumentation. Between 2015 and 2016, she conducted postdoctoral research on out-of-school learning environments at the Great Lakes Science Center (OH, USA). She has national and international publications and projects on scientific inquiry and science centers. She has served as an editorial board member of TÜBİTAK’s Bilim Çocuk magazine and as a consultant for popular science publications. Since 2019, she has been working on scientific inquiry in early childhood and education for sustainable development. She currently continues her academic work at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University.

 

Asst. Prof. Gaye Defne Ceyhan

Asst. Prof. Gaye Defne Ceyhan is a faculty member in the Department of Mathematics and Science Education at Boğaziçi University. She completed her undergraduate and master’s degrees at Boğaziçi University earned her Ph.D. in Science Education at Syracuse University in the United States. During her graduate studies, she worked as a research assistant. She worked as a science teacher in various schools for eight years. She conducts research and provides training in sustainability and climate education, science communication, and systems thinking in education. She has publications in national and international academic journals, book chapters, and has been involved in various research projects.

 

Project Scholars

Ayşe Gül Çelenk

Ayşe Gül Çelenk has been working as a project manager at the BAUSTEM Center of Bahçeşehir University since 2018. She graduated from the Department of Biology at Istanbul University in 2009. She completed the pedagogical formation program at Istanbul University Hasan Ali Yücel Faculty of Education, and later earned her master’s degree in the Department of Botany at Istanbul University in 2015. She has served as a consultant and instructor in TÜBİTAK TÜSSİDE science camps and conducted workshops in science centers and primary school science clubs. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the Educational Technology program at Bahçeşehir University.

Naz Fulya Çibik

Naz Fulya Çibik received her bachelor’s degree in Science Teaching from Middle East Technical University and her master’s degree in Science Education from Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Climate Change Education at Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University, where she works as a research assistant. Her research areas include environmental education, education for sustainable development, and climate change education. She conducts studies on climate change and ecological balance with students and academics at the Campus Garden Ecological Agriculture Practice Area, where she serves as coordinator. She has worked as support staff, workshop leader, and instructor in various TÜBİTAK projects.

Nazmiye Ertuğrul

Nazmiye Ertuğrul completed her undergraduate degree in the Science Teaching program at Boğaziçi University. After graduation, she worked as a science teacher at a private college for 1.5 years. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in the Department of Mathematics and Science Education at Boğaziçi University and continuing her thesis studies. Her interests include systems thinking in education, climate change, and environmental education.

Selen İlgen

Selen İlgen holds a bachelor’s degree in Psychological Counseling and Guidance from Yıldız Technical University and a master’s degree in the same field from Hacettepe University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Psychological Counseling and Guidance at Bahçeşehir University and works as a research assistant. Her research interests focus on close relationships.

Ferah Topal Arslan

Ferah Topal Arslan completed her undergraduate degree in International Relations at Anadolu University. She is currently pursuing her master’s degree in the Educational Technology program at Bahçeşehir University.