Bilim Lefkoşa’s first Science Festival kicked off on Monday.

The two-day festival supported by the Turkish Embassy in Lefkoşa, the Ministry of National Education, the Istanbul Technical University (ITU) North Cyprus campus, the T3 (Türkiye Technology Team) Foundation and the Cyprus Science and Intelligence Foundation (KIBZEV) aims to increase young people’s interest in science and technology.

Children between the ages of 6-14 took part in the festival.

Speaking at the opening on Monday, KIBZEV Board Chairman Mert Balın mentioned that over 3,000 children have benefited from Bilim Lefkoşa since its opening in 2023. He also shared information about upcoming science camps and expressed hope that the science festival would become a traditional event.

Elvan Kuzucu Hıdır, Chairman of the Türkiye Technology Team Foundation, emphasized their goal of fostering a generation that not only consumes but also produces.

She noted the significant progress Bilim Lefkoşa has made since its opening, providing thousands of students with educational opportunities.

Minister of National Education Nazım Çavuşoğlu, who attended the opening, thanked everyone involved and highlighted the importance of such centres in enabling students to shape their own futures. He pointed out the necessity of these centres for reaching the point of producing many technologies that are currently purchased from abroad.

“I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to our Ambassador and President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye, and everyone supporting this vision. We hope to see inventors emerge from this initiative. We will provide even more support to this centre starting next year. The TRNC has many talented children. May the Science Festival and the centre’s activities be beneficial,” he said.

The Turkish Ambassador to Lefkoşa, Metin Feyzioğlu, noted that the festival was organized in a manner fitting the spirit of May 19 and the national cause.

He emphasized the importance of nurturing children and youth for the Cyprus national cause.

“I thank Selçuk Bayraktar, Chairman of the T3 Foundation Board of Trustees. Investments like these are investments in the future of our children. The TRNC will always grow with national technology initiatives. We will continue to exist together,” he stated.

Following the opening speeches, a science demonstration was held.

The two-day festival features intriguing science experiments, scientific exhibitions, robot technologies, workshops in aviation and space, mathematics, nature and science, entrepreneurship, technology design, and agriculture.

The festival also includes university science stands, as well as artistic and sports activities such as archery, marbling, and ceramics.