Hasan Kalyoncu University (HKU) hosted the “Climate, Science and Women 2035 Workshop”, organised with the contributions of UN Women, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality and partner institutions. Held as part of the COP31 process, the workshop brought together female academics from universities across Türkiye to develop joint solution proposals on climate change, sustainability, climate justice, clean energy, technology and women’s leadership.
Held at the HKU Congress and Culture Centre, the workshop was attended by HKU Rector Prof. Dr Gül Rengin Küçükerdoğan, Çukurova University academic Prof. Dr Zeynep Zaimoğlu, HKU Sustainability Office Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr Şafak Hengirmen Tercan, İstasyon Gaziantep Coordinator Filiz Evran, as well as female rectors, vice-rectors and academics from different universities. The programme was organised within the framework of the “National Academic Strategy for Women’s Leadership in Climate Science, Research and Innovation”.
We Must Transform Scientific Knowledge into Practical Solutions
HKU Rector Prof. Dr Gül Rengin Küçükerdoğan stated that climate change affects many areas of life, from water resources and agricultural production to health and energy. She said, “In the face of such a major challenge, we need science more than ever. However, it is just as important to bring different disciplines together and transform the knowledge we produce into practical solutions as it is to generate scientific knowledge itself. I believe this is precisely where the responsibility of universities begins.”
Drawing attention to the role of female academics in developing climate solutions, Küçükerdoğan emphasised the importance of ensuring that women play a stronger role in areas ranging from scientific research and technology development to project creation and decision-making processes.
HKU Sustainability Office Coordinator Assoc. Prof. Dr Şafak Hengirmen Tercan said, “At HKU, we view campuses as living laboratories. HKU’s sustainability journey has continued to grow stronger since its establishment, guided by the vision set out by our Board of Trustees and our Rector.”
Feray Yılmaz, Deputy Mayor of Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, stated that climate is too important an issue to be left for the future.
Joint Solutions Across Four Thematic Areas
During the workshop, participants worked simultaneously across four thematic areas: “Security of Essential Resources and Climate Resilience”, “Climate Justice, Equality and Social Vulnerability”, “Clean Energy, Green and Smart Technologies”, and “Women’s Leadership in STEM, Innovation and Climate Solutions”.
