Meet the 2022 Scholars

Hello, I am Duygu. I am from Kastamonu and I was born and raised in Istanbul. I was one of the 5 members of the 2022 Educ8 program. Staying in London for a month was a great experience for me, gaining many things for myself. When I was eligible for the project, I was at the end of my third year at Istanbul Faculty of Medicine. And now I am an intern doctor in my school and studying for residency exams. After the project, there were many changes in my life in terms of my thoughts about English and living abroad. I realized how mind-opening it is to travel to different countries, and I tried to gather information about how my profession is practiced in these countries. I expanded my horizons in order to develop myself to the best of my ability abroad and to serve my country later. I was afraid of taking the English proficiency exam because of the language, but the Educ8 project pushed me to trust myself in this direction. I will always continue to develop this language that I want to speak as my mother tongue and I will try to learn different languages. 

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Hi, my name is Sena Altun and I graduated from Istanbul Technical University with a degree in Chemical Engineering. I am currently pursuing a master’s degree in the same field. In 2022, I was one of the five female students selected for the prestigious EDUC8 program, which allowed me to spend time in London and develop academically, culturally and socially. This transformative experience not only broadened my global perspective but also provided me with invaluable mentorship in my field, sparking new ideas for academic and professional growth. Building on the skills and experiences from this period, I now contribute to several international organizations. I serve as the Secretary of the EDI Action Group under the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, which is a thematic organization of UN’s International Science Council and coordinates high-quality international research in the Antarctic region and explores its critical role in the Earth system. Spending time in another country like England gave me a unique opportunity to embrace diverse perspectives and adapt to new environments. It enhanced my ability to collaborate with people from different cultural and professional backgrounds, a skill I now bring to every project and organization I am part of. Also, this experience deepened my appreciation for the global nature of scientific and academic endeavors, inspiring me to actively contribute to international communities and initiatives.

Hello, My name is Büşra. I live in Istanbul. I’m one of the candidates elected in Educate8 of the year 2022. I participated this program when I was a third grade student in Istanbul University. Currently I’m working as a psychological counselor. Going to London is my first experience in abroad and in that time period I met a lot of foreign people there and I still have a contact with them. The network connection that we had there has expanded our wisdom. Additionally I’m still working to actualize my goals. Having been in Londan encouraged me so much that I can easily talk to foreign people now. Living in London for one month was both an educational improvement and an experience of a new culture. London is always going to be my favourite location no matter how many countries I can see.