Children introduced to science at an early age through the Science Türkiye project are being encouraged to develop scientific solutions to climate crisis and sustainability challenges.

The project, run by the Türkiye Technology Team Foundation (T3 Foundation), is being showcased at a booth set up as part of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change’s 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31), hosted by Türkiye in Antalya.

Speaking to Anadolu, Kubra Sari, an education research and development coordinator at the T3 Foundation, outlined the project’s efforts to raise scientific awareness among children.

Noting that the foundation’s main goal is to help transform Türkiye into a society that develops technology, Sari said the Science Türkiye project aims to introduce children and young people to science from an early age.

The project organises workshops at nearly 33 science centres in Türkiye and abroad, covering areas including agricultural technologies, technology, natural sciences and design, she said.

Sustainability-related topics, such as the water cycle, water conservation and climate change, are also incorporated into the educational programmes, Sari added.

Emphasising that the activities focus on developing children’s scientific thinking and innovation skills, she said: “We want children to use science and technology to develop products and find solutions to climate-related challenges.”

She noted that educational activities at the science centres are supported by hands-on experiments and workshops.

“From primary school age onwards, we introduce children to science through activities that encourage them to conduct experiments, explore and create at science centres,” she said.

Children learn sustainable technologies through hands-on workshops

Providing details about the smart agriculture workshops, Sari said children place sensors in soil to measure moisture levels and use the data they collect to develop irrigation systems.

These activities help children gain practical experience in using water resources efficiently, while other sustainability-focused workshops aim to strengthen their environmental awareness, she said.

At the end of the workshops, children turn what they have learned into tangible products, Sari added.

Through the Energy House Project, children learn about renewable energy sources and design their own energy-efficient houses.

She said children experiment with converting wind energy into electricity and generating power using solar panels.

In the bioplastics workshop, children also produce alternative plastics using household materials and create various products with moulds, she added.

Sari said the COP31 summit provided an opportunity to introduce the Science Türkiye project to international visitors and share the foundation’s work at science centres in Türkiye and abroad.

She said the foundation was pleased and proud to present its activities to visitors from different countries.