An Example Application in Science Education: "Science Park"

MAKÜ Faculty of Education Science Education faculty members are conducting an exemplary practice in Science Education with the “Science Park Application”. The 2023-2024 academic year Environmental Education course and out-of-school learning activities are carried out practically in this area.

The idea of Science Park was first introduced in 2017 by Prof. Dr. Hasan GENÇ within the scope of Turkey’s Biological Richness and Environmental Education courses. Later, with the support of Prof. Dr. Dilek ERDURAN AVCI and Prof. Dr. Huriye DENİŞ ÇELİKER, the necessary permission was obtained from the Rectorate and the idea of “Science Park” was put into practice.

The founder of the Science Park, Prof. Dr. Hasan GENÇ, stated, “With the Science Park, numerous activities are organized to enhance students’ professional development, increase their knowledge about nature, support their practical skills, and enable them to examine nature on-site within the scope of education in out-of-school environments. At the same time, practical nature education activities are organized for schools affiliated with the Burdur Directorate of National Education and Science and Art Center students in this area. Also, some parts of projects such as TÜBİTAK 4004 Projects conducted by our Faculty members are carried out in the Science Park. Various preparations were made in the Science Park before the pandemic, for example, signs containing Latin and Turkish names were hung on trees. Various water containers were placed to help with recycling as part of a social responsibility project to meet the needs of birdhouses and wild animals. With the return to face-to-face education, the Science Park continues to be used as an important learning and application area in a scientific study, especially in science education. The Science Park is actively used within the scope of the Environmental Education course and extracurricular application activities in the 2023-2024 academic year.”