The Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University Salda Lake Application and Research Center for Science, Education and Conservation established in Salda is scheduled to open in the coming months.
In the center, established to support scientific studies in the lake by the General Directorate of Natural Assets Protection of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization and Climate Change, studies such as scientific research of the lake and its basin, contributions to nature conservation and action plans, carrying out biodiversity research and informing society are carried out.
Visit of Türkiye's first astronaut Gezeravcı
Türkiye's first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı, who came to the city as part of the Burdur Student Technology Festival, visited Salda Lake and the Science Center.
Gezeravcı said that Salda is an inspiring place not only because of its natural beauty but also in terms of space exploration.
Stating that he arrived at Lake Salda for the first time, Gezeravcı said, “It is an area that is the envy of all astronauts on the International Space Station and is a great source of inspiration for space studies. We invite everyone to visit this area to raise the scientific awareness of our brothers, who are the guarantee of our future, and to create concrete images in their minds about the space area.”
Emphasizing that the events taking place in the region will increase scientific awareness, Gezeravcı noted that in the future Salda will become not only an area of natural beauty but also an important center for scientific discoveries.
Science days take place in Salda
Astronomer Kadir Uluç, coordinator of the Science Days held in Salda, explained that Salda has become an important center particularly focusing on Mars studies.
Pointing out that the lake provides a natural laboratory opportunity, Uluç said:
“Salda is an outstanding place in terms of tourism. We want to highlight the scientific side of it because it is very important to the world. It is one of the rare places where you can actually study about this planet without having to travel from Earth to another planet. In this context, we are trying to promote scientific tourism in the region. Our aim is to attract the attention of the global scientific community and increase scientific activities here.”
Uluç explained that those who visit the science center can see the relationship between Mars and the lake, and they can also contribute to scientific studies here.
Stating that the “Science Days on the Raft” event will be held in June, Uluç said:
“This event consists of two main elements. The first is our workshop entitled 'Tracing Life from Salda to Mars'. The main focus of this workshop is actually to be a spark factor for scientific studies. To increase the interest of the region's young people and children in science and how they can make their interest in this science more effective by involving the lakes in the region where they live. In this context, we will organize a science festival.”
Uluç explained that during the science festival, students can participate in various scientific experiments and in the evening they can observe the sky with telescopes installed in the field, thus bringing biology, chemistry and astronomy together.
It attracted attention due to its resemblance to Mars
When magnesium carbonates in Lake Salda resembled those in Jezero Crater on Mars, the attention of NASA and the scientific world turned to the region.
It was stated that scientists from Istanbul Technical University contributed to these studies by studying the rocks in Salda Lake and the lake region while the Perseverance vehicle sent by NASA continued its mission on Mars.
Bir yanıt yazın