Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences member Selim Balcısoy’s work on a Visual Exploratory Tool for Narrative Generation for Big Data received IBM’s Global Faculty Award.  This award is given to few scientists every year based on the influence and quality of their research. 

We spoke to Balcısoy about his award and research:

What is your area of research?

My academic studies focus on the visualization of big data, visual analysis, and augmented reality.  I specifically focus on deriving narratives from big data and physical visualization of data.

Can you talk about your award-winning project?

The idea for this project came from work I did with Project 102 students and a student team making their graduation projects last year.  I compiled the conclusions of these studies in a single list and applied to IBM with the Visual Exploratory Tool for Narrative Generation for Big Data project.
The purpose of the project is to visualize the leading characters and the relationships between characters and times or places.  We based our work on Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence and Jules Verne’s Around the World in 80 Days.

First, I asked approximately 35 students in the Project 102 course to read Orhan Pamuk’s Museum of Innocence and prepare infographics about it.  The image below is that of one of the best (for Museum of Innocence) and you can view all works here.

With my graduation project groups, we did research on how similar infographics can be generated automatically or semiautomatically.  An academic paper we wrote with a group of students was accepted to IEEE VAST 2014, the globally most prestigious conference in the field, as a Poster Presentation.  The conference was held in Paris in November, and my students and I attended.

I must thank Erk Ediz Akyigit, Tuğkan Cengiz and Onur Burak Yıldırım for their selfless work in this project.  You can view the video presentation here and a screenshot is below:

I presented the above work in two seminars in October; one in IBM Research’s Almaden Research Center, and one in CMU’s Menlo Park campus.  I am preparing TÜBİTAK and H2020 project on this subject, and the same group of students and I are expanding the article into a journal entry.

How can you comment on the contribution of this award to your work?

First and foremost, it was a great motivator.  The fact that the research we conduct with undergraduate students in particular support projects that are deemed worthy of such awards shows how realistic our school’s research objectives are regarding undergraduate students.  This award has spurred me to do more high-impact, comprehensive projects with undergraduate students in the future.

Groundwork has been laid for the Composite Technologies Center of Excellence established by Kordsa Global in association with Sabancı University

Sabancı Holding Board of Directors and Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı: “This center introduces a new model to Turkey.”

A groundbreaking ceremony was held for the Composite Technologies Center of Excellence established by Kordsa Global in association with Sabancı University in Teknopark Istanbul with the attendance of Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu.  The Center will work on advanced, nanotechnology-integrated composite technologies that transform many industries from aviation to automotive.

Kordsa Global, a Sabancı Holding company, and Sabancı University established by the Sabancı Foundation held the groundbreaking ceremony for the Composite Technologies Center of Excellence, the product of an innovative industry-university partnership model, with the attendance of leading political, academic and industry representatives.

Attending the ceremony were Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Deputy Prime Minister Yalçın Akdoğan, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Fikri Işık, Minister of Development Cevdet Yılmaz, Governor of Istanbul Vasip Şahin, Sabancı Holding Board of Directors and Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı, Kordsa Global Board of Directors Chair Mehmet Pekarun, Sabancı University President Professor Nihat Berker, Sabancı University Board of Trustees Members Suzan Sabancı Dinçer and Sevil Sabancı, Kordsa Global CEO Cenk Alper as well as Sabancı Holding directors and the representatives of many companies and institutions that support the high technology initiative in Turkey.  To be built in Teknopark Istanbul, the Composite Technologies Center of Excellence will work on composite material technologies.

Güler Sabancı: We are laying the stone for the future

Speaking at the ceremony, Sabancı Holding Board of Directors and Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı said that the center introduced a new model in industry-university partnership to Turkey, continuing, “For the first time in our country, we witness together the creation of a platform that will combine advanced materials, R&D, academic structure and production.  Two Sabancı Group organizations, Kordsa Global and Sabancı University, start an initiative that is of paramount importance.  Today, we are laying the stone for the future.  We are beginning a new period.  We set off on a new path with the objective to have Turkey make a difference in the global arena with advanced technologies, become a global player in this field, even joining the premier league.  This is not an investment for tomorrow; this investment is for 10, 20, 30 years into the future.  We believe in Turkey and its potential, and we invest in the future of this country.”

Sabancı went on: “This foundation is for a 65-million TL investment for now; however, the real value of this center stands far beyond this figure with the new frontiers it will set for our country as well as our Group through the value and model it will create.  This center introduces a new model to Turkey.  This is an exemplary model that has significant potential to contribute towards our 2023 objectives.  The model brings different cultures (students, researchers, faculty members, entrepreneurs, engineers) together in the same ecosystem, allowing them to work in close cooperation, understanding their respective issues better, and creating better solutions more quickly by a common mind.  They will share laboratories, work in the same environment, and run faster towards common goals – not in adjacent rooms but all together, at the same table, in the same lab.  This will also allow the university to become a greater part of the economy.  I hope that the success of this model will set an example to new centers to be built.  One of our objectives for the year 2023 is to be one of the top 10 economies of the world.  This requires an innovation-focused growth policy, and innovation-focused growth is only possible with the design and production of high-technology products.” 

An investment of TL 65 million

The center will be built with an investment of TL 65 million and provide facilities for graduate education, fundamental research, applied research, product development, incubation services and commercialization opportunities in composite technologies, and will host PhD students and postdoctoral researchers, faculty members, incubation companies, researchers, engineers and employees for prototype production under one roof at the same time.

The center will have an indoor area of 10,000 square meters with 3000 square meters of laboratory facilities where Kordsa Global and Sabancı University will create a breakthrough ecosystem fueled by doing research, learning and producing together.  The high-tech production facilities provided by Kordsa Global will enable the domestic manufacture of materials and composites subject to import controls.

The innovative model developed by Kordsa Global, the top-ranking company in the textile industry for two years in a row on the R&D Center Performance Assessment conducted by the Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology on all R&D centers in Turkey since 2013, and  Sabancı University, a top contender of the Most Entrepreneurial and Innovative Universities Index since 2012, will bring together students, faculty, researchers, engineers, entrepreneurs and designers together in the same room towards common goals.

About KORDSA GLOBAL

Kordsa Global is a leading enterprise that serves the rubber, composite, and construction markets by providing reinforcing products. The company, with headquarters in Istanbul, Turkey, enhances its commercial leadership with its technological know-how, operating 10 businesses in 8 countries distributed over 5 continents, and employing approximately 4000. Kordsa Global's sales figure reached TL 1.5 billion in 2013.

Kordsa Global and the rubber sector

The success story of Kordsa, the world's leading nylon 6.6 and polyester industrial fiber, tire cord and its only cord producer, started in 1973 with a tire cord factory investment in İzmit, Turkey. The Company, in which Sabancı Holding, one of the leading conglomerates in the Turkish economy, has a 91.1% shareholding, exhibited continuous growth and with its global production capacities, continues to lead the sector, rapidly adapting its operations to changing market dynamics, while at the same time searching for new markets. Strengthening its R&D investments, the company has introduced innovative high-performance and green products to the sector and with the reinforcement solutions that it has developed, it has begun to catch the interest of the composite and construction sectors.

Yasal Uyarı

This document and its content are provided only for informational purposes and reflects information, products, materials and visuals current at the time of publication.  The risk of a decision taken or a transaction effectuated based on any information in this document rests entirely with the person taking the decision.  Kordsa Global and/or its subsidiaries make no warranties of any kind, express or implied, relating to the content, including to the truth, accuracy, timeliness, adequacy, merchantability, or fitness for a particular purpose thereof. The Company may not be held responsible for damages or losses of any kind arising out of the use of the information herein or of a decision taken or a transaction effectuated based on any information in this document.

Students who have Bachelor's, Master's or Doctorate diplomas or students enrolled at universities other than Sabancı University can apply to the courses offered by Sabancı University to participate as special students. The candidates apply for special student status should firstly meet the requirements determined by the relevant Faculty/Graduate School for the level of English.

Approval for special student application can not be considered as the approval of any diploma programs. Special students are not considered as Sabancı University student and can not benefit from the student rights.

 Transcript on which courses registered and course grades are printed can be given on demand to special students.


2014-2015 Academic Year Spring Term Special Student Application

 Sabancı Üniversitesi Öğrenci Kaynakları Birimi, Orta Mahalle, Üniversite Cd. No:27, Tuzla, 34956 Istanbul

Mailing Address:
Sabancı University
Student Resources Unit
Orta Mah. Üniversite Cad. No:27

34956 Tuzla
İSTANBUL, TR
Phone: 0216 483 90 92
Fax: 0216 483 90 73
E-mail: studentinfo@sabanciuniv.edu

Our alumnus from our undergraduate Materials Science and Engineering program, 2011, Gorkem Soyumer has founded a start-up, Enerwhere, based on work he did  for a Master of Science in Management of Energy and Sustainability (MES) from Ecole Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland.

He built one of the first solar-diesel hybrid smart grids in the Middle East as part of his master thesis research at CSEM-UAE. Now he holds the position of Innovation Engineer. I think he's fantastic advertisementon what one can do with a B.Sc. in Materials Science and Engineering.

If you need more information on his company's activities, here's a link: http://enerwhere.com/

Material Science and Engineering 2009 graduate Dr. Canan Dagdeviren has just been selected as a Junior Fellow of Harvard by the Society of Fellows at Harvard University.

This 3-year award is intended to promote interdisciplinary research in Cambridge, Massachusetts (USA). Dr. Dagdeviren is the first scientist from Turkey to be selected for this prestigious award, and received the highest number of votes given by Senior Fellows.

The Harvard Society of Fellows, established in 1933 is a group of scholars selected at the beginning of their careers by Harvard University for extraordinary scholarly potential, upon whom distinctive academic and intellectual opportunities are bestowed in order to foster their individual growth and intellectual collaboration. Membership in the society is for life. Among its best-known members have been philosopher W. V. Quine, Jf '36; behaviorist B. F. Skinner, Jf '36; double Nobel laureate John Bardeen, Jf '38; economist Paul Samuelson, Jf '40; historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, Jr., Jf '43; presidential advisor McGeorge Bundy, Jf '48; historian and philosopher of science Thomas Kuhn, Jf '51; linguist Noam Chomsky, Jf '55; biologist E. O. Wilson, Jf '56; cognitive scientist Marvin Minsky, Jf '57; former dean of the Harvard faculty, economist Henry Rosovsky, Jf '57; philosopher Saul Kripke, Jf '66; Fields Medal-winning theoretical physicist Ed Witten, Jf '81; and writer, critic, and editor Leon Wieseltier, Jf '82.

https://harvardmagazine.com/1998/11/genius.html

Please click to watch Canan's TEDx talks:

FENS Faculty member Ali Kosar and his M.S. student Abdolali Khalili Sadaghiani received the Best Paper Award in IMECE 2014-MEMS Track

The article of FENS Faculty member Ali Kosar and his M.S. student Abdolali Khalili Sadaghiani ‘Numerical investigation of slip flow across micro/nano pin fins’ has been chosen as one of the two Best Papers by the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) MEMS (Microelectromechanical Systems) Division of IMECE (International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition) 2014, which is the biggest Mechanical Engineering conference in USA. The award will be given during the ASME MEMS Division General Meeting.  

The MEMS Division recognizes and encourages outstanding research through awards each year. More than 120 articles were submitted to the MEMS track of IMECE this year. 

Canan Sayitoğlu, a graduate student working towards her PhD in Batu Erman's laboratory in the Biological Sciences and Bioengineering Program of the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, competed in three Science Slams held in Istanbul and in Germany.

Science Slams are similar to poetry slams, but here young scientists talk about their research to a non-specialist audience for 10 minutes.  

The first event Canan participated in was on 05.09.14 at Boğaziçi University, where she competed with Turkish and German students. Recently she repeated her performance in the context of the Turkish-German Year of Science at the University of Potsdam (06.11.14)  and at the University of Cologne  (07.11.14) in Germany.

Canan talked about the immune system and about her research on immune system cells. These events bring together young scientists and nonscientists alike from the two nations to build a common language and an atmosphere of collaboration and fun.

Sabancı University became the Turkish private university with the highest position upon first entry to the rankings.

Sabancı University entered the Times Higher Education (THE) BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings in 15th position.

Eight Turkish universities were included in the BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings.

After only 15 academic years since its establishment, Sabancı University entered the rankings in 15th place, and was among a handful of Turkish universities in the top 100: METU (3rd), Boğaziçi (7th), ITU (8th), Bilkent University (19th), Koç University (29th), Istanbul University (51st) and Hacettepe University (82nd).

In October, Sabancı University had entered the Times Higher Education (THE) rankings in 182nd position, becoming the Turkish university with the highest position upon first entry to the rankings, and was the only private Turkish university to be among the top 200 universities of the world.

The Times Higher Education BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings uses a methodology that covers all core missions of a world-class university - teaching, research, knowledge transfer and international outlook – using 13 carefully calibrated performance indicators.  In addition to core missions, the geopolitical positions and economic situations of their home countries also affect their ratings.

Sabancı University President Nihat Berker’s message on the occasion:

Dear colleagues, students and alumni,

This October, Sabancı University entered the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings in 182nd position, becoming the university with the third highest place upon initial entry worldwide, and the only private Turkish university to be among the top 200 universities of the world.

On a similar note, we entered the Times Higher Education BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings in 15th position today, with the second highest place upon initial entry.

Times Higher Education’s BRICS & Emerging Economies Rankings include universities in Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and 17 other emerging economies, and eight Turkish universities made it to the top 100: METU (3rd), Boğaziçi (7th), ITU (8th), Sabancı University (15th), Bilkent University (19th), Koç University (29th), Istanbul University (51st) and Hacettepe University (82nd).  The rankings take into consideration 13 indicators under 5 main categories of Teaching (30%), Research (30%), Citations (20%), Industry Income (10%) and International Outlook (10%).

This outstanding achievement is the result of our earnest work towards becoming a global university, and our firm belief in creating and developing together.  Credit is due all Sabancı University employees, students and alumni who, as the embodiment of our young, free and idealist spirit, made invaluable contributions to our progress.  I am wholly confident that our success will grow into the future, and I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to everyone for their great efforts, contributions and support.

Graduate students will be accepted for the 2014-2015 Spring Semester leading to the M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees in the following programs. 
Detailed information on research areas including basic sciences can be obtained at http://fens.sabanciuniv.edu.

Academic inquiries should only be posted to contact names for each program given below; for administrative or procedure related questions please contact to Student Resources Office.
Phone: +90 (216) 483 9093, E-mail: studentinfo@sabanciuniv.edu 

Biological Sciences and Bioengineering 
The program emphasizes the latest developments and technological innovations in this globally emerging field. Areas of specialization include molecular and cellular biology, bioinformatics, and plant biotechnology.

Academic Contact: Batu Erman, 
Phone: +90 (216) 483 9530,  
E-mail: batu@sabanciuniv.edu  

Computer Science and Engineering 
Research areas; natural language processing, pattern recognition, formal methods, software engineering, cryptography and information security, network security, computer architectures, distributed systems, database systems, data mining, computer graphics and virtual reality, embedded systems, knowledge representation and reasoning.

Academic Contact: Cemal Yılmaz, 
Phone: +90 (216) 483 9532, 
E-mail: cyilmaz@sabanciuniv.edu

Electronics Engineering  
Research areas; wireless communication, wireless networks, sensor networks, signal, speech and image processing, computer vision, pattern recognition, data networks, RF, microwaves, antennas and propagation, RF MEMS and RF Circuit design, photonics and fiber optic telecommunication, high-speed electronic devices, microsensors and microelectromechanical systems, medical and industrial ultrasonic imaging, medical instrumentation, analog and digital VLSI design, ASIC and FPGA design, computer-aided design and testing.

Academic Contact İlker Hamzaoğlu, 
Phone: (216) 483 9577,
E-mail: hamzaoğlu@sabanciuniv.edu 

Industrial Engineering  
The program focuses on production and service systems, integrated manufacturing, supply chain management, logistics, joint inventory-pricing decisions, product development process, modeling and analysis of manufacturing processes and equipment, manufacturing and technology strategies, fuzzy systems, combinatorial optimization and operations research approaches to telecommunication and energy systems. Emphasis is given to close collaboration with the industry.

Academic Contact: Murat Kaya 
Phone: (216) 483 9622, 
E-mail:mkaya@sabanciuniv.edu

Materials Science and Engineering   
The program focuses on the interrelationships between structure, properties, and processing of materials for advanced technological applications.  Areas of ongoing research include semiconductors, synthetic and biological polymers, ceramics and composites at the nanometer scale, with particular emphasis on applications in nano-technology.

Academic Contact: Özge Akbulut, 
Phone: +90 (216) 483 9968 , 
E-mail: ozgeakbulut@sabanciuniv.edu

Mechatronics Engineering  
Research areas;  smart product design, multi-disciplinary design optimization, topology design optimization, metamaterials, microsystems, intelligent control systems, robotics, machine vision, haptics, computer aided engineering, renewable energy systems, embedded systems, process control, hydro-turbines, advanced seals, turbine blade reverse engineering. Two-phase flow, Boiling heat transfer, MEMS, Boiling instabilities in microsystems, Convective heat transfer, Critical Heat Flux, Microchannels, Cavitation, Micro- and Nanofluidics, Micro pin-fins, Cross flow, Electronics cooling, Miniaturization of heat sinks

Academic Contact: Serhat Yeşilyurt, 
Telefon: +90 (216) 483 9579, 
E-posta: syesilyurt@sabanciuniv.edu 

Mathematics   
The program emphasizes the interaction between pure mathematics and its applications, including those leading to interdisciplinary work. The main areas of concentration are number theory and algebra with applications in coding theory and cryptography, analysis and applications.

Academic Contact: Semih Onur Sezer, 
Phone: (216) 483 9586,
E-mail: sezer@sabanciuniv.edu 

Physics 
In condensed matter physics the main research areas are experimental and theoretical semiconductor physics, mesoscopic and nanoscopic physics, and superconductivity. In high energy astrophysics, X-, gamma ray and optical obervations of compact objects (neutron stars and black holes) and their environments are the main areas of interest. Other research fields are quantum information and high energy physics.

Academic Contact: İnanç Adagideli, 
Phone: (216) 483 9605, 
E-posta: adagideli@sabanciuniv.edu 

For Admisson : 
Admission Requirements and the Necessary Documents for Graduate School of Engineering and Natural Sciences

Applicants must have completed their previous degree programs by January 19th, 2015.

Financial Support: 
Financial support is available in the form of a monthly stipend and/or tuition waiver. Decisions on scholarship will be made by the Admissions Committee .

Deadline: 
Applications must be submitted by November 28th, 2014. After initial screening, interviews will be scheduled for potential candidates during December 8th – 12th,  2014. Applicants will be informed by e-mail. It is highly recommended to check e-mails for candidates.

For Online Application: https://admission.sabanciuniv.edu 
 

The Graduate Admissions Calendar

Biological Sciences and Bioengineering (MSc. / PhD.)
Interview**: 10 December 2014 13:30-16:00 AM FENS 2072

Computer Science and Engineering (MSc. / PhD.)
Written Exam*: 12 December 2014 09:00-10:00 AM Place: G077
 Interview**    : 12 December 2014 10:00-18:00 AM Place: FENS 2072

GRE Subject Test: 

Starting from 2013-2014 Spring applications, the CS program will request a GRE Subject test score from all international applicants. For 2014-2015 Spring semester applicants, please be aware that a GRE Subject Test score would strengthen your application; so submit your score document, if you have already taken the test. 

Electronics Engineering (MSc. / PhD.)
Interview*: 9 december 2014 13:30-17:00 AM Place: FENS 2072 

Industrial Engineering  (MSc. / PhD.)
Interview**: 10 December 2014 09:00-12:00 AM Place: FENS 2072

Materials Science and Engineering (MSc. / PhD.)
Interview**: 11 December 2014 10:00 AM  Place: FENS 1040

Mechatronics Engineering (MSc. / PhD.)
Interview**: To be announced

Mathematics (MSc. / PhD.)
Written Exam*: 08 December 2014 9:00-10:00 AM Place:FENS 2008
Interview**     : 08 December 2014 10:00-13:00 AM Place:FENS 2008

Physics (PhD)
Written Exam* : 08 December 2014 9:00-10:00 AM Place: FENS 2008
 Interview**     : 08 December 2014 13:00-17:00 AM Place: FENS 2008

( The written exam covers the topics of the first & second year introductory physics, the third & fourth year classical mechanics, electromagnetic theory, statistical mechanics, and quantum mechanics. Applicants who provide GRE Physics subject test scores may be exempt from the written exam.)


*All candidates are required to attend the admission exam at the given date.

**Eligible candidates are going to be invited via e-mail for the interview.
 

Applications:
Online applications are accepted via http://admission.sabanciuniv.edu/ . Application documents (official exam results, transcript, etc..) should be uploaded on the online system and application packages be submitted either in person or post by mail to the address below. Please note that print-out of the completed application form should also be added to the application package. The packages sent via mail must arrive at the department by the application deadline. Applications sent via e-mail are not accepted.

Warning! All the application documents become property of Sabancı University. It is suggested to keep the original reports of TOEFL, GRE and ALES scores, and apply with the copies of those test scores. But please note that the originals must be produced at the time of registration to Sabancı University.