Technology entrepreneurs, who have successfully completed their training and mentoring process at the Deep-Tech PRIMER Acceleration Program, will pitch their startups in front of the jury and dear participants. Deep-Tech PRIMER is organized by InnoEnergy and implemented by Sabancı University SUCool and Sabancı University Industry Collaborations and Technology Licensing Office (ILO).

Date and Time: October 31, 2019, Thursday, 09:30 - 13:30

Venue: SUNUM (Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center), Orta, Üniversite Cd. No:27, 34956 Tuzla/İstanbul (http://bit.ly/32AFHy7)

Agenda:

09:30 - 10:00 | Registration & Coffee

10:00 - 10:10 | Opening

10:10 - 10:50 | Pitches and Comment of Jury

10:50 - 11:05 | Coffee Break

11:05 - 11:45 | Pitches and Comment of Jury

11:45 - 12:00 | Inspiring Speech (Buğra Kuloğlu - Appsilon Diamond)

12:00 - 12:30 | Award Ceremony

12:30 - 13:30 | Cocktail & Networking

Jury:

Abdurrahman TÜRK, Industry Collaboration and Technology Licensing Office Manager, Sabancı University

Burak ÖZYAZGAN, Investment Professional, DCP Ventures 

Bülent BANKACI, General Manager, Sabancı University Inovent 

Erman TURAN, Founder & Managing Director, Addwise

Mehmet YILDIZ, Vice President - Research, Sabancı University

Yiğit ARSLAN, Private Equity Investment Director, Actus Portföy

Please do not forget to register via Eventbrite: https://deeptechprimer.eventbrite.com

The Sabancı University Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design Program, and Istanbul Technical University MIAM,  who together are hosting the exhibitions (along with Bahçeşehir University who is supporting a concert event) endeavour to ensure the continuity of the cultural bridge of Sound Art established between Berlin and Istanbul in the first stage of the festival in 2018, with the activities now held in Istanbul between 30 October - 3 November 2019.  

Distopya Sound Art Festival Istanbul, which is making its first appearance in 2019, strives to fulfil its mission to bring Sound Art into existence internationally. 

The activities will include sound art exhibitions, electro-music and electroacoustic concerts and an Algorave Night with the participation of nearly 20 artists.

Locations: Sabancı University Kasa Gallery, ITU MIAM Gallery, Bahcesehir University and Arka Oda İstanbul 

For more information: https://www.facebook.com/distopyasoundartfestivalistanbul2019/

http://dystopie-festival.net 

Event Supporters: Goethe-Institut, Sabancı Üniversitesi, İstanbul Teknik Üniversitesi, MIAM, Bahçeşehir Üniversitesi 

The BBC has revealed its list of 100 inspiring and from around the world for 2019.

This year 100 Women is asking: what would the future look like if it were driven by women? Sabancı University Engineering and Natural Sciences Faculty Member Zehra Sayers is the only Turkish scientist in BBC's 100 women of 2019 list. 

Zehra Sayers has been hailed as a beacon of hope for the Middle East (Nature journal) for her success in her contribution to bringing scientists from eight Middle Eastern countries together.   

During her 15-year tenure as chair of the Science Advisory Committee of SESAME project, she worked with a group of scientists- including those from Israel, Palestine, Turkey and Cyprus - under the same roof to found a CERN-like laboratory. She SHARED the prestigious 2019 Award for Science Diplomacy for the feat. 

BBC 100 Women

BBC 100 Women names 100 influential and inspirational women around the World every year. Established in 2013 as an annual series, we create documentaries, features, investigations and interviews about their lives, giving more space for stories that put women at the centre.

"Women Leaders in Clean Energy, Science and Technology" international conference organized by Sabancı University Istanbul International Energy and Climate Center (IICEC), Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum (CGFT) and Hello Tomorrow Turkey brought together the leading names in Turkey and the world.

In her opening speech, Sabancı University Founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees Güler Sabancı stated that “Clean energy is at the center of the transition to a less carbon-intensive and more sustainable energy system. Technology and innovation are critical factors at this junction. We have to focus on women’s role in this respect and that’s why we have gathered together today. I have always believed that; to live up our potential and contribute to our society, we, as women and men, all deserve the same fair opportunities.” Ms. Sabancı said that women still constitute less than half of the workforce in clean energy, science and technology and they are not adequately represented at decision-making levels. And added: “In the energy sector, women make up 20% of the workforce. This number is relatively better off in clean energy with 32%, perhaps, reflecting women’s preferences for sustainability! In oil and gas this number drops to 22%. Furthermore, half of the women employed in energy sector work in administrative jobs. The ratio of women in STEM-related jobs is only 8.9%. In a nut shell, energy sector remains to be the most gender imbalanced sector with respect to the work force.”

Güler Sabancı pointed out that women's representation at the position of leadership is worse. Ms. Sabancı added “For example, in 2017, in the Ministerial Meeting held under IEA, of the 39 countries there were only 4 women in the top jobs. In 2018, among the top global 100 oil and gas company, only one had a female CEO whereas women constituted only 15% of senior management positions. In Turkish energy sector, the figures are similar to the global facts. Women constitute 24% of the energy workforce whilst they hold 17% of the managerial roles. I firmly believe that a clean energy transition that the world urgently needs will only materialize with a greater participation of women who can introduce fresh perspectives and innovative business models. Studies show that as women tend to include others more in decision making, they create better incentives and work environment and also manages risks better.”

Ms. Sabancı also said “Studies also suggest that gender diversity specifically in energy sector increases profits and generates efficiencies. With these in mind, several initiatives on clean energy and renewables contribute and support the empowerment of women. Women receive 50% of university degrees in OECD countries but only 30% are related to science and technology. Only by looking at the graduates of the STEM fields, we can say that, gender inequality starts at the school level. According to the United Nations figure, while women make up 52% of the world population, women researchers in science only account for 30%. It is clear that there is a serious room for improvement at every level and at every industry.

From our perspective, we, as the Sabancı Group, have always been the pioneer and a model in gender equality. One out of four managerial positions is held by women in our energy companies. One out of three white collar worker is also women. Not enough, but on the right direction. Sabancı Holding is the first Turkish signatory of UN’s  Women Empowerment Principles. Beyond that, Sabancı Foundation supports society-wide and business focused programs that promote gender equality. These figures and initiatives show our sincere commitment to the cause.” 

At the opening of the conference titled “Women Leaders in Clean Energy, Science and Technology” Dr. Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the International Energy Agency (IEA) addressed the participants with a video message. Fatih Birol stated that the issue of promoting gender equality in the energy sector is one of the top three issues in the modernization strategy initiated when he was elected as the IEA President 4 years ago. 

Dr. Birol stated “today when we look at the entire workforce we see that the share of women is close to 50% (exactly 49%) but in the traditional energy the share of female experts, staff is only 25%. When you look at the renewable energies, which you may think would be much higher it is only one third. If you look at the management levels the numbers are even poorer in terms of women’s participation. At the International Energy Agency since four years as a result of the modernization efforts we now see the number of female staff came to, as of now, 49% from much lower levels. In terms of senior management the share of women increased substantially at the International Energy Agency. Why we do this is not only fairness, which is very important, but we all know (I experienced this in the last four years) it provides much better results, brings us to better decision-making system.  At the international level we have built a dedicated program to gender equality.”

Melanie Kenderdine, Energy Futures Initiative Principal and Former Chief Advisor of the US Secretary of Energy, delivered a presentation titled “Why Should We Increase Women's Place in the Energy Sector?” Ms. Kenderdine said “the share of women among the leaders is only 17% in the energy sector. This ratio is lower in automotive, transportation, industrial production and infrastructure. However, according to statistics, women have more leadership positions in companies that provide better financial performance.” Melanie Kenderdine drew attention to the salary difference between women and men working at the same position. Ms. Kenderdine added" among OECD countries salary differences between gender is 36.6% in South Korea, 20.1% in Turkey, 17.9% in the US, 5.6% in New Zealand.”  

Women leaders shared inspiring stories at the conference. There were four panels after the opening speeches. The Panel I. titled “Problems, Barriers & Opportunities for Women’s Contribution” was moderated by Dr. Melsa Ararat, Director, Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum and the panelists were: Celia García-Baños, Policy and Socioeconomics Associate Programme Officer, International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA); Canan Özsoy, President and CEO, GE Turkey; Dr. Joni Seager, Maurice E. Goldman Distinguished Professor in Arts and Sciences, Global Studies, Bentley University; Elif Düşmez Tek, Executive Committee Member, Deloitte Turkey.  The second panel named “Best Practices, Policies & Solutions” was moderated by Managing Partner, Egon Zehnder London Ms. Çağla Bekbolet, and the panelists were Martha Broad, Executive Director, MITEI; Brigitte Dierckx, Vice-President of Environmental & Social Responsibility (ESR), ENGIE MESCAT; Dr. Selda Günsel, Vice President of Global Commercial Technology, Shell; Diva Moriani, Executive Vice Chairman, Intek Group SpA, Vice Chairman, KME AG; Dr. Laura E. Stachel, Executive Director & Co-founder, ‘We Care Solar’. The next panel titled “Research and Technology Startups”was moderated by Timur Topalgökçeli, Founder & Head, Hello Tomorrow Turkey and the distinguished panelists were: Cristina Aleixendri Muñoz, Co-Founder & COO, Bound4Blue; Dr. Senem Avaz, CTO, Nanomattr; Netra Gowda, Chief of Staff to the Digital Transformation Officer, Airbus; Dr. Cécile Monteil, Founder, Eppocrate Community; Bel Pesce, Founder of FazINOVA and Bestselling Author. The conference was concluded with a Wrap up session with the moderation of Dr. M. Doğan Üçok, Coordinator of IICEC and the moderators of the previous panels.

FENS Faculty Member Devrim Gözüaçık's European project in collaboration with scientists in Canada, Spain and Norway on the development of an original and targeted drug for the development of a nanotechnological drug against stroke and brain injury was found successful and decided to be supported within the scope of ERA-NET Program.

ERA-NET Cofund under Horizon 2020 is a type of programme co-fund action designed to support public-public partnerships, including joint programming initiatives between Member States, in their preparation, establishment of networking structures, design, implementation and coordination of joint activities as well as Union topping-up of a trans-national call for proposals.

The Sabancı University Professional Graduate Programs Commencement will be held on Saturday, October 19, 2019. We stream our Commencement live on YouTube. 

Candidates will graduate from the Sabancı University Information Technology, Energy Technology and Management, Cyber Security, Data Analytics, Masters in Finance, MBA, Professional MBA, and Executive MBA programs.

Introductory remarks will be made by Sabancı University President Yusuf Leblebici and Güler Sabancı, Founding Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Sabancı University 

Gül Ulutaş and Zeynep Bahar Çelik will be speaking on behalf of graduates, and Alumni Association.

Date: Saturday, October 19, 2019

Time:  

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM Registration and Gowns Received

6:30 PM                 Audience Entry

7:00 PM                 Commencement Ceremony

8:00 PM – 10:00 PM  Refreshments

Place:    Sabancı University Performing Arts Center

The "Board Membership Nomination Processes Search Conference" was held on Thursday, October 3, 2019 at Boyner Holding as part of the 30% Club Campaign conducted by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum. The moderator of the event was Sabancı University Search Chair Oğuz Babüroğlu.

Attending were 25 independent woman directors who hold positions on the boards of publicly-traded companies in different sectors.

Boyner Holding Vice President of Human Resources Emek Yurdanur delivered introductory remarks. Yurdanur said, “We at Boyner Holding support every initiative for equal opportunity. I am a firm supporter of equal opportunity in our own companies as well. Forty percent of our employees are women. It is a challenge to find and retain woman employees in the retail sector. That is why we have positive promotion and wage prospects and offer equality of opportunity."

Melsa Ararat said Nomination Committees were non-functional

Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum Director Melsa Ararat said that the event was the continuation of the previous search conference. Ararat explained that the 2018 conference was held with members of company boards that consisted solely of men, and the outcomes were shared with the public in the 2018 Independent Woman Directors Conference. 

Melsa Ararat said that the number of woman directors was not improving at the expected rate, continuing, “The inclusion of more independent woman directors on boards will ensure that companies are managed with consideration for the interests of various stakeholders, but the rate og improvement in Turkey is too slow. We decided to work on the matter of nomination since we have observed that non-functional nomination committees are a critical obstacle."

Ararat said that the outputs of the meeting would provide input to the EBRD project on increasing the ratio of woman directors on company boards. Ararat further explained that the 30% Club, under the direction of the Forum, is part of the project.

Oğuz Babüroğlu said that the focus points of the meeting would be the appointment process and experiences during board membership. 

With the second version of the series, Recipher II introduces new works created within the course of Sabancı University VA345 Creative Coding class in 2019. VA345 Creative Coding, which has been taught in Visual Arts and Visual Communication Design Program since 2018, aims to use coding as a tool in artistic creativity by treating coding as a conceptual constituent.

At RECIPHER2, Adnan Burak Ayaz, Arda Semercioğlu,  Azra Yaprak Müldür, Berk Emre Sarıbaş, Berk Tunç, Elif Rahmiye Külünk, Emir Suat Darman, Gamze Öcal, Irmak Pehlivan, İsmet Baran Sürücü, Kayra Ezgi Topkara, Mine Gündüz, Naz Neyir Bektaş, Nazif Can Akçalı, Tamara Elif Kozok, Yunus Şamil Yavuz's works are presented. RECIPHER2 Exhibition is curated by Selçuk Artut, designed by Ezgi Yılmaz and Tuğrul Veli Şalcı.

As in the first series, the Recipher II exhibition aims to rebuild the bridges that have been forgotten between the present and the past, reaching deep into the vast realms of art. In the second series exhibited presently, the Russian Avant-garde period, known for its proximity to the Futurism Art Movement (which was the theme of the previous exhibition) is closely elaborated. At the beginning of the 20th century, in the light of global political turmoil and rapid industrial developments, The Russian Avant guard gave birth to a series of controversial art movements such as Constructivism, Suprematism and Cubo-futurism in which the artists produced influential interdisciplinary artworks in painting, sculpture, cinema, graphic design, architecture. Among the most important artists of the period are Alexandra Exter, Natalia Goncharova, El Lissitzky, Kazimir Malevich, Vladimir Mayakovsky, Lyubov Popova, Alexandr Rodchenko, Olga Rozanova, Dziga Vertov, Vladimir Tatlin, Wassily Kandinsky and David Burliuk. 

Within the scope of the exhibition, the contributing artists made investigative interpretations on the works of the Russian Avant-garde from different angles and perspectives with utilizing the computer codes that they have authentically produced. Occasionally, it is observed that the contents processed in both Suprematism and Constructivism are derived from an abstract consideration of color and form as building blocks of art. This attitude is evident at every opportunity in today's generative arts. From this point of view, Recipher II underlines that today's computer art does not emerge from anything, and moreover sheds light on the historical process of generative algorithmic art.

Sabancı University Istanbul International Center for Energy and Climate (IICEC), which brings together key stakeholders in energy and climate issues and provides an exclusive platform for analytical and objective research, exchange of ideas and information on the prominent issues in the sector, continues to host important names of the sector in line with this objective to disclose new research on prominent issues in the energy system.

On 26 th September 2019, IICEC hosted one of the world leading universities “MIT Energy Initiative” researcher Dr. Emre Gençer within the scope of IICEC Energy and Climate Research Series to present his research titled “Exploring the Rapidly Changing Energy System”.

“Within the scope of new dynamics in energy, a broad technology portfolio is needed.”

The research points out that the development and transformation of the energy system emphasizes more interaction between the electricity, transportation and industrial sectors, and in addition to the existing dynamics within the scope of new dynamics, innovative modeling studies and new approaches for system-level analysis are needed. This research focuses on the electricity sector and hydrogen technology, which are important in terms of reducing carbon density while simultaneously meeting the increase in demand in the energy sector, and points to the importance of data-supported analytical approaches in which the energy system is handled holistically. This analytical study, in which a detailed modeling of the California energy system is presented as a case study, sheds light on the technological and operational dynamics of the emerging energy system.

Dr. Emre Gençer stated that the developments so far achieved in areas such as renewable energy and energy efficiency are important in terms of reducing the carbon footprint in the energy sector and drew attention to the importance of technological developments in areas other than the electricity system.

Dr. Gençer pointed out the importance of the use of hydrogen as a new energy carrier, and with the efficient use of hydrogen along with CCS technology, hydrocarbon fuels can be utilized in a more sustainable way.

Dr. Emre Gençer pointed out that they examined the main vectors of energy conversion in detail within the scope of the modeling system they developed. Dr. Gençer emphasized the need for a comprehensive technology portfolio and holistic modeling approaches that take into account regional characteristics within the dynamics of increasing demand for energy, access to energy and reducing carbon intensity.

Innovative approaches to market design are important as well as technological developments.

After the presentation of Dr. Emre Gençer, Retired fGeneral Manager of Energy Affairs rom MENR, Burak Dilli, and Director of SHURA, Dr. Değer Saygın joined the panel as speakers.

In his speech Budak Dilli pointed out that the transformation in energy requires innovative approaches also in terms of market and system operation. “Designing the transition period is very important. From a sustainability perspective, work is needed on innovative approaches that address energy security and cost aspects. In this context, I consider it important to focus on areas such as market design and operation, and system operation.”

Pointing out that the energy sector is very important in terms of global carbon emissions and sharing important findings from IRENA studies, Dr. Değer Saygın expressed his views as follows: “In addition to power sector, other elements of the energy system requires decarbonization. In addition to renewable energy, energy efficiency as well as carbon capture and storage technologies which are in the process of development are of great importance in terms of reducing carbon density. Furthermore, technological advances in hydrogen production and use in the energy sector, market design and financing also need to be improved.

IICEC Director Carmine Difiglio said: “Sabancı University and the MIT Energy Initiative have a long standing relationship with each other beginning with its Founding Director (and former U.S. Energy Secretary), Professor Ernest Moniz.  Therefore it was a special pleasure to have Dr. Emre Gençer, from the MIT Energy Initiative, at the Minerva Palace to discuss the transition to a clean energy future.  Dr. Gençer’s paper and presentation contained some sobering messages about the slow uptake of key technologies needed to prevent severe climate change.  This was in line with IEA Executive Director Dr. Fatih Birol’s recent statement at Sabancı University, that “out of 45 clean energy technologies only 3 are on track and the rest are underperforming compared to their potential.”  Dr. Gençer stressed the need to use hydrogen as a new energy carrier.  We can still use our hydrocarbon fuels, Gençer said, by using the hydrogen and sequestering the carbon.”

IICEC Research Director Bora Şekip Güray stated that the analytical modelling approaches are an important tool for understanding of the new dynamics in the energy system and the interactions among the sub-sectors as well as development of efficient technology solutions for the sustainable energy future and stated that as Sabanci University IICEC is carrying out important studies in this field.

The Sabancı University Ankara Project Office held an event titled "Sabancı University Leads Digital Technologies: Cyber Security, Cryptology, Blockchain".

Speakers of the event were TÜBİTAK BİLGEM Vice President Ali Görçin, public e-transformation expert Mustafa Afyonluoğlu and Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (FENS) member Erdinç Öztürk, and participants included Türksat General Manager Cenk Sen, TÜBİTAK BİLGEM Cyber Security Institute Director Mustafa Dayıoğlu, representatives of Aselsan and Havelsan, and members of other public and private organizations on digital technologies.

The event included a panel discussion with Sabancı University FENS members Selim Balcısoy, Albert Levi, Erkay Savaş, Kamer Kaya and Erdinç Öztürk sharing recent developments in cyber security.

Delivering introductory remarks, Ankara Project Office Manager Elif Tepeli said that the objective of the event was to bring Sabancı University researchers together with ecosystem stakeholders in Ankara to improve collaboration opportunities. Sabancı University President Yusuf Leblebici said that Sabancı University will be involved in national and international joint efforts with the industry in the future, and that they will continue similar events and meetings with industry stakeholders. The members of Sabancı Group company Sabancı DX and the Sabancı University Executive Development Unit (EDU) also attended the event.