Our Alumni Hakan Osman Çaldağ’s paper promoted as Editor's Pick in journal Physics of Fluids

Our Alumni Hakan Osman Çaldağ’s paper promoted as Editor's Pick in journal Physics of Fluids

Sabancı University Mechatronics Engineering PhD 2020 alumni Hakan Osman Çaldağ’s paper has been regarded as noteworthy by the editors of the prestigious fluid mechanics journal Physics of Fluids and promoted as Editor's Pick in the September 2020 issue.

Hakan Osman Çaldağ

Hakan Osman Çaldağ's paper is based on a part of his PhD thesis work supervised by FENS Member Serhat Yeşilyurt and titled “Acoustic radiation forces on magnetically actuated helical swimmers”. In this article, Caldag investigated the effects of acoustic fields on the trajectories and velocities of artificial helical swimmers by introducing a computationally efficient method, called chain-of-spheres, to calculate the acoustic radiation force acting on the swimmers.



Inspired by the flagellated bacteria in the nature such as E. coli, artificial helical microswimmers have potential medical application areas such as drug delivery to tissues and organs, opening of clogged arteries and microsurgery. Since the dimensions of the swimmers go as low as nanometers, one cannot place on-board actuation mechanisms such as motors. That’s why these swimmers are actuated by external means. When the helical swimmers are coated with a magnetic material, they can rotate under a rotating magnetic field and this results in net propulsion. However, magnetically actuated swimmers exhibit several instabilities such as wobbling, tracing helical trajectories and asynchronization with the magnetic field that severely impact the swimming performance. In the article, acoustic waves are proposed to overcome these issues. Acoustic waves are used often in the medicine and they have no harm to the human body. Thus, they can be used alongside the rotating magnetic fields which are harmless to the humans as well. The effect of the acoustic waves on the swimmers manifest itself through what is called acoustic radiation force. However, the evaluation of this force through the traditional means such as the finite-element modelling requires high amounts of computer memory and the solution takes several minutes. In this study, a new analytic approach, called chain-of-spheres, is developed and the radiation force acting on the swimmer can be calculated in seconds with low memory usage at high accuracy. In this approach, the helical structure is approximated as a chain of spheres and the total force acting on the helical structure is found equal to the sum of the forces acting on the spheres which can be calculated analytically. This modelling approach is coupled with the simulation model of the helical swimmer under magnetic actuation and swimming under magnetic and acoustic fields is investigated. It is observed that the travelling acoustic waves enhance the swimming velocity and decrease wobbling whereas the standing wave fields can be utilized for keeping the swimmer stationary at a unique position depending on its geometry.

Turkey's leading nanotechnology centers SUNUM and ITUnano sign cooperation protocol

Turkey's leading nanotechnology centers SUNUM and ITUnano sign cooperation protocol

Turkey's leading nanotechnology centers SUNUM and ITUnano signed a bilateral cooperation protocol. The protocol signed between Sabancı University Nanotechnology Research and Application Center (SUNUM) and Istanbul Technical University Nanotechnology Application and Research Center (ITUnano) aims to develop advanced technologies that will generate value for the industry through joint infrastructure use and experience sharing between the centers. 

Advanced nanotechnology solutions that will emerge from the SUNUM and ITUnano partnership are expected to shape the future of industries from energy to medicine, food and defense. 

SUNUM Direktörü Prof.  Fazilet Vardar ile ITUnano müdürü Prof.  Levent Trabzon’un katılımıyla düzenlenen online törende, iki merkez arasındaki işbirliğinin önemi hakkında Fazilet Vardar şunları söyledi: “Upholding SUNUM's fundamental mission of 'creating universally-accepted solutions in areas congruent with Turkey's economic and technological policies', we aim to create long-term partnerships that will lead to effective inter/multidisciplinary research and development. We believe that the cooperation with ITUnano will create a synergy between the centers that will transform knowledge generated by research into value-added products and services which benefit the society. We hope that the cooperation will advance Turkey's industry and technology.” Levent Trabzon had the following to say about the partnership: “ITUnano’s core approach of ‘quality R&D through teamwork’ is the principle behind the scientific and technological partnership with SUNUM, one of Turkey's leading centers, for synergy in academic pursuits as well as the development of value-added products for the industry. We expect the bilateral partnership to contribute to the creation of a qualified workforce that Turkey and its industry need, and the development of highly valuable products.” 

About SUNUM

Established under Sabancı University in 2010 with a budget of 35 million USD committed by the State Planning Organization and Sabancı Foundation, SUNUM was accredited as a "National Research Infrastructure" by the Ministry of Development's Research Infrastructure Council for a term of five years in 2017. As a National Research Infrastructure, SUNUM has open laboratories that are available 24/7 for serving the institution as well as external partners in the core capabilities of: research, service, cooperation, value creation, and education. Its main areas of research are: nanomaterials, life sciences, food-agriculture-water, energy, and defense industry.

The SUNUM facility houses 25 laboratories in six classifications and a total area of 1.500 square meters, which are equipped with high-precision, state-of-the-art equipment for nanotechnology. 

About ITUnano

Established with the support of the State Planning Organization, the Istanbul Technical University Nanotechnology Application and Research Center – ITUnano has a 1000-m2 cleanroom (including lab and support units). The ultra-cleanroom environment complies with ISO 14644-1 requirements and is equipped with the technology to perform nanotechnology research. The facility is composed of a 50 m2 ISO 5 (class 100) cleanroom, a 167 m2 ISO 6 (class 1000) cleanroom, a 3 m2 ISO 7 (class 10000) cleanroom, a 10 m2 ISO 8 (class 100000) cleanroom, and 770 m2 of infrastructure (machinery room). ITUnano works on 4 core themes that target the engineering applications of nanotechnology. Research and development efforts that are innovative on a global level focus on Composite Material Technologies, Sensor Technologies, Surface Science and Engineering, and Photonic-Magnetic Materials.

Project receives funding for COVID-19 response and resilience

Project receives funding for COVID-19 response and resilience

TÜBİTAK has launched two separate calls through ARDEB and TEYDEB for the "COVID-19 Response and Resilience Program" initiated by Development Agencies under the coordination of Ministry of Industry and Technology General Directorate of Development Agencies for projects developed by universities and the private sector that have R&D potential. Submissions to the calls were evaluated in only 15 days via online panels and meetings. The call has resulted in approximately 7 million TL support for 21 projects.

One of the 8 projects to be supported under the ARDEB group is “Automated Image Recognition System for Detection of COVID-19 Infection Using Computed Tomography̧” where Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences (FENS) Member Professor Berrin Yanıkoğlu is implementer, and Associate Professor Fatih Gülşen, Associate Professor Onur Tutar and Assistant Professor Bora Korkmazer from Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine and Dr. Hümbet Nasibli, Alper Aker and Oğuzhan Acar from TÜBİTAK National Metrology Institute (UME) are researchers. Other researchers in the project are Sabancı University PhD candidates Sara Atito Ali Ahmed, M. Umut Şen and Mehmet Can Yavuz, and Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine residents Dr. Sabri Şirolu, Dr. Ali Ergun Eryürekli, Dr. Toghrul Mammadov and Dr. Rauf Hamid.   

  

Due to the long processing times of PCR tests and high occurrence of negatives in the early stages of the disease, computed thoracic tomography (CT) scans are considered as an avenue for diagnosis.

The system developed under Berrin Yanıkoğlu as implementer aims to analyze CT scans automatically and identify lung afflictions within seconds. This will enable effective disinfection of CT equipment and reduction of internal contagion. The system to be developed will be installed in the Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine within 6 months.

Sabancı University is in the “QS Top Universities Under 50" rankings

Sabancı University is in the “QS Top Universities Under 50" rankings

“QS (Quacquarelli Symonds) Top Universities Under 50" rankings were revealed. The system uses the same methodology as the QS World University Rankings to determine the top universities under 50 years of age.  Sabancı University ranked between 81st and 90th. 

The QS methodology is heavily based on reputation, which accounts for 50% of the total score and enables younger universities to compare their visibility and outreach. The "Under 50" rankings evaluates universities on six indicators based on four criteria determined to be relevant to prospective students, namely research, teaching quality, employability and international outlook. 

Four of the indicators are based on “hard” data, and the remaining two on major global surveys – one of academics and another of employers. The weight of the indicators based on hard data are 20% for student-to-faculty ratio; 20% for citations per faculty; 5% for international faculty ratio and 5% for international student ratio.  The weight of the survey indicators are 40% academic reputation and 10% for employer reputation. 

The Turkish institutions among the 150 young universities worldwide were Sabancı University as well as Koç Universities in the 61st-70th range, and Bilkent University in the 81st-90th range. 3 Turkish universities were included in the rankings.

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences' Horizon2020 Project receives European Commission grant

Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences' Horizon2020 Project receives European Commission grant

A project in which the Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences is a partner is to receive funding from the Horizon2020 Program.

The Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences has received funding for 8 Horizon2020 projects so far, becoming the most successful Turkish institution in its field.

A project in which Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Dean and Faculty Member Professor Meltem Müftüler-Baç won funding in the last call of the Horizon2020 Program's Social Sciences and Humanities area. The "ENGAGE- Ensuring Good Global Governance for the European Union" project is designed to support the European Commission's objective to achieve a more influential and unified European foreign policy around the world. The project is coordinated by Spain-based ESADE and has 13 partners from 10 countries. The Sabancı University research team consists of Professor Meltem Müftüler-Baç, Professor Senem Aydın-Düzgit, and Dr. Ezgi Uzun.

Professor Meltem Müftüler-Baç is also a consortium partner to the Migration Governance and Asylum Crises (MAGYC) and Integrating Diversity in the European Union (InDivEU) projects supported within the 2018 call of the Horizon2020 Program's Social Sciences and Humanities area. In addition to her project research partnership and work packet leadership in the two ongoing projects as well as the new ENGAGE project, Professor Müftüler-Baç is a member of the Advisory Board of the Horizon2020 program's FEUTURES (2016-2019) and EU-List (2018-2021) projects.

Virus sources traced back to China, North America, Australia and Europe

Virus sources traced back to China, North America, Australia and Europe

Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Faculty Member Ogün Adebali and his team studied the spread and evolutionary background of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Turkey. The study revealed that the novel coronavirus entered Turkey from several sources independently. 

Sabancı University Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Faculty Member Ogün Adebali and his team consisting of Sabancı University students Aylin Bircan, Burak İşlek, Berkay Selçuk, Zeynep Kılınç, Berk Turhan and Defne Çirci studied the evolutionary background, mutations and spread of the SARS-CoV-2 virus in Turkey. 

Designed to understand the pathways and mutations of the virus, the study conducted phylogenetic analyses of 15277 virus genomes worldwide, 30 of which were sequenced in Turkey.

The virus may have entered Turkey before the official first case date
The analysis suggests that the SARS-CoV-2 virus may have entered Turkey before the date on which the first case was officially identified.

The virus had been classified into types L and S in a previous study, and 29 of the 30 genomes sequenced in Turkey were found to be type L. A genome isolated one week after the first official case was determined to be an intermediary form between the S type, or hereditary, virus, and the L-type virus that is thought to have emerged later and spread in Europe, which may indicate that the virus entered Turkey before the officially identified date.

It also revealed that the virus genomes in Turkey are not limited to a specific cluster, showing that the virus had multiple, independent points of entry. Nevertheless, two genome clusters are more widespread in Turkey. 

Virus entry from North America, Australia and Europe
Ogün Adebali and his team checked genomes sequenced since December 2019 and observed that 2 mutations occurred per month on average. The phylogenetic distribution of the 30 genomes showed that the virus had been introduced from China, North America, Australia and Europe. Viruses linked to the virus types circulating in Saudi Arabia were identified in two cities. The study showed that the European-based viruses were the most prevalent in Istanbul. Genomes in 5 different cities in Turkey were found to be linked to Ankara. 

Researchers stated that a greater number of sequenced genomes would be required to run further and more comprehensive analysis of the spread and evolution of the virus.

SARS-CoV-2 Epidemiology Interface is now online on the TÜBİTAK COVID-19 portal. As new genomes become available, infection pathways originating from Turkey will be added to the application.

The study, supported by EMBO, TÜBİTAK and Academy of Science, will be published in the COVID-19 special issue of Turkish Journal of Biology. The pre-print version of the paper is available.

Project Team 

The project team is led by Faculty Member Ogün Adebali and includes Sabancı University Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering Program PhD students Aylin Bircan and Burak İşlek; MSc student Berkay Selçuk; Molecular Biology, Genetics and Bioengineering - Computer Science and Engineering Double Major students Zeynep Kılınç and Berk Turhan; and Material Science and Nanoengineering - Computer Science and Engineering Double Major student Defne Çirci.

CDP Turkey celebrates its 10th year

CDP Turkey celebrates its 10th year

The 2019 Turkey results of CDP, implemented in Turkey by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum Since 2010, were announced to the public at the "CDP Turkey Climate Change 10th Year Conference" held online on Tuesday, June 9, 2020.

The keynote speaker of the conference was Mayor of Istanbul, Ekrem İmamoğlu.

CDP, the world's largest environmental reporting platform whose Turkish leg is implemented by the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum, celebrated its 10th year in Turkey with the CDP Turkey Climate Change 10th Year Conference held online on Tuesday, June 9, 2020. Presented in the conference were the annual work of CDP Turkey, whose main sponsor is Garanti BBVA and reporting sponsor is Deloitte Turkey, as well as the CDP Climate Change and Water Program 2019 Turkey Results and CDP Turkey Leaders.

Introductory remarks were given by Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum Director and Chief Researcher Melsa Ararat and Garanti BBVA Assistant General Manager Ebru Dildar Edin.

Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum Director and Chief Researcher Melsa Ararat said, "We introduced the CDP project to Turkey 10 years ago. We began by helping companies realize climate change risks and manage them. We regularly reviewed the data and information companies disclosed through the CDP platform to analyze how they manage risks and opportunities, see change over time, and identify trends. We shared results publicly. Today, Turkey is home to global leaders in the area of climate change. In ten years, climate change will evolve into an organizational transformation theme where companies experience systemic risks and new ways of doing business, and adapt these experiences to other areas. The transformation will be a process with which companies that are sensitive to community and social impact, responsible towards all stakeholders, and view profitability as the natural outcome of an organized effort towards a social outcome will create the building blocks of an alternative economic and financial system."  

Garanti BBVA Assistant General Manager Ebru Dildar Edin said, “As climate change-related risks and opportunities rise in significance every day, we are delighted to celebrate the 10th year of the world's largest environmental reporting platform CDP in Turkey. We have been among the greatest supporters of CDP since it began in Turkey in 2011. We have only 10 years left to limit the rise of temperature to 1.5 degrees. If we were to make the mistake of going back to the old, linear model of profit- and growth-focused economy, we will lose at least 2 or 3 years, and the decisions we will have to make to offset the lost time will be more radical and challenging. What we need to do as businesses is to take action together, immediately. With this responsibility in mind, we committed to reducing our carbon emissions by 71% until 2035, which is in line with 1.5 degrees as stated by the CDP initiative Science Based Targets. We understand the urgency of climate change and plan to achieve and even exceed this target by the end of 2020. We contribute to Turkey's fight against climate change and transition to a low-carbon economy with innovative financing models that encourage sustainable business models. We would like to thank all companies that report to CDP Turkey and play their part in this fight, and wish for many more 10 years where we turn targets into actions."

KEYNOTE SPEAKER MAYOR OF ISTANBUL EKREM İMAMOĞLU

After introductory remarks, the keynote speaker was Mayor of Istanbul Ekrem İmamoğlu. Ekrem İmamoğlu said, "The world expects care and respect from us. As the relationship of humans to nature is reimagined with the spur of the pandemic, the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality decided to join the C40 Climate Leadership Group for the first time. This was very well received. We signed a protocol that envisions respect for nature and humans, and joint struggle against climate change. We also made a commitment to implement all aspects of the fight against climate change by the end of 2021. We are taking action in all areas. We will establish an Istanbul Planning Agency in Florya, which will have a section that we call Vision 2050. We plan to do this entirely transparently. The fight against climate change dominates our roadmap in this regard. I would like to thank Sabancı University for their contribution through CDP Turkey."

CDP CLIMATE CHANGE AND WATER PROGRAM 2019 TURKEY RESULTS ANNOUNCED

Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum - CDP Turkey Projects Director Mirhan Köroğlu Göğüş shared the details of the CDP Climate Change and Water Program 2019 Turkey Results Report. Mirhan Köroğlu Göğüş stated, “This crisis showed us once again how important resilience is to supply chains and business models. Measuring, managing and transparently disclosing environmental risks are essential for the preparedness of companies against all systemic risks that may occur. So it is even more important for companies and cities to continue reporting even during and after the pandemic. We at CDP will continue to work to ensure that reporting processes flow smoothly." Mirhan Köroğlu Göğüş also noted the increase in the number of high-performing Turkish companies on CDP's global rankings, saying that the increase showed not only the growth in the number of Turkish companies that report, but also the improvement in reporting quality over the years.  

CDP TURKEY LEADERS AWARDS PRESENTED

CDP has developed one of the most reliable rating methodologies in the world. All companies that report to CDP from around the world are evaluated according to this global methodology. In 2019, seven Turkish respondents were in the leadership category. These seven companies received their “CDP Turkey Leaders” awards at the CDP Turkey Climate Change 10th Year Conference.

Speaking at the ceremony, TÜSİAD Chair Simone Kaslowski said, “It is a great pleasure to present awards to our companies in the 10th year of the excellent platform that is CDP Turkey. These companies fulfill another critical mission by helping to spread awareness as well. I wish their continued success and congratulate them for their outstanding contributions."

Eti Soda was among the 72 Global leaders rated A in the CDP Water Program, and became Global Water LeaderCDP Turkey Climate Leaders were Arçelik, Aselsan, Brisa Bridgestone, Migros and Tekfen Holding, while CDP Turkey Water Leaders were Tekfen Holding and Yapı Kredi Bank. Brisa was also the only Turkish company to be rated A and included among global leaders in CDP’s newly-launched Supplier Engagement Rating (SER) category.

CDP TURKEY LEADERS PANEL HELD

A panel was held with the participation of CDP leader companies after the award ceremony. The moderator of the panel was Sabancı University Faculty Member and Research Chair Oğuz Babüroğlu. Panelists were Brisa Bridgestone CEO Cevdet Alemdar, Tekfen Holding Board of Directors Chair Murat Gigin and Migros Chief Executive Officer Özgür Tort.

Panelists discussed their ways of handling climate change as a strategic issue in the last 10 years, the changes they underwent in the process, and the opportunities those changes brought.

CDP Turkey 2019 Climate Change Report findings

 

Sabancı University leads QS Executive MBA Rankings

Sabancı University leads QS Executive MBA Rankings

Sabancı University Executive MBA program (EMBA) advanced by 5 positions to 66th place on QS Global Executive MBA Rankings, and became the only Turkish university in the top 100. 


The Executive MBA professional master's program offered by the Sabancı Business School ranked 31st among European schools. Only two Turkish universities were included in the rankings with Sabancı University leading. 

The rankings are open to business schools that have AACSB, AMBA, EQUIS or EPAS accreditation, and included 161 EMBA programs this year.  The QS world rankings ranks EMBA programs according to their score in 9 categories which include criteria like career development and wage increase, reviews of employers and academics, and number of woman students.

Sabancı Business School Dean Professor Nihat Kasap said, “At Sabancı University, we develop MBA programs along the university's vision of international research, which will ultimately train highly qualified people for the world of business. This is one reason why the Executive MBA program is of great value to its participants, for which we are proud to have international recognition."

Please visit the link below for the full QS Global EMBA Rankings 2020: https://www.topmba.com/emba-rankings/global/2020

Our student is among 6 students from Turkey taking part in the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference

Our student is among 6 students from Turkey taking part in the Apple Worldwide Developers Conference

Sabancı University 2nd year student Ali Eren Ak was among the 6 students from Turkey eligible to participate in the 155-billion-dollar Apple developer ecosystem this year. 

The Apple Worldwide Developer Conference brings together millions of creative and innovative developers from around the world to provide insight into the future of Apple platforms to its users. Prior to the beginning of the WWDC on June 22, the results of the Swift Student Challenge held by Apple for student developers to design their own Swift game spaces were announced. 

Sabancı University 2nd year student Ali Eren Ak and his project "iSemanticSpace" were among the 6 winners of the Swift Student Challenge from Turkey, and were eligible to participate in the WWDC this year. The interview with Ali Eren Ak is below. 

Hello and congratulations. Can you tell us about yourself? What do you do at Sabancı University? What are your areas of interest?

A.E.K.: My name is Ali Eren and I was admitted to Sabancı University in 2018. I'm now in my second year. I'm planning a double major in Computer Engineering and Economics. I developed an interest in coding and computer science during the prep year. I took online courses to improve myself. I was also working on blockchain during that year. My friends from Sabancı and I took part in Turkey's first blockchain hackathon as a team, and were among the finalists who presented their projects to the jury.

In addition to coding, I'm actively involved in the Music Club, CIP and IEEE at Sabancı University. I play drums in the Music Club. I am a social responsibility projects supervisor for CIP. One reason I joined CIP was to develop social responsibility projects in new technologies and coding to make a difference.

“We are trying to foster a culture of creating together”

I would also like to talk about the IEEE Engineering Club, where I was co-president of the Computer Society last year. I am an active member of IEEE, where we hold extracurricular activities, workshops and meetings to improve ourselves in the engineering areas of our interest. The friends I met at IEEE and the events we held greatly expanded my vision in my field. As club members, we take many courses together to help each other out in areas that may be difficult, and we are trying to foster a culture of creating together. These activities, in addition to the courses I took at Sabancı, were greatly effective in my personal development. 

How did you hear about Swift Student Challenge? What made you apply? 

A.E.K.: I started learning the Swift programming language to realize a few projects I had in mind. I looked into alternatives and decided that learning Swift was the most reasonable thing to do if I were to bring those projects to fruition. During the semester break of the 1st year, I took my first steps in Swift with a 72-hour Udemy course. This was my first encounter with iOS Development, and I liked the coding language in terms of both documentation and API. With the wide Framework network that Apple offers developers, there was no limit to what we could do using Swift. The break was over but I stuck with Swift, and I heard about the challenge in an email sent by Apple. I went over it and I decided that I could work on it in all of my free time even though it was finals week. The challenge was slightly higher on my list of priorities due to my interest in the Apple universe and Swift, and that is why I made time for it amidst the finals.  

Can you talk about your submitted project? 

A.E.K.: My experience in a project I joined for the PROJ 201 course in the first semester of my Freshman  year helped me to discover my interest in Natural Language Processing (NLP). My submission was about "Semantic Spaces", which is an area of NLP, where computers can recognize the meanings of words. I coded an educative, gamified interactive content where people could create their own word spaces. The project's aim was to visualize and explain the Semantic Space subject through gamification. The project was called "iSemanticSpace". 

What does it mean to be eligible for Swift Student Challenge? What are the facilities and perks offered by Apple? 

A.E.K.: Swift Student Challenge is a competition among students worldwide that has them compete against each other while learning about the ecosystem. I enjoy being a part of this ecosystem and I will be able to gain a closer look at the WWDC 2020 (Wordwide Developer Conference), which I am now eligible to join. Other winners and I wil have the chance to have 1:1 talks with over 1000 Apple engineers. It is a great chance to meet Apple Engineers and know more about Apple departments where I want to work in the future. The event would be normally held at Apple Park San Jose, but will be online this year due to Covid-19. Finally, I am eligible for a scholarship for Apple's 1-year Developer Program, where I can request technical support for my project ideas and publish my applications on App Store. 

You won Swift Student Challenge and participated in the four-day Apple Worldwide Developers Conference. What are your impressions of these four days?

A.E.K.: The conference began on June 22 with a presentation by Tim Cook. This was a public session where he spoke about updates to Apple products and new developments. It was a breathtaking presentation and it was particularly important for the ecosystem because Apple introduced its own ARM-based processor for Macs. The second session was “Platform State of Union”. Here, Apple introduced the new APIs for its own developers. One thing that was introduced in this section was App Clips, which works with NFC technology and camera code, that got me excited. Other than that, developments in SwiftUI and improvements to the LiDAR scanner were introduced to us for use in our own applications in the coming months. These extensions were quite exciting for the Swift community as well. 

The remaining days featured a number of presentations by Apple engineers on their own departments, and personal labs. I had submitted a reservation to the Location Technologies Lab for the first day to ask questions I had in mind, and received a confirmation in a few hours. This was something Apple offered Swift Student Challenge winners to have them meet with Apple engineers in labs of their choice. I made requests for 3 labs in total, and asked questions about the projects I am thinking on. I was impressed by how the question was viewed from different angles and the root cause was analyzed instead of simply focusing on a solution. For example, I could approach a problem I had with Apple's map APIs from the confidentiality perspective, which gave me a different view of the subject, and these aspects were the most satisfying. I had made a reservation for the Machine Learning Lab on the 4th day because it is an area that I am particularly interested in, and I was able to ask questions about my problem as well as the Lab in general. This was the most valuable part of the conference for me. Although having it online due to COVID-19 was a different experience for everyone, there were no technical issues. Nevertheless, I do intend to submit a project to WWDC21 and hopefully go to Apple Park this time. 

In addition to Labs, presentations were published online at developer.apple.com and each was delivered by an Apple engineer in their respective fields. I had the chance to see and experience the new extensions developed by Apple in the CreateML and Vision Frameworks (Action Classifier and Body Part Detection). I must say that the new extensions in these Frameworks are quite exciting. New features have been added to Apple's cross-platform interface API SwiftUI that it launched last year. I am particularly fond of the new extensions because of the practicality and the ability to view changes live on the screen while coding. Finally, because the event was online this year, all presentations other than personal Labs were free of charge and open to all developers. Anyone who wishes to know the Swift community and develop something in this ecosystem can join. The videos are available to everyone at https://developer.apple.com to tell more about this wonderful ecosystem. 

What are your plans ahead? What are your goals for university and beyond? 

A.E.K.: Although I haven't yet chosen a program at Sabancı University, I am thinking about double majoring in computer science and economics. I want to develop myself in a multidisciplinary way and pursue graduate education abroad at a good university. Right now my main areas of interest are Deep Learning and NLP, and I will be working on NLP for Sabancı University Undergraduate Projects (PURE) next summer. I want to keep working in this area after PURE and take any opportunities I may find. I plan to apply to research internships offered by companies like Apple, or an internship in a European Lab with an Erasmus+ program. The PROJ 201 course I took in my first semester, and my professors played a great part in shaping this career objective.

Student develops online platform for second-hand selling in universities

Student develops online platform for second-hand selling in universities

Sabancı University 1st year student Musa Sadık Ünal developed an online platform at salgitsin.com for university students to buy and sell second-hand items on campus and through a secure marketplace. The platform launched at Sabancı University and quickly reached more than 500 users. The platform is growing and expanding into other universities.

Sabancı University student Musa Sadık Ünal said the following about the platform: “We made an online marketplace for students to buy and sell second-hand items on campus. It is a secure marketplace because students have to create accounts using their university email addresses. They can then advertise books, electronic goods or household items they no longer need on Salgitsin. Other users who wish to purchase these items contact the seller through the platform. It provides a quick and reliable way to shop. The platform works on all devices. We invite everyone to take a look at salgitsin.com.”

App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/salgitsin/id1516801798?ls=1

Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.salgitsin.android.sl

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