Sabancı University is strengthening its place among universities that make a difference with its new Sustainability Minor Program. The first introduction event of the program, which stands out with its interdisciplinary feature, was held on December 2. In the event, which was held with the focus of the Water Buffalo Commons project, faculty members from three faculties shared their views. Puddings made of water buffalo milk were also served to the participants.
As leading universities around the world increasingly begin to include sustainability in their curricula, Sabancı University is also taking the lead in this regard, launching a Sustainability Minor Program. Designed with the joint contributions of Sabancı Business School, the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences, the program is planned to be declared in Spring 2025. Introduction activities about the program have been started quickly.
The first of the “Sustainability Events” series organized for the introduction of the program was held on Monday, December 2. The biodiversity-focused talk, moderated by Zafer Yenal from Sabancı Business School, covered the Water Buffalo Commons project, which is being carried out in collaboration with CLIMAVORE x Jameel at the Royal College of Art and the Culinary Arts Academy (MSA).
Sharing details about the Water Buffalo Commons project, which aims to protect wetlands that have been home and habitat for water buffalos for centuries in the northwest of Istanbul and to make pastoralist practices sustainable, Alon Schwabe pointed out the necessity of raising awareness and creating new business models.
Among the speakers, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Faculty Member Ayşe Özil spoke about the importance of looking at sustainability from a historical perspective in terms of collecting data and establishing an accurate, reliable, evidence-based, and comprehensive story. Drawing attention to the need to understand the issue of sustainability well, Özil emphasized that it is necessary to get support from history in order to establish a cause-and-effect relationship and to understand the changes in these relationships well. Referring to the Water Buffalo Commons project’s aim to increase wetlands, Özil also shared information on Istanbul’s urban history.
Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Faculty Member Levent Öztürk also focused on the issues of land distribution and biodiversity, and stated that there has been a decline in these two areas due to some obstacles. Öztürk also made the analogy of ‘invasive species’ for people who harm the environment with their activities. The term ‘invasive species’ is used for species that enter an ecosystem other than the one they naturally live in, multiply excessively there, and affect the entire ecosystem.
Öykü Arkan from Sabancı Business School brought up the issue of ethics in terms of sustainability. Arkan, who drew attention to the fact that sustainability is not only an economic and environmental issue but also a social issue, said that for this reason, the loss of biodiversity creates both an environmental and social crisis. Arkan stated that at this point, the questions “What does society need?” and “What are the responsibilities of society?” should be asked.
During the talk, special puddings prepared with water buffalo milk by MSA chefs Alp Şehsuvar and İrem Kalkavan were also tasted.
