Climate and Environment Science Center hosted students affected by the earthquake in Hatay

70 earthquake victims from Hatay visited the Coral 100th Year Climate and Environment Science Center, which serves under the Mersin Metropolitan Municipality.
The center, operating under the Climate Change and Zero Waste Department, continues to host its visitors. The Coral 100th Year Climate and Environment Science Center, dedicated to young people and children on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the Republic, raises awareness among children on climate and environmental issues. Students have the opportunity to experience different topics through experimental and practical activities related to climate and environment at the center. Thanks to the experimental setups in the center, students are informed about renewable energy, conservation of water resources, waste separation at the source, energy production, and climate change.
“Students had a different experience”
Sercan Tekin, who serves as a geography teacher at the center, stated that the 70 students from Hatay had a different experience. Tekin explained that they try to make abstract knowledge learned at school more tangible for the students and said, “It was a useful and enjoyable experience for them.”
Emphasizing that the center is unique in Turkey with its theme, Tekin said, “We are a science center with a theme of climate and environment. We address processes such as climate change and global warming. After explaining each setup here, we try to instill in students the negative effects of climate change and how we can turn them into positive. Many setups here are at a level that will make their school knowledge more tangible.”
“Approximately 85,000 people have visited so far”
Tekin expressed that after the center was opened, they realized that the region, especially Turkey, needed such a center. He noted that both students and citizens left the center quite satisfied. Mentioning the high demand, Tekin stated, “Especially on weekdays, we have a high student density. It has started to spread to different provinces. We host many students from Hatay, Osmaniye, Adana, Niğde, and our districts. The center has been visited by approximately 85,000 people so far. This number, reached in a short time, will increase even more.”
Emphasizing that the center is closed on Mondays and hosts students on weekdays and citizens on weekends for free, Tekin recommended that everyone should experience the center.
Students learned new information
13-year-old Yade Aydın mentioned that the center is educational and said, “I was mostly drawn to the places where fossil wastes are used. I also learned that oil wastes should not be poured down the drain.” Expressing her sensitivity to nature and the environment, Aydın said, “I learned today that fossil fuels are made up of living organisms. This place is both educational and informative, and full of activities.”
Rüya İlsan Palta, who stated that everyone, especially those of school age, should see the center, said, “Because many people do not know what recycling and fossil fuels are. I learned here that waste oils can be converted into biofuel through recycling. Environmental pollution and increasing global warming will negatively affect life in 50 years. Precautions should be taken from now on.”
Sahra Su Demir noted that they learned a lot of information about climate change and global warming at the center and said, “I was impressed by the awareness efforts on global warming. The future belongs to all of us, and everyone needs to work to protect it.”