March 9, 2021 Tuesday: Partly Cloudy 0°C / 12°C Volume 27 Wednesday: Partly Cloudy -1°C / 15°C Number 19 Thursday: Partly Cloudy 2°C / 10°C ISSN: 2458-8644 Friday: Partly Cloudy bilnews.bilkent.edu.tr İLKENT EWS -2°C / 10°C B Weekly Newspaper of Bilkent UniversityN Bilkent to Confer Honorary Doctorates on Özlem Türeci University Senate and Uğur Şahin Approves In- ast Friday, March 5, the conducting research on a vaccine Board against COVID-19 in January 2020 Person Midterm of Trustees approved the during the early days of the Exam Option University Senate’s pandemic. In cooperation with the proposal to bestow honorary pharmaceutical company Pfizer, s was the case for final Ldoctorates upon Dr. Özlem Türeci BioNTech developed the messenger examinations last semester, and Prof. Uğur Şahin. ribonucleic acid (mRNA) vaccine this semester’s midterm As two of the founders of the BNT162b2. It was authorized for examinations will be held Germany-based biotechnology emergency use in the UK in online, with students logging into company BioNTech, Dr. Türeci and December 2020; approval in many virtualA “classrooms” to take the exams Prof. Şahin played a central role in immunology, as well as entrepreneurs other countries followed. The Pfizer– via Zoom. the development of a COVID-19 who have founded two companies. BioNTech vaccine is currently one of Alternatively, as per a decision vaccine in less than a year. Prof. Şahin is BioNTech’s CEO, while the leading vaccines being administered taken by the Bilkent University Senate Both Prof. Şahin and Dr. Türeci Dr. Türeci, as the company’s chief worldwide against COVID-19. on March 5, those students who wish (who are married to each other) are medical officer, is responsible for It is planned to hold a ceremony at to do so may take their midterms in a physicians and academics with a clinical research and development. Bilkent in the near future to confer physical classroom on campus (with a research background in oncology and BioNTech, founded in 2008, began the honorary doctorates. proctor present), upon the student’s request and the instructor’s agreement. Horizon 2020 to Fund Two Bilkent Faculty Members Students must make the request to sst. Prof. Ayşegül Dündar their instructor in advance. of the Department of Computer Engineering and Asst. Prof. Erdinç Tatar of The TDP the Department of Children’s Festival ElectricalA and Electronics Engineering have each been awarded Will Go On – Online a Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions synthesis capabilities powered by deep Individual Fellowship (MSCA IF) neural networks. 3D image synthesis 2020 grant from the European is a technology in which objects can Commission. The grants are funded be rendered from different under the EU’s Horizon 2020 perspectives, enabling numerous research and innovation program; applications in computer graphics and only 14 researchers from computer vision. By providing realistic received MSCA IF grants this year. virtual 3D environments, it can provide Dr. Dündar will focus on 3D image tools for online (Continued on Page 3) Music Student’s Pieces Win International Recognition mre Eröz, a fourth-year for Contemporary Music and the Machina” was chosen second student in the Department of composition department of the among the four compositions Music’s Composition and Sichuan Conservatory of Music that won commissions for their Theory program, recently in China, his string quartet was composers. He is now writing his received first prize in an international awarded first prize. The commissioned piece, which Duo ach year, to celebrate National E Sovereignty and Children’s competition organized in China. In competition was open to all Signal will perform at a concert to addition, he was awarded a second-place students of any age from around be held in Switzerland in April. Day, the student volunteer commission following a global call for the world; Emre’s composition “Deus Ex Machina,” along organization TDP (Social scores by a Basel-based music duo, and was chosen from among 115 pieces with another of Emre’s pieces, “Smash Awareness Projects) holds a Children’s has also had two pieces published submitted by students in 22 countries. of Symmetry,” was also published in the EFestival on the Bilkent University Main online. A call for scores by the University of California Los Angeles’s Campus. The volunteers host In the Sun River Prize New Music saxophone–trombone/euphonium duo Online Music Library as a result of the approximately 400 children from the Composition Competition for Students, Signal attracted 162 entries from 44 Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an target groups served by TDP projects, organized by the International Society countries. Emre’s piece “Deus Ex open access project. most of them socioeconomically disadvantaged children. The aim is to Computer Engineering Students Make Top 10 in give them a day where they can have as much fun as possible and that they will Programming Competition remember for a long time. wo teams from the participate in the qualification Unfortunately, the pandemic made it Department of round, held on December 12. impossible to plan for the event to take Computer The top three teams from each place in its usual format this year. But Engineering were of those universities went on to the volunteers were determined that, among the top 10 finishers in the the final round, held on for the children’s sake, it should still T go on, and came up with an alternative 2020 Online Programming December 26. Due to the Competition held by Inzva, an COVID-19 pandemic, the entire way – actually two ways – to hold the İstanbul-based hacker society event took place online. festival, in part by using the online dedicated to fostering the A team made up of Bilkent CS platform Zoom. abilities of Turkish students, students Oğuzhan Özçelik, Although the volunteers are calling with a focus on algorithms and Yusuf Nevzat Şengün and Osman this year’s event the TDP Online artificial intelligence. Orhan Uysal took second place. Children’s Fest, they were well aware While a total of 585 individuals Another team of CS students, with while making their plans that not all of from 25 universities applied to enter members Ziya Mukhtarov, Yusuf Ziya the children they wanted to include the competition, 156 teams from 14 Özgül and Hasan Yıldırım, came in would have access to Zoom. Therefore, universities were deemed eligible to eighth in the competition. (Continued on Page 3) Bilkent News 2 OPINIONS & FEATURES use this word? authority over us. We also overcommit creates all those high expectations What makes saying no so difficult? in order to show others our that cause you stress. Believing that opportunities capabilities and dedication. However, shouldn’t be missed never using the word “no” creates the How to say no Having this core belief is what makes opposite effect, by hiding our values First, ask, “How are we going to do some of us “overachievers.” We tend and priorities as an individual. this?” ŞEBNEM TÜRE (PSYC/III) to say yes to all the opportunities we Being afraid to seem selfish This question can help you avoid [email protected] encounter, thinking we might not Especially in social contexts, we have a unreasonable demands and remind have those chances again. Some are way of not making ourselves a priority others to take a second look at what he Most Powerful Word indeed really not to be missed, but it’s so that we don’t feel or appear they’re asking and whether it’s doable. You Can Ever Say to also true that they’re endless. Not “selfish.” The truth is that we can’t Say “Let me think about it” instead. Someone being able to turn down an pour from an empty cup, and looking Especially if you feel like you’ve Simple, extremely opportunity makes you overly stressed, after ourselves should always be a been put on the spot, buy yourself useful,T yet so challenging to say: always running from one project to priority. Self-care does not equal some time and think about whether “No.” the next. You can’t do all the things selfishness. saying “yes” will do you more harm Many people struggle to say this that you think might be beneficial for Believing you should just because than good. Also, by asking for time to word when they encounter new you. In the end, having a lot on your you can think first, you can give the matter projects, plans for socializing, plate will do more harm than good. Many obligations we think we have more consideration and avoid acting requests for help, or even requests to on impulse. do things they shouldn’t. But saying Remember to keep it simple. the word “no” has great benefits; a Saying a simple “no” is much more very important one is the way it helps powerful than giving a hundred you set your boundaries. By learning excuses. You don’t need to explain to say no, you’ll be able to set healthy your reasons for saying no in great limits for yourself and for what others detail, and you don’t need to make up can demand from you. You’ll feel excuses for others’ validation. Just more confident and better able to give your reasons confidently and, of communicate your values. You’ll have course, courteously. a better sense of what those values Build mutual respect. are. Most importantly, you’ll spend Desiring to please others all the time may actually be artificial. Be careful Don’t leave others hanging. If you your precious time only on what We learn from a very young age that what responsibilities you take on. If can’t give the answer they want, be matters. All this undoubtedly provides we should do what authority figures you feel bad about saying yes, trust direct about it. Don’t give them false a more stable life, with much less tell us to. This core lesson makes us this feeling and don’t fall back on “I hopes. Tell them that you appreciate stress. tend to always accept “big favors” in had to” as a justification. Remember, their offer very much, but If we all agree on the benefits of a order not to let others down, “can” never means “should,” and it’s unfortunately have other obligations at simple “no,” why do we struggle to especially if we think they have generally not others but yourself who present.

Faces on Campus BY AYSU YURTER (TRIN/IV)

Name: Sabri Eren Dağdelen (CS/I) Name: Seçil Akkurt (IE/I) Name: Onat İpekyün (PSYC/III) What’s your favorite quintuple? What’s your favorite quintuple? What’s your favorite quintuple? a) Movie: “The Shawshank Redemption” a) Movie: “Kimi no Na wa” a) Movie: “The Dark Knight” trilogy b) Book: “The Brothers Karamazov” by Fyodor b) Book: “The Catcher in the Rye” by J.D. b) Book: “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy” Dostoevsky Salinger by Douglas Adams c) Song: “Girl” by the Beatles c) Song: “If I Ever Feel Better” by Phoenix c) Song: “Invincible” by Tool d) Food: Mantı d) Food: BBQ chicken wings d) Food: Spinach e) City: Moscow e) City: Amsterdam e) City: Seattle What would be your dream job? “CEO of a What would be your dream job? “Artist” What would be your dream job? “Professor” tech company” If you were a superhero, what super If you were a superhero, what super power(s) If you were a superhero, what super power(s) power(s) would you have? “Matter would you have? “Super speed” would you have? “Mind reading” transmutation” What I like most about Bilkent: “The campus is What I like most about Bilkent: “Its What I like most about Bilkent: “Its diversity” a breath of fresh air in the midst of the crazy world” opportunities for students” The place on campus where I feel happiest The place on campus where I feel happiest The place on campus where I feel happiest is... is... “the open space next to the Faculty of is... “the area between FC Building and the Main “the place where I secretly play the saxophone” Business Administration” Campus Sports Hall” My favorite thing about : “Snow” My favorite thing about Ankara: My favorite thing about Ankara: “The cold If I were an animal, I would be... “a honey badger” “Bahçelievler” here” I have never... “been anywhere in Ankara except If I were an animal, I would be... “a cat” If I were an animal, I would be... “a hawk” Bilkent” I have never... “broken any of my bones” I have never... “gone skydiving” Bilkent News 3 SPORTS & FEATURES Horizon 2020 to Fund Two Bilkent Faculty Members The Sporting Life (Continued from Page 1) resonance and damping as a gas natural gas leakages. classes, virtual tours, improved sensor. Existing technologies have The MSCA program promotes gaming experiences and simulators resulted in the development of innovative research training as well as for robotics; as the digital world has sensors that target only a specific career and knowledge-exchange gained more prominence, especially type of gas. The proposed sensor will opportunities through cross-border during the pandemic, the utility of be universal, for use with any gas; it and cross-sector mobility of such technologies has become ever is also inexpensive to fabricate and researchers, with the goal of more evident. therefore has the potential to expand preparing them for current and In his project, Dr. Tatar proposes the public’s access to gas sensors. future societal challenges and to couple the acoustic resonance in a This technology could, for example, enhancing the attractiveness of mm-sized cavity with a allow every home to have the research centers in Europe and microresonator and use the coupled capability for early detection of beyond. The TDP Children’s Festival Will Go On – Online (Continued from Page 1) The second part of the festival will concert and a magic show for the they decided to base the first part of take place on Zoom, with TDP children. the festival on activity kits that will be volunteers and the more than 150 Explaining why they were so sent to all of the 400-plus children who, children who have access to Zoom committed to holding the festival this Name: Ahmet Berke Gökmen in normal years, would have come to participating. It will start with a year despite the difficulties of doing so, Department: CS campus for the event. morning exercise session for everyone. TDP representatives said, “By How often do you exercise? In the weeks leading up to the Then, in breakout rooms, children and organizing our Online Children’s Fest, I try to exercise at least four times a festival, the volunteers will be volunteers will together do the activities we hope to make the children feel week. preparing and sending kits that include provided for in the kits. Wanting to remembered in these days when How has regular exercise affected supplies and instructions for craft, create as festive an atmosphere as everything has fallen apart, and to your life? music and recycling activities that the possible to celebrate National provide an environment where they can Before I started exercising regularly, I children can do at home, as well as Sovereignty and Children's Day, the celebrate their holiday and forget the actually didn’t have much order in my presents and snacks for them to enjoy. volunteers have also planned a mini- hard times we’re all going through.” life. I ate junk food, stayed up late and didn’t care about my health. After I got into the habit of exercising, I In Place of Concerts, Turkish Classical Music Society Offers became more social, stopped staying up late and started eating healthy Lectures and Interviews food. The good thing is that it n normal times, the Turkish İncesaz affected not only my daily life, but Classical Music Society, a founders Murat also my academic life. Since I now Bilkent student club founded in Aydemir and had the habit of waking up early and 1999, holds a concert at the end Cengiz Onural eating healthily, I always felt of each semester, with club members and soloists energetic. This allowed me to study Iperforming as vocalists or Bora Ebeoğlu more and more without getting bored instrumentalists. But, as in so many and Ezgi Köker so easily during the university exam aspects of life, the pandemic changed talked about a period. that. variety of topics, What are the first three things Since the society is unable to hold including the that come to mind when you hear concerts for the time being, they are establishment of the word “sports”? instead presenting lectures and the ensemble, 1- Fitness seminars on Turkish classical music, their careers in music, the process of eager to give a concert as soon as the 2- Food as well as conducting interviews with composing a new song and their pandemic is over. Meanwhile, they 3- Feeling alive musicians known for their work in sources of inspiration. They also will continue to conduct interviews, Which Bilkent sports facilities do the genre. On February 28, the club answered questions that came via lectures and lessons. Information you use, and what activities have welcomed members of İncesaz, an social media from club members and about these events can be found on you participated in? ensemble devoted to promoting the other listeners. the GE250/1 lists, in BAIS emails and I mostly use the gyms in the Sports greater recognition and further The members of the Bilkent in the social media accounts of the Halls; I haven’t participated in any development of Turkish music. Turkish Classical Music Society are club at linktr.ee/ktmt.bilkent. activities yet, but I’d love to. The International Chronicles BY YAREN SAĞLIK (TRIN/IV) academician. Bilkent News What’s the hardest challenge Name: Yassin Mohammed Ayman you’ve handled in Turkey? Alsawas One of the hardest challenges I’ve Department: Psychology faced and handled in Turkey was Country of Origin: Syria breaking the cultural and social Are there any similarities between barriers between me and my Turkish Turkey and your home country? friends. To me, one of the most fascinating What cities have you visited in things about Turkey is the Islamic Turkey, and which one is your architecture in different mosques all favorite? around Turkey. I’ve visited İstanbul, Bursa and What do you like best about Ankara; İstanbul is my favorite. Each Turkey? corner there tells a different story. My home country and Turkey share a Describe yourself in three words. few aspects, such as the mildly cold What’s your favorite place on One of my favorite Turkish foods is Conscientious, understanding, weather and the extent of green areas campus, and why? dolma, which actually is a dish curious. and landscapes. One of my favorite places on the common to Turkey and my home What’s an interesting question or What will you miss most about Bilkent campus is outside the country. comment you hear frequently Bilkent/Turkey? basketball court; the view from there Where do you expect to see about Bilkent/Turkey? The things that I’ll miss most about is amazing, especially at sunset. yourself 10 years from now? Among the most frequently asked Turkey are its natural beauty and the What’s your favorite Turkish food It’s hard to predict the future and set questions about Turkey are those wide variety of foods that Turkish and/or favorite part of Turkish such long-term goals; nevertheless, I concerning its interesting Ottoman cuisine offers. culture? see myself as a renowned history and culture. Bilkent News 4

Bilkent CALENDAR

CONCERTS and Orchestra, RWV C60 by Prof. Emine Bogenç Demirel, at I. Stravinsky | “Pulcinella” Suite 12:30 p.m. Organized by TRIN. Recent Bilkent Symphony Orchestra Recording: December 17, 2020, Bilkent BİLKENT NEWS concerts are now being broadcast Concert Hall Thursday, March 11 online on the Bilkent Symphony Digital “Should Ontology be Explanatory?” by platform. They may be accessed at SEMINARS Amie L. Thomasson (Dartmouth https://ticket.bilkent.edu.tr/. Tuesday, March 9 College), at 4:30 p.m. Organized by “Hydrazine Oxidation Electrocatalysis PHIL. “Classic Brass” on Multi-Doped Carbons: Who Does Bilkent Brass Ensemble Thursday, March 11 Bilkent Üniversitesi P. Dukas | Fanfare to precede What?” by David Eisenberg (Israel “Identifying Hybrid Spaces and Adýna Sahibi: “La Péri” Institute of Technology), at 12:30 p.m. ‘Makeshift’ Spatial Practices Within Prof. Dr. Kürþat Aydoðan R. Premru | Five Movements from Organized by CHEM. The Byzantine Period of Divertimento Sorumlu Yazý Ýþleri Müdürü: Transformations (6th–9th centuries): G. Gershwin | “An American in Paris” Tuesday, March 9 the Potential of Archaeology and Hande Seçkin Onat G. Rossini | “Largo al factotum” “Regional Migration Governance: Soft Textual Evidence,” by Myrto Veikou G. Gershwin | “Rhapsody in Blue” Law and the Diffusion of Policies on Yayýnýn Türü: Yerel Süreli Yayýn (University of Uppsala), at 6 p.m. G. Bizet | “Carmen” Suite Integration and Inclusion (Focus on Organized by HIST. Yayın Aralığı: Haftalık Recording: November 29, 2020, South America Regionalism),” by Dr. Bilkent Concert Hall Verónica Ruiz Abou-Nigm (University Yayýn Kurulu: Kürþat Aydoðan, of Edinburgh School of Law), at 12:30 Friday, March 12 Reyyan Ayfer, Hande Seçkin Onat, “Dynamic Asset-Backed Security “Vestiges of the Past” p.m. Organized by LAW. Örsan Örge, Kamer Rodoplu Design,” by Kathy Yuan (London Bilkent Symphony Orchestra School of Economics), at 1:30 p.m. Editör: Diane Ewart Grabowski Ayrton Desimpelaere, conductor Tuesday, March 9 Organized by FBA. Dritan Gani, double bass “Still Exiting From Hegemony: Why the Yönetim Yeri: Bilkent Üniversitesi C.P.E. Bach | Symphony in D major, Biden Administration Can’t Rebuild the Rektörlük, Ýletiþim Ofisi, 06800 H. 663 (Wq. 183/1) American Global Order,” by Prof. For information about meetings and Bilkent, Ankara C.D. von Dittersdorf | Concerto for Alexander Cooley (Columbia University), activities of university departments or Telefon: (312) 290-1487 Double Bass in E major at 5:30 p.m. Organized by IR. student clubs, please see their websites P.I. Tchaikovsky | or social media accounts, or contact Basýldýðý Yer: Meteksan Matbaacýlýk “Souvenir de Florence,” Op. 70 Wednesday, March 10 them directly via telephone or email. ve Teknik Sanayi Tic. A.Þ. 1606. Cad. Recording: December 10, 2020, “Extraterritoriality and the No:3 06800 Bilkent, Ankara Bilkent Concert Hall Capitulations in the Ottoman Empire: Spring Break An Overview,” by Berke Torunoğlu Bilkent News (ext. 1487) welcomes Dear Bilkent News Readers, feedback from readers. Please submit “Horn, Horn” (University of Tennessee, Knoxville), at Due to the spring break, Bilkent your letters to [email protected]. Ayrton Desimpelaere, conductor 5 p.m. Organized by HIST. News will not be published next The Editorial Board will review the Mustafa Kaplan, horn week. The next issue will appear letters and print them as space Hasan Erim Hacat, horn Thursday, March 11 on Tuesday, March 23. We wish permits. G.F. Handel | “Messiah” Overture “Çeviri Sosyolojisi: Yeni Çeviri Pratikleri you a wonderful break! 100% Post Consumer A. Rosetti | Concerto for Two Horns / Yeni Eyleyenler / Yeni Sorumluluklar,”