Biotechnology Teacher Summit Successfully Held As Part of the ABE Program

The Amgen Biotech Experience (ABE) Program—funded by the Amgen Foundation, supported with guidance and technical expertise by the Education Development Center (EDC), and implemented in Türkiye by Development Workshop in collaboration with Middle East Technical University (METU) and Kafkas University—hosted a memorable Biotechnology Teacher Summit on June 14, 2025, in Ankara.

Organized in partnership with the First Teacher Foundation and Maya Schools, the summit brought together nearly 250 teachers from across Türkiye. This unique event, which fostered a vibrant atmosphere fueled by scientific curiosity and a shared passion for learning, became a strong symbol of innovation and inspiration in education.

Opening Remarks and Visionary Talks

The event began with a warm welcome by Hasan Türk, Principal of Maya Anatolian and Science & Technology High School. Dr. Elif Adıbelli Şahin, ABE Türkiye Program Director, presented a comprehensive overview of the program’s national activities and impacts.

Ersin Yılmaz, Human Resources Leader at Amgen Türkiye, emphasized Amgen and the Amgen Foundation’s long-standing contributions to science education and the Program’s importance.

Prof. Dr. Ziya Selçuk, Founder and Director of the Teacher First Foundation, delved into the significance of 21st-century skills and underlined that true educational transformation begins with teachers. He highlighted that the ABE Program’s most valuable contribution is its power to "inspire educators."

Scientific and Educational Innovations at the Summit: From Gamification to Inclusion, DNA Barcoding to Biopiracy, Antibiotic Resistance to Biosecurity, and Digital Learning

In the afternoon sessions: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Göknur Kaplan from METU introduced the key components and theoretical foundations of gamification in learning and its impact on learning processes. Müşerref Dalkılıç, a biology teacher at Yenimahalle Science and Art Center, shared her inclusive biotechnology project developed under the ABE Mini Grant Program, aimed at making biotechnology accessible for students with visual and hearing impairments.

During the lunch break, all participants came together to collaboratively build a giant DNA model in the garden—symbolizing both scientific collaboration and creativity. This special moment, captured through drone footage, became one of the most unforgettable highlights of the summit.

In the afternoon session of the summit, Dr. Funda Özdemir Değirmenci from Kırşehir Ahi Evran University presented the role of DNA barcoding in combating biopiracy with striking real-life examples. Following this, Meltem Küçükarslan from Keçiören Science and Art Center shared her DNA barcoding project conducted with her students, and Yağmur Naz Bayraktar, a student from Ankara Pursaklar Science High School who participated in the project, shared her experiences from the student's perspective.

Süleyman Atilla, a biology teacher from Ankara İstek Schools, introduced his biosecurity module developed around the risk of Salmonella in chocolate products through a video presentation.

Dr. Çiğdem Yılmaz Çolak from Istanbul Technical University delivered an impactful presentation on microbiology, antibiotics, and antibiotic resistance. Nesibe Sevindik Kuyucu, a science teacher from Kayseri Yahyalı Atatürk Middle School, shared her innovative curriculum practices aimed at raising awareness about antibiotic resistance.

The final session featured Gülşah Özkan İnal, ABE Türkiye Program Coordinator, who introduced LabXchange—a free, global digital science learning platform developed by Harvard University with Amgen Foundation support. Şemsi Üre, a teacher at Maya Schools, shared how ABE practices were implemented in classrooms and aligned with the school’s broader vision of biotechnological transformation.

The day ended with a quiz, prize draw, and collective enthusiasm—leaving educators not only more informed but deeply inspired.

Powered by Teachers and Students: The 12-Stop ABE Discovery Zone

Throughout the day, a total of 12 interactive science booths allowed participants to engage directly with biotechnology concepts. In addition to core ABE lab content, unique projects developed through the ABE Expert Teacher and Mini Grant Programs were also exhibited.

ABE laboratory-based booths:

• DNA Isolation Booth – Meryem İçen Keskin & Asım İnanoğlu and their students

• Micropipetting Booth – Sinem Yılmaz Ağvaz & İlbey Alıcı and their students

• Gel Electrophoresis Booth – Sedat Meydaneri & Egemen Kurtuluş and their students

• PCR: Ancient DNA Booth – Aysun Besler and her students

• Bioethics Booth – Sercan Çoban and her students

• Recombinant DNA Technology Booth – Kenan Akman & Gökben Çelik and their students

• LabXchange Platform Introduction Booth – Hasan Altınışık, Cansu Destanoğlu & Özlem Urhan and their students

In addition, booths showcasing projects developed under the ABE Türkiye Master Teacher Fellowship and Mini Grant Programs were also present:

• Fighting Antibiotic Resistance through Bacterial Defense – Nesibe Sevindik Kuyucu and her students

• DNA Barcoding for Biodiversity Conservation – Meltem Küçükarslan and her students

• Educational Games on Genetics and Biotechnology – Müşerref Dalkılıç and her students

• Inclusive Biotechnology Practices – Müşerref Dalkılıç and her students

• The Sweet Danger: Detecting Salmonella in Chocolate Products– Süleyman Atilla’s Mini Grant Program guide 

Through these booths, teachers together with their students had the opportunity to share their creative and scientific work, while participants experienced the innovations firsthand.

The summit became a unique platform that brought teachers together, fostering not only knowledge sharing but also inspiration and motivation. As the ABE Program continues to contribute to science education in Türkiye, it remains dedicated to enhancing teachers' knowledge, skills, and vision through such events.