The KÜRE Encyclopedia brought together young writers at MAKÜ

Before the program held at the Lavender Hill Hotel, participants visited the KÜRE Encyclopedia Workshop established within the MAKÜ Prof. Dr. İlhan Varank Library.

In his opening speech, MAKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar emphasized that the most important issue in the digital age, where access to information has become easier, is to reach accurate and reliable information. Noting that information pollution is increasingly rising in digital media, Rector Dalgar also touched upon the effects of artificial intelligence technologies on access to information and the world of thought.

Rector Dalgar stated that the KÜRE Encyclopedia efforts should not be evaluated merely as an attempt to create an encyclopedia, expressing that it is of great importance for young people to carry reliable information, filtered through their civilization values, into the digital realm for the future of the country.

Addressing the youth, Rector Prof. Dr. Dalgar pointed out that participants who will take part in the article writing activities will take on responsibilities as information curators, emphasizing the importance of using technology correctly instead of rejecting it and managing the risks it brings. Reminding that MAKÜ made artificial intelligence courses mandatory in all departments three years ago, Rector Dalgar stated that they support the effective use of new technologies in education and professional life as a university.

Rector Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Dalgar thanked Selçuk Bayraktar, who leads the KÜRE Encyclopedia efforts, as well as T3 Foundation, KÜME Foundation, and those who contributed to the organization, wishing that the contributions of young people continue to increase.

KÜRE's goal: To bring truth together with technology

In the program, KÜRE Project Coordinator Muttalip Erdoğan addressed the participants with a presentation titled ‘Building the Future with Knowledge: KÜRE and Youth’.

Stating that information shapes a person's thought structure, worldview, and the mental world of future generations, Erdoğan expressed that the importance of accurate information sources is increasingly rising in the digital age. Emphasizing that the content on which artificial intelligence systems feed is also of great importance in this regard, Erdoğan stated that young people should be able to access reliable information sources created in line with their civilization values and moral understanding.

Explaining the fundamental approach of the KÜRE Encyclopedia with the phrase ‘Truth is the most valuable concept’, Erdoğan noted that the aim of the project is to reveal the truth of knowledge and to carry it into the future through collective work by utilizing the possibilities of technology.

The journey of truth, memory, and knowledge in the digital age was discussed

KÜRE Project Advisor Dr. Nihal Fırat Özdemir evaluated the historical journey of knowledge through the concepts of truth, memory, and publicization in her talk titled ‘An Encyclopedia Issue in the Digital Age’.

Sharing the question of why a piece of information is considered reliable with the participants, Özdemir addressed the transformation of the ways knowledge has been transmitted throughout human history. She highlighted the changes in memory and knowledge transmission tools in the process extending from oral culture to written culture, from the emergence of the printing press to digital culture.

Özdemir explained that in oral culture, the reliability of knowledge is shaped through the person conveying it and their testimony, while with written culture, knowledge can be transmitted across generations, surpassing human lifespan. She noted that the printing press enabled knowledge to reach wider audiences, while also indicating that false information can be reproduced at the same speed.

Young people wrote articles for the KÜRE Encyclopedia

After the speeches, the program moved to the article writing workshop actively participated in by students from different universities. Participants contributed to the article writing efforts for the KÜRE Encyclopedia by sharing their ideas in line with the determined topics.

‘Courage of Leadership’ talk with the youth

After the workshop activities, MAKÜ Rector Advisor Prof. Dr. Ali Murat Alparslan contributed to the program with his talk titled ‘Courage of Leadership’. Meeting with the youth, Alparslan emphasized that leadership is not just a title or position, but also a process that requires taking responsibility, showing initiative, and acting courageously when necessary.

In the talk, Prof. Dr. Alparslan focused on why young people should take on leadership responsibilities, addressing the qualities that young leaders should possess and the guiding leadership principles in this process. He also discussed the barriers to young people taking on leadership responsibilities, evaluating issues such as lack of self-confidence, fear of failure, and avoidance of taking responsibility. He advised participants to discover their own potential, not to hesitate to bring their ideas to life, and to adopt a leadership understanding that will contribute to social development.

The events held within the scope of the 1st National KÜRE Meeting, which lasted for two days, aimed to support the participation of young people in digital information production processes, develop reliable information sources, and contribute to the creation of a common digital memory.