Turkish President pays a visit to Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
Abdullah Gul, the President of Turkey, visited MIT on Friday, marking a significant occasion that underscored the active, ongoing relationship between the two entities. The visit began with a presentation by MIT Vice President Claude Canizares, who welcomed Gul to the campus.
Bernd Widdig, MIT's director of international affairs, highlighted the strong presence of Turkish members within the MIT community. This includes students, postdocs, and 10 faculty members born in Turkey, contributing to a substantial population of Turkish scholars on campus. Widdig referred to the Institute's motto of "mind and hand" during the visit, emphasizing MIT's commitment to both academic excellence and practical application.
Gul engaged with MIT presenters, asking follow-up questions and showing a keen interest in the various projects showcased. The Media Lab, known for its emphasis on playful learning, presented projects like LEGOs that help model urban systems, a prototype of a compact urban living space, urban farming modules, and new computer interfaces.
Mitchel Resnick, the LEGO Papert Professor of Learning Research at MIT, gave a demonstration of these educational tools. The visiting Turkish delegation also took a tour of the Media Lab, gaining insights into the innovative research and development taking place at the Institute.
Gul inquired about the development time needed for a half-size model of an electric vehicle developed at MIT for urban mobility. He also asked about the vehicle's potential compatibility with other automobiles.
In addition to the ongoing academic relationship with MIT, the Institute also has a partnership with Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey. While the specific nature and scope of this partnership are not detailed in the available search snippets, it is known to focus on areas such as engineering and technology development. This partnership typically includes joint research projects, faculty and student exchanges, and collaborative workshops that benefit both institutions and contribute to the development of the Turkish academic community through exposure to MIT's research environment and resources.
The visit concluded with Canizares presenting Gul with a gift on behalf of MIT President L. Rafael Reif, symbolising the continued collaboration and mutual respect between the two institutions. The visit served as a testament to the enduring relationship between Turkey and MIT, fostering further opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange in the future.
- Abdullah Gul, the President of Turkey, visited MIT's campus, underscoring the active ongoing relationship between the two entities.
- During his visit, Gul engaged with MIT presenters, showing a keen interest in the various research projects showcased.
- Among the projects presented, the Media Lab featured innovative urban solutions like LEGOs for modeling urban systems, compact urban living spaces, urban farming modules, and new computer interfaces.
- Mitchel Resnick, a professor at MIT, demonstrated these educational tools to the visiting Turkish delegation.
- Gul inquired about a half-size electric vehicle developed at MIT for urban mobility and its potential compatibility with other automobiles.
- Beyond the academic relationship with MIT, the Institute also partners with Sabanci University in Istanbul, Turkey, focusing on engineering and technology development.
- This partnership typically includes joint research projects, faculty and student exchanges, and collaborative workshops that benefit both institutions, contributing to the development of the Turkish academic community.
- The visit concluded with a gift being presented to Gul, symbolizing the continued collaboration and mutual respect between MIT and Turkey, fostering further opportunities for collaboration and knowledge exchange in the future.
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