Ondokuz Mayıs University (OMU) hosted an educational and awareness-raising event as part of the “Year of the Family 2025” and “Environment Week”. The panel, titled “My Environmental Journey with My Family”, was organized in collaboration with the OMU Environmental Problems Research and Application Center (ÇEVSAM), the Department of Environmental Engineering, and the OMU Environment Community, and attracted great interest from students and teachers of OMU Foundation College. In the opening speech, Prof. Dr. Nurdan Gamze Turan, Director of ÇEVSAM, Head of the Environmental Engineering Department and Advisor of the Environment Community, emphasized that family and environmental awareness should be addressed as a whole, stating that environmental awareness, just like love, respect and responsibility, is rooted in the family environment and that this year, on the occasion of both the Year of the Family and Environment Week, they are setting out together to instill this awareness in children and raise them as individuals who live in harmony with nature. In the continuation of the panel, expert academics presented key environmental topics to students in a clear and effective way: Prof. Dr. Ayşe Kuleyin, in her presentation titled “Waste Management and Zero Waste”, drew attention to the importance of properly separating household waste in reducing environmental impacts and offered suggestions on how recycling can be turned into a lifestyle within the family; Prof. Dr. Feryal Akbal, in her talk on “Water Conservation and Efficient Use of Water”, highlighted that water resources are exhaustible and shared simple yet effective measures that can be taken in daily life, stressing that even a small leak from a tap can lead to tons of water loss per year; and Prof. Dr. Hülya Böke Özkoç spoke about the importance of instilling a love of nature in children, explained how environmentally conscious individuals can be raised through attitudes developed within the family, and discussed rainwater recovery while illustrating the role of individual awareness in societal transformation with concrete examples. The presentations were carried out interactively, with students asking questions, sharing their views, and being encouraged to think about environmental problems through case studies. Following the panel, an environment-themed quiz was held for OMU Foundation College students, featuring questions on recycling symbols, methods of water conservation, causes of environmental pollution and the concept of zero waste; at the end of the entertaining yet educational competition, students who ranked highest were presented with eco-friendly surprise gifts, and it was noted that children’s high level of awareness and interest in environmental issues is promising for the future. Throughout the event, the leading role of families in promoting sustainable lifestyle habits was strongly emphasized, with speakers underlining that environmentally sensitive individuals are raised not only through formal education, but also through habits acquired in the family setting.
The panel concluded with a group photo taken as a keepsake.