26 October 2026
“Traces from the Field: Rural Experiences Through the One Health Lens” Event Held
Istanbul Gelisim University (IGU) hosted the event “Traces from the Field: Rural Experiences Through the One Health Lens” to share field experiences from the project titled “Holistic Empowerment in Rural Areas through a Sustainable One Health Approach,” conducted within the scope of the TÜBİTAK 4009 program. The event featured presentations on the project’s fieldwork and a visit to the photography exhibition titled “Sadece” (“Just”).
Project Experiences and Fieldwork Shared
The event opened with speeches by Prof. Dr. İsmet Galip Yolcuoğlu, Head of the Department of Social Work; Prof. Dr. Mustafa Nizamlıoğlu, Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences; and Prof. Dr. Arda Öztürkcan, Vice-Rector of IGU.
Following the opening speeches, the project coordinator, Dr. Emrah Tüncer, provided information about the project’s scope, objectives, and fieldwork process. Members of the project team then shared their experiences from the fieldwork conducted in Tekman, Erzurum, including workshops organized for children. The presentations highlighted the importance of addressing the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health through a holistic approach.
Participants from Different Institutions Joined the Experience-Sharing Event
The event welcomed Dr. Tarkan Kılıç from the Istanbul Chamber of Environmental Engineers; Necmetin Oğur, Principal of Bakırköy Şenlikköy Primary School; Deniz Ayaroğlu, Strategic Project Designer and Coordinator of Foreign Relations and Project Management at Avcılar Municipality; Osman Aras from Dalsöğüt village in Erzurum; Hasan Harpman from the Neuroscience Doctoral Program at Medipol University; and Yasemin Bilsel from INSEV.
Bringing together participants from different institutions and professional backgrounds, the event provided an opportunity to exchange experiences, highlight interdisciplinary collaboration, and discuss the value of field-based work in rural communities.
“Sadece” Photography Exhibition Visited
As part of the program, participants visited “Sadece,” the photography exhibition showcasing moments and experiences from the project. The photographs offered insights into rural life, the activities carried out with children, and the experiences encountered throughout the fieldwork.
By bringing together personal accounts and photographic narratives, the event helped share the project's experiences and outputs with a wider audience. The activities carried out within the framework of the One Health approach once again highlighted the importance of working with children and fostering collaboration in rural communities, while considering human, animal, and environmental health as interconnected dimensions..
