Public Access to Buildings: Cultural and Natural Heritage Sites

Boğaziçi University provides public access to buildings, monuments and natural heritage sites of cultural significance. The University's provision of free and by appointment access to these buildings and heritage sites aims to increase opportunities for local communities and visitors to engage with cultural and natural assets.

Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute

Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, one of the important cultural heritages of Boğaziçi University, is located in the historical Seismograph building and is open to public access. The Observatory Science History represents an important cultural value with various scientific instruments and artifacts exhibited in its historic building, the foundation of which was laid in the 1930s and completed in 1934. The building houses many objects from the Ottoman period, such as observation instruments, astronomical and earth science instruments and manuscripts. These areas are accessible to the public free of charge by appointment and provide important information on the history of science.

Nazım Hikmet Culture and Art Research Center

Nazım Hikmet Culture and Art Research Center is another important building that contributes to the cultural heritage of the university. This center is open to the public and hosts cultural events, allowing visitors to interact with the rich cultural heritage of the university.

Astronomy Laboratory and Observatory

Boğaziçi University's Astronomy Laboratory and Observatory host schools, especially on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and organize events for individual visitors on other days. These spaces are open to visitors interested in science and education, with free public access by appointment.

These initiatives reflect Boğaziçi University's commitment to promoting broad access to cultural and natural heritage sites, preserving cultural values and providing opportunities for local communities to engage with these important sites.

More information can be found at the links below:

• Kandilli Observatory History of Science
• Bogazici University Group Visit Form

2024 Sustainability Report SDG-11 (Related Section)

Public Access to Boğaziçi University Buildings

Boğaziçi University opens its culturally significant buildings and natural heritage sites to visitors as part of public events. By offering free and by appointment access to these sites, the university aims to encourage local communities and visitors to interact with cultural heritage.

Boğaziçi University Promotional Activities

Within the scope of the "Boğaziçi University Introduction Days ’ programme, which is organised every year for prospective students who will make university choices, prospective students and their families have the opportunity to visit the campus, meet the faculty members, get information about the undergraduate programmes offered by the departments and take a campus tour. In addition, secondary education institutions can make a special application during the semester and organise visits that enable their students to get to know the academic and social opportunities of Boğaziçi University.

Click here for school trip application:

https://tanitim.bogazici.edu.tr/eform/submit/grup-ziyaret-formu#overlay-context=node

Historical and Architectural Richness of South Campus

The foundations of Boğaziçi University were laid with the establishment of Robert Collegein 1863, and the South Campus stands out with its architecture of historical and cultural significance. All historical buildings on the South Campus were built before the First World War and were constructed using blue limestone quarried from the quarry located on the campus. Hamlin Hall, the first building of Robert College, was completed in 1871. It was followed by Kennedy Lodge, which was built as the president's house in 1891, Albert Long Hall, which was completed in 1892, Theodorus Hall, which served as a preparatory building in 1902, Dodge Gymnasium, which opened as a gymnasium in 1904, Washburn Hall in 1906, Anderson Hall in 1913 and Sloane Hall, which was used as a dispensary in 1914. These buildings are among the important artefacts that symbolise the historical depth and unique cultural heritage of Boğaziçi University. The historic Albert Long Hall is open to the public throughout the year, hosting events such as concerts and conferences.

Nazım Hikmet Culture and Art Research Centre

Nazım Hikmet Culture and Art Research Centre is another important building contributing to the cultural heritage of the university. The Centre aims to perpetuate the memory of Nâzım Hikmet, one of the most influential, talented and world-renowned poets of recent times, by creating an extensive archive and researching his widespread influence on Turkish literature and national culture and arts policies. Hosting panels, seminars, workshops and public cultural events in the historical buildings of Boğaziçi University, this centre allows visitors to interact with the rich cultural heritage of the university.

Click here to visit the Nazım Hikmet Culture and Art Research Centre website:

https://nazimhikmetmerkezi.com/

Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute

Kandilli Campus carries the legacy of the Kandilli Observatory, which was established in 1868 and affiliated to Boğaziçi University in 1982 and renamed Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute (KRDAE). Kandilli Observatory was established in 1868 as Rasathane-i Amire at the suggestion of the French government to transmit weather forecasts to certain centres by telegraph. The Observatory, which first started its operations on a 74-metre high hill in Pera, was later moved to a telegraph office opposite the Artillery School in Maçka. However, during the 31 March Incident of 1909, the Observatory in Maçka was destroyed. Following this incident, the Observatory started to operate at its present location on İcadiye Hill in Vaniköy in 1911. In1936, the name of the institution was changed to Kandilli Astronomy and Geophysics Observatory, and in 1982, it was affiliated to Boğaziçi University and started to carry out scientific research and education activities under the name of Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute.

Click here to go to KRDAE web page:

http://www.koeri.boun.edu.tr/new/en

History of Observatory Science

The Observatory Science History Collection is exhibited in the historical Seismological Building, the foundation of which was laid in 1930 and the construction of which was completed in 1934. Various scientific instruments used by the Observatory in the fields of astronomy and earth sciences are exhibited in the building. In this building, samples of Kandilli manuscriptsrelated to astronomy, astrology, mathematics and geography in the Observatory Archive are also exhibited.

This collection consists of observation instruments invented by Turkish scientists in the Ottoman period, books and calendars on astronomy, seismographs and various astronomy, geodesy, magnetics, meteorology and time instruments, most of which were imported from Europe and the United States, which were used in the Observatory - i Amire established in 1868 and used after the observatory was moved to Kandilli in 1911.

Scientific instruments include:

Sextants, octants, telescopes, theodolites, pontographs, artificial horizons, barometers, clocks, sundials, thermographs, observation record reports, maps, calendars, large seismographs which are earthquake recording instruments, maritime clocks, measuring and calculating machines, auxiliary instruments for determining time, rubu boards, astrolabes, earth globes, celestial globes, solar system, meridian telescopes, qiblenumas.

For more information click here:

http://koeri.boun.edu.tr/new/en/bilim_tarihi

Observatory Excursion

Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute accepts groups of visitors from primary, secondary and high schools by appointment system. The 80-minute excursion programme, which is free of charge for groups of up to 30 people, covers three main parts:

Disaster Preparedness and Earthquake Park Visit: Participants are given basic disaster awareness training in line with pedagogical data and practical applications are made in Deprempark.

Astronomy Laboratory: Visitors have the opportunity to learn about general astronomy and solar observations.

Meteorology Laboratory: Basic information about meteorology is shared, meteorological measuring instruments are introduced and weather forecasting processes are explained.

This rich-content programme provides the participants with both theoretical and practical knowledge and scientific awareness, as well as the opportunity to see the campus and buildings. In addition, ABCD Basic Disaster Awareness Training is given open to the public at the Disaster Preparedness Laboratory (AHLAB) as part of the ‘Public Day’ events organised every Tuesday. For individual visitors, the Astronomy Laboratory provides information about laboratory work and astronomy-related topics of interest, as well as hosting events for popular astronomical events such as eclipses and planetary transits.

Click here for observatory trip application:

https://ahlab.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/content/gezi-basvurusu

Click here for maps of the campuses and locations of the buildings:

https://harita.bogazici.edu.tr/

This rich-content programme provides the participants with both theoretical and practical knowledge and scientific awareness, as well as the opportunity to see the campus and buildings. In addition, ABCD Basic Disaster Awareness Training is given open to the public at the Disaster Preparedness Laboratory (AHLAB) as part of the ‘Public Day’ events organised every Tuesday. For individual visitors, the Astronomy Laboratory provides information about laboratory work and astronomy-related topics of interest, as well as hosting events for popular astronomical events such as eclipses and planetary transits.

Click here for observatory trip application:

https://ahlab.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/content/gezi-basvurusu