Protection and Recording of Cultural Heritage

Boğaziçi University attaches great importance to the preservation and recording of intangible cultural heritage such as local folklore, traditions, language and knowledge. This heritage is recognised as part of our collective memory and cultural richness and is preserved through various projects.

Nafi Baba Sufism, History and Cultural Heritage Application and Research Centre is one of the most important elements of this effort. The Centre studies the material and cultural heritage of Nafi Baba Dervish Lodge, Rumelihisarı Martyrdom and Rumelihisarı settlement with interdisciplinary approaches by examining Sufism and urban culture within historical and social contexts. In this way, the historical and cultural texture of the region is preserved and passed on to future generations.

Our university also organises many activities and projects for the protection of intangible cultural heritage through the Culture, Arts and Activities Branch Directorate and Student Activities Coordination Office. These projects operate in a wide range of activities for the protection and development of the cultural heritage of local communities.

• Nafi Baba Sufism, History and Cultural Heritage Application and Research Centre
• Boğaziçi University Classical Music Events
• Boğaziçi University Folklore Club (BÜFK)

Through these projects for the preservation of local and regional cultural heritage, Boğaziçi University aims to pass on our valuable cultural heritage to society and future generations.

Sustaining the Ashura Tradition and Institutional Memory at Nâfi Baba Tekke

On 8 July 2026, the Boğaziçi University Student Club for Research on the Şehitlik and Its Heritage (BÜŞMAK) continued the long-standing Ashura Day tradition associated with Nâfi Baba Tekke and the historic Şehitlik site on the South Campus. Following a recitation of the Qur’an and elegies commemorating Imam Husayn, the martyrs of Karbala and those buried in the Şehitlik Cemetery, ashure was prepared and shared among academics, alumni and students. The gathering brought members of the University community together around the values of sharing, solidarity and collective cultural memory.

The distribution of ashure during Muharram at Nâfi Baba Tekke was once an established tradition in İstanbul’s social and cultural life. Student-led research into the site’s historical connections—from the Nâfi Baba Tekke and Robert College to present-day Boğaziçi University—together with the continued observance of this tradition, makes the campus's layered history more visible. By bringing together a historic place and the living cultural practices associated with it, the initiative safeguards institutional memory and supports the intergenerational transmission of cultural heritage.

The full news article is available here.

Safeguarding Cultural Heritage and Preserving Literary Memory: Adalet Ağaoğlu Archive and Publishing Initiatives

In line with the aim of safeguarding and celebrating local and national cultural heritage, Boğaziçi University adopts a holistic approach to preserving and transmitting the legacy of Adalet Ağaoğlu, one of the most prominent figures in Turkish literature. Through the "Adalet Ağaoğlu Series" launched by Boğaziçi University Press, key literary works—including the Dar Zamanlar tetralogy and an enriched special edition of Fikrimin İnce Gülü featuring original documents and photographs—have been republished with meticulous editorial care. Viewing publishing as an act of preserving cultural memory, the university also promotes global cultural exchange by translating her complete works into foreign languages, including Italian and Azerbaijani.

Serving as a dedicated centre for cultural preservation, the "Adalet Ağaoğlu Research Room" houses an extensive personal archive spanning 1948 to 2008, encompassing original manuscripts, personal correspondence, rare press archives, awards, and personal book collections. Alongside ongoing digitisation, the archive is accessible to university members, external researchers, and graduate students via an appointment system. By facilitating public and scholarly access to literary heritage, this initiative strengthens cultural sustainability, inclusive research opportunities, and institutional memory.

The full news article is available here.

Safeguarding Intangible Cultural Heritage and Promoting Intercultural Dialogue: Success in the "Chinese Bridge" Competition

Boğaziçi University student Nursen Tayan secured third place in the 25th “Chinese Bridge” Competition for University Students in Türkiye, scoring 90 in a national final featuring 17 students from universities across the country. In her speech, titled “When Nowruz Meets the Spring Festival: A Tale of Two Springs”, Tayan explored springtime traditions in Turkish and Chinese cultures. She also performed a ribbon dragon dance, “Silk Road Rainbow Dragon”, bringing a traditional form of Chinese performing art to the stage. Drawing on the language and cultural education she received at the Boğaziçi University Confucius Institute, Tayan’s performance enabled traditions and performing arts from different societies to be learned, interpreted and shared in a contemporary educational setting. By connecting Nowruz with the Chinese Spring Festival, the event enhanced the visibility and intergenerational transmission of intangible cultural heritage while strengthening mutual understanding between Türkiye and China.

The full news article is available here.

Cultural Heritage and Intercultural Dialogue at the 2025 China–Türkiye Forum

Organised by the Boğaziçi University Confucius Institute in collaboration with the Asian Studies Center, the 2025 China–Türkiye Forum was held at Boğaziçi University on 8 December 2025. The forum brought together academics, experts and diplomatic representatives for three panels exploring different dimensions of cultural and scholarly exchange between China and Türkiye.

The first panel focused on global media flows and performance studies. Dr Jianping Mao, Professor Arzu Öztürkmen and Associate Professor Qianwen Zhou examined Chinese and transnational cultural interactions through the lenses of media, performance and digital markets. The second panel addressed current developments in sinology and academic engagement between China and Türkiye. Professor Eyüp Sar Sarıtaş and Professor Giray Fidan discussed emerging research trends in sinology and processes of mutual learning between the two countries. The third panel explored texts, historical transformations and cultural interactions within the broader Eurasian context. Associate Professor İnci Erdoğdu, Associate Professor Mihriban Aydın and Assistant Professor Hale Eroğlu presented research on topics including Chinese written culture, historical documents and Islamic reformism in modern China.

In addition to the academic presentations, the programme featured a documentary screening and exhibition titled “Rhythms of Chinese Cuisine”. By providing a platform for exploring and sharing diverse forms of cultural expression, historical sources and traditions through academic and artistic activities, the forum helped deepen mutual cultural understanding between Türkiye and China.

The full news article is available here.

Intercultural Dialogue and Safeguarding Global Cultural Heritage: Prof. Dr Oğuz Baykara Awarded the Order of the Rising Sun

Boğaziçi University actively supports an inclusive, diverse urban-academic cultural ecosystem by fostering cross-cultural bridges and contributing to the preservation and transmission of global intangible cultural heritage. In recognition of his outstanding contributions to Turkish-Japanese cultural relations and to the preservation of world literary heritage, Prof. Dr Oğuz Baykara, a faculty member of the M.A. Program in Asian Studies, was awarded the prestigious "Order of the Rising Sun, Gold Rays with Rosette" by the Government of Japan on 21 April 2026.

Prof. Dr Baykara’s monumental 15-year translation of Murasaki Shikibu’s The Tale of Genji—widely recognised as the world's first novel—into Turkish, together with his publication of the Basic Japanese-Turkish Dictionary, represents a vital effort to preserve global literary heritage and sustain cross-cultural memory. By using literature and language as bridges to mutual respect, shared understanding, and international cultural exchange, this initiative reinforces the university's commitment to safeguarding global cultural heritage.

The full news article is available here.

Transmitting Yavuz Nutku’s Scientific Legacy to Future Generations

The “Symmetry and Geometry Workshop”, organised by the Istanbul Integrability and Stringy Topics Initiative (IStringy), was held at Boğaziçi University’s South Campus on 5–6 March 2026. The workshop revisited the contributions of Professor Yavuz Nutku, who played an important role in the development of theoretical physics in Türkiye, particularly in mathematical physics, integrable systems and general relativity. While Nutku’s colleagues shared reflections on his academic approach and influence on generations of students, undergraduates participated actively by presenting their own analyses of his scientific papers.

Going beyond commemoration, the workshop brought Nutku’s body of work back into academic discussion, introduced it to a new generation and provided inspiration for further research. An organ recital included in the programme also brought science and art together, reflecting both Nutku’s multifaceted personality and the University’s cultural environment. By preserving and transmitting Yavuz Nutku’s scientific legacy across generations, the event helps safeguard scientific and intellectual heritage.

The full news article is available here.

Digitising 115 Years of Meteorological Heritage at Kandilli Observatory

Analogue meteorological charts recorded since 1911 at the Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute (KOERI) Meteorology Laboratory have been converted into digital data through the project “Preserving Meteorological Scientific Heritage: AI-Assisted Digitisation of Meteorological Chart Records”. As part of this initiative, a hackathon hosted by Boğaziçi University’s Department of Computer Engineering on 6–7 March 2026 brought together 45 students from four universities to develop innovative solutions in digitisation, data visualisation and forecasting.

By safeguarding 115 years of meteorological records against physical deterioration and data loss, the project integrates this historical collection into modern research infrastructure and enables its use in future scientific studies. In this way, the initiative contributes to the preservation, accessibility, and intergenerational transmission of scientific heritage through digital technologies.

The full news article is available here.

Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory Meteorology Laboratory Awarded the ‘Century Station Certificate’ in a Ceremony

The Meteorology Laboratory of Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute (KRDAE) has officially unveiled the ‘Century-Old Station Certificate’ awarded by the World Meteorological Organisation in 2020 at a ceremony held at the laboratory entrance.

At the ceremony held at the KRDAE Administration Building, Meteorology 1st Region Director Hüseyin Arabacı thanked those who contributed to the laboratory's uninterrupted service for over 100 years and to the awarding of the certificate. KRDAE Director Prof. Dr. Nurcan Meral Özel emphasised that the certificate is an important indicator of the Kandilli Observatory's long and uninterrupted scientific work spanning from the Ottoman era to the present day.

Prof. Dr. Özel noted that despite challenging conditions, the laboratory has continued to observe nature since 1911, and that this prestigious award is a source of pride for both the country and the institution. Following the speeches, the certificate was ceremonially hung on the building.

https://haberler.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/news/akademik/1/kandilli-rasathanesi-meteoroloji-laboratuvari/2872

Adalet Ağaoğlu is ‘Reborn’ at Boğaziçi University

Adalet Ağaoğlu, one of the most important figures in Turkish literature, was commemorated at Boğaziçi University on 23 October 2024, his birthday. The event, organised by Boğaziçi University Press, focused on Ağaoğlu's works and contributions to Turkish literature. The author, who donated her personal library of over 3,000 books and some of her personal belongings to Boğaziçi University before her passing, will have 28 of her books reissued by the publishing house. The reissue process will begin with her important work, the ‘Dar Zamanlar’ series.

Boğaziçi University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Naci İnci emphasised at the ceremony that Ağaoğlu's works are valuable pieces that guide us in understanding social and individual transformations. Prof. Dr. İnci noted that the author was an important part of the scientific and cultural heritage that has continued uninterrupted from the Ottoman era to the present day, and highlighted the importance of the Adalet Ağaoğlu Research Room established at the university thanks to the library and personal archive she donated. The room displays the author's desk, typewriter, awards, photographs, and other personal belongings.

Prof. Dr. Berat Açıl, Head of the Department of Turkish Language and Literature at Boğaziçi University, said that Ağaoğlu was ‘a symbol of continuing from where we left off’ for Boğaziçi University Press. As the first stage of the project to republish Ağaoğlu's 28 books, the ‘Dar Zamanlar’ quartet will be released to readers. The publishing house aims to make a strong start to its publishing activities with an important name.

During the event, a panel moderated by Prof. Dr. Fatih Usluer, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Literature, discussed Ağaoğlu's understanding of literature and the film adaptations of his works. Prof. Dr. Kamuran Eronat, Rector of Dicle University, highlighted the author's modest personality, while Cihat Arınç, a faculty member at Boğaziçi University, provided information about the film ‘Sarı Mercedes,’ adapted from the novel ‘Fikrimin İnce Gülü.’ Additionally, library staff member Emine Hatun Gür provided participants with detailed information about the works and collections in the Adalet Ağaoğlu Research Room.

https://haberler.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/news/diger/6/adalet-agaoglu-bogazici-universitesinde-yenid/2873

Boğaziçi University’s Historic Organ Comes Back to Life: A 112-Year-Old Legacy Resounds on Stage

Albert Long Hall at Boğaziçi University's South Campus hosted a special music recital on the evening of 19 February. The 112-year-old historic organ, one of the few of its kind in Turkey and donated to the university in 1913, returned to the stage after an eight-month restoration process.

The recital, brought to life by world-renowned organ virtuoso Jacob Benda, featured works by classical music giants such as J.S. Bach, Stephen Paulus, George Thalben Ball, Charles-Marie Widor, Charles Tournemire, and Camille Saint-Saëns. Benda presented the unique tones of the historic organ to the audience with a wide repertoire spanning from the Baroque to the Romantic periods.

Boğaziçi University Rector Prof. Dr. Mehmet Naci İnci described the restoration of the organ as ‘a cultural heritage that carries the knowledge and aesthetics of the past into the future,’ emphasising that this special concert was a fine example of the university's mission as a meeting point for science and art.

During the restoration process, the organ's entire mechanism, air system, pipes, and electronic components were thoroughly examined and renewed. As a result, this instrument, one of the few three-keyboard organs in Turkey, has regained its original sound quality.

At the end of the concert, Boğaziçi University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Fazıl Önder Sönmez presented artist Jacob Benda with a special ceramic plaque featuring the elegant motifs of Istanbul.

https://haberler.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/news/kampus/2/bogazici-universitesinde-seslerin-kutlamasi-1/2894

2024 Sustainability Report SDG-11 (Related Section)

Art and Cultural Heritage Contributions

Boğaziçi University fulfils its mission of preserving and disseminating its artistic and cultural heritage through student societies and events organised within the university. The University actively contributes to the local art scene by organising numerous public art and cultural events each year. The University's contributions to the public arts are summarised below:

Boğaziçi University Albert Long Hall Classical Music Concerts

Boğaziçi University has been organising Albert Long Hall Classical Music Concerts since 1996, bringing music lovers together. With its unique acoustics, 2000 pipe organ, two Steinway pianos and a capacity of 500 people, Albert Long Hall stands out as a distinguished venue that hosts both national and international artists.

The concerts aim to support the cultural development of young people and spread cultural awareness while presenting a rich programme that brings together different disciplines of art. World-renowned artists, orchestras, chamber music ensembles and young talents have taken the stage in the series, in which approximately 500 performances have taken place to date. Many valuable artists and ensembles, including Alfred Brendel, Martha Argerich, Fazıl Say, İdil Biret and Deutsche Oper Berlin Chamber Orchestra, have taken part in these events.

Concert tickets are offered at a very reasonable price in order to facilitate access to everyone, thus reaching a wider audience. These concerts appeal to a wide audience of music lovers in Istanbul, including members of Boğaziçi University.

Click here to see the concert programme:

https://klasikmuzik.bogazici.edu.tr/

Mithat Alam Film Centre

Founded in 1999 with the donation of Mithat Alam, Boğaziçi University Mithat Alam Film Center (MAFM) is located in South Campus and aims to support students interested in cinema in different areas of cinema from idea to production. The Centre offers a wide range of opportunities to students with its 61-seat Cinema Hall, Film Viewing Room, which offers the opportunity to watch individual films, Cinephile Room, which is used for cinema conversations and research, and Archive Room, which houses one of Turkey's most important film archives.

In addition, in the Natuk Birkan Building on the South Campus, there is an Editing Room where films can be edited and an office where Altyazı Monthly Cinema Magazine, published by the Centre, is prepared. The Centre provides students with film-related events and resources, creating a unique learning and sharing space for film enthusiasts.

Click here to visit the MAFM website:

https://mafm.bogazici.edu.tr/

SineBU Boğaziçi University's Original Cinema Hall

Founded in 2015 and a member of the Europa Cinemas network, SineBU is a movie theatre operating within Boğaziçi University. SineBU brings together students and cinema lovers with the films that have won awards at important festivals such as Cannes, Berlin, Venice, Sundance and other important festivals and that attract attention throughout the year with monthly programmes prepared in the taste of a festival. These screenings, presented in cooperation with Başka Cinema, offer a rich cinema experience to students and cinema enthusiasts from outside the university with very affordable ticket prices.

In addition to being the only public institution cinema in Turkey, SineBU is also the first cinema hall with an infrastructure suitable for access by disabled individuals. With its design suitable for the participation of individuals with orthopedic disabilities and its audio description infrastructure, it aims to enable individuals with visual and hearing problems to have an equal, independent and free cinema experience. To this end, it is one of the founding members of the Equal Access to Culture platform and carries out pioneering activities in the field.

Integrated into the regulation and supervision system of the General Directorate of Cinema of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, SineBU offers moviegoers a quality cinema experience and sets an exemplary model for equal access to culture.

Click here to visit SineBU web page:

https://sinebu.bogazici.edu.tr/

Fine Arts Department

Boğaziçi University Fine Arts Department offers students elective courses in various art disciplines such as painting, ceramics, sculpture, music, ballet, graphics, photography, applied arts and drama. The department aims to enable students to discover their interest in art and develop their talents in addition to their specialised education. The Department of Fine Arts, which aims for a well-rounded artistic and cultural development, regularly organises exhibitions, concerts and performances, strengthening the artistic atmosphere within the university and reflecting Boğaziçi University's contribution to the arts to the society.

Click here for the web page of the Department of Fine Arts:

https://finearts.bogazici.edu.tr/

Boğaziçi University Music Club and Taşoda Festival

Boğaziçi University Music Club (BÜMK), Turkey's longest-established and most active music club, has been providing self-development opportunities and an environment of interaction for countless musicians since its inception, and continues to be the centre of independent and free music in Turkey with Taşoda Festival. In this festival, which attracts the attention of Boğaziçi University students as well as people from other universities, nearly 40 music bands that have worked in Taşoda take the stage.

Click here to go to Boğaziçi University Music Club web page:

https://bumk1974.com/

Click here to go to Taşoda Festival web page:

https://tasodafestivali.com/

Boğaziçi University Players

Boğaziçi University Players (BÜO) brings art lovers together with the plays they regularly stage throughout the year. As one of the oldest theatre companies in Turkey, BÜO makes significant contributions to university culture and appeals to a wide audience. With the plays they stage, the troupe pioneers the dissemination of art not only within the university but also throughout the society.

Click here to go to Boğaziçi University Players web page:

https://buoboun.wordpress.com/

Protection and Recording of Cultural Heritage

Boğaziçi University attaches great importance to the protection and recording of intangible cultural heritage such as local folklore, traditions, language and knowledge. This heritage is recognised as a part of our social memory and cultural richness and is protected through various projects.

Nafi Baba Sufism, History and Cultural Heritage Application and Research Centre

Nafi Baba Sufism, History and Cultural Heritage Application and Research Centre examines the material, social, cultural and environmental characteristics of Nafi Baba Dervish Lodge, Rumelihisarı Martyrdomand Rumelihisarı settlementand their changes in history with interdisciplinary approaches. Thanks to these works, the historical and cultural texture of the region is preserved and carried to the future, and the sustainability of cultural heritage is ensured.

Click here for more information:

https://arastirma.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/nafi-baba-tasavvuf-tarih-ve-kulturel-miras-uygulama-ve-arastirma-merkezi-2018

Rare Works and Historical Archives

The archive collections within the Boğaziçi University Library Rare Works and Historical Archives Branch Directorate include institutional archive and private collection materials donated to Boğaziçi University or acquired by the university.

The rare artefacts collection contains approximately 30 thousand artefacts in different genres from the 16th to the 20th century. The collection is based on the library of Robert College. Cyrus Hamlin, the founder and first principal of Robert College, mentions in his memoirs that Harvard University Law School donated 200 valuable books on the occasion of the establishment of the College. These donations and other books collected at that time were the first works that formed the basis of the Robert College library. The library collection was enriched over time and became one of the most important libraries of the period.

The archive collections include documents, letters, handwritten notes, photographs, postcards, newspaper and magazine clippings, published articles, awards and some objects belonging to important people. Some of the collections were classified and digitised within the scope of the project titled ‘History of Science, Culture and Education in Istanbul through Personal Archives’. The private archive collections in the Rare Works and Historical Archives Branch Directorate are as follows:

• Adalet Ağaoğlu Collection
• Aptullah Kuran Archive
• Aziz Ogan Archive
• Ismayıl Hakkı Baltacıoğlu Archive
• Feza Gürsey Archive (Physical archive material is in the Physics Department)
• Jale Inan Archive
• Leyla Erbil Archive (The physical archive material is at Nazım Hikmet Cultural Centre)
• Melih Rauf Esenbel Archive
• Robert College, American College for Girls and Boğaziçi University Archive
• Scott Family Collection
• Yakup Kadri Karaosmanoğlu, Ayşe Leman Karaosmanoğlu and Burhan Belge Archive

Our university also organises many activities for the protection of intangible cultural heritage through the Culture, Arts and Activities Branch Directorate and Student Activities Coordinatorship. These activities are carried out with the aim of protecting, preserving and transferring the cultural heritage of local communities to future generations.

Click here to see the archive collections:

https://buarchives.bogazici.edu.tr/tr/collections

Art and Cultural Heritage Contributions Sustainable Transport Targets and Practices

Boğaziçi University develops innovative transport solutions to facilitate mobility within and between campuses as well as to promote sustainable transport. Comprehensive strategies are implemented to support, measure and promote environmentally friendly transport alternatives such as public transport, walking, car sharing, cycling and electric vehicle use.

Free Shuttle Service Between Campuses: Boğaziçi University offers free shuttle services for students and employees to facilitate transportation between campuses. These shuttles provide fast and comfortable access to on-campus facilities and activities such as meetings, seminars, libraries, laboratories and sports complexes. Shuttle routes and timings are regularly optimised and this service is intensively used by the members of the university.

Click here to see the shuttle service hours and routes:

https://mekik.bogazici.edu.tr/