In the symposium that we revived after four years, young researchers working in the fields of Islamic sciences and social sciences drew attention with their interdisciplinary presentations.

Knowledge, Wisdom, and Curiosity Spoke at the Opening

The opening session of the symposium featured powerful speeches that inspired the participants. Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kurt, the Rector of Marmara University, emphasized that universities are the centers of intellectual production and scientific development, highlighting the importance of the contributions of young academics to idea generation. Prof. Dr. Kurt stated that such programs create a strong bridge between scientific communities and students.

"We want young people who think with their own concepts, not with imported concepts, and who produce solutions in Turkey."

Our Board Member Dr. Esra Albayrak, in her speech, emphasized that if knowledge does not serve humanity, it becomes a tool for genocide and massacre.

"We know that reason dominates in our age, but we also see that conscience is silenced. The painful events from Gaza to Syria, from Myanmar to Sudan show us that if knowledge does not serve humanity, it can also become a tool for great genocides and massacres. We want to serve young people who question, think, and center compassion and justice in Turkey. We want young people who think with their own concepts, not with imported concepts, and who produce solutions. As you know, for several centuries, Western-centered epistemology has determined what is valid, whose words are valuable, whose voices can be heard, and whose experiences can be considered valuable. It is possible to observe the clearest reflection of this today by looking at how knowledge is produced and circulated regarding the genocide currently happening in Gaza," she stated.

Another of the opening speeches of the symposium belonged to TÜRGEV our Board Chair, Attorney Hatice Akıncı Yılmaz. Reminding the place of curiosity in a person's journey to understand themselves and existence, Yılmaz said:

"Today, we are not only in pursuit of knowledge here. Curiosity is the oldest instinct of a person aimed at understanding themselves and existence. TÜRGEV The Academy serves as a second university that transforms this instinct into intellectual depth."

Young People Took the Floor with Critical Thinking

The symposium, which took place in two sessions, one in the morning and one in the afternoon, included evaluation panels after the presentations, contributing to the reinforcement of students' critical thinking skills. Some of the prominent topics in this year's sessions were as follows:

• I. Session: The Right to be Forgotten in the Digital Age, Approach to Organ Transplantation from the Perspective of Islamic Law, Commodification of Breast Milk

• II. Session: Culture and Civilization in the Vision of Aliya Izzetbegović, Psychosocial Factors in Participation in Sufi Orders, Discussions on Modern Psychology and Islamic Psychology, Islamic Perspective on the EU's Gender Approaches

The presentations made by young academics not only conveyed knowledge but also showcased strong examples of establishing intellectual connections with society.

Tribute to Palestinian Academics

At the end of her speech, the words of our Chair Hatice Akıncı Yılmaz towards Palestinian academics left a deep impact in the hall:

"We respectfully and humbly salute the Palestinian academics who have left a dignified stance for humanity by not only thinking and producing but also resisting Gaza and Palestine, which have become the teachers of humanity in our age."

The symposium was remembered as a powerful gathering that brought together young people's scientific curiosity with critical thinking, while also reminding them of their moral and ethical responsibilities.