ATAA UN Related Announcement# 33
In commemoration of the 86th Anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s passing, and
in support of the World Science Day for Peace and Development (UNESCO 31 C/Resolution 20) (10 November)
Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA)
Presents a Webinar on
Cultivating A Culture of Peace And Development
Sunday, November 17, 2024
1:00pm EST, 12:00pm CST, 10:00am PST, 21:00 TR
*** Online Registration ***
https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_8iH31jvzQ42dvGMJYE_PNA
After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar.
Language: English
Background
Celebrated every November 10, World Science Day for Peace and Development highlights the significant role of science in society and the need to engage the wider public in debates on emerging scientific issues. It also underlines the importance and relevance of science in our daily lives.
By linking science more closely with society, World Science Day for Peace and Development aims to ensure that citizens are kept informed of developments in science. It also underscores the role scientists play in broadening our understanding and in making our societies more sustainable. Science can be used to improve life on earth as well as can cause significant harm to society if it is not used properly.
On this program we look at several critical medical science discoverers significantly helped to protect our society from deadly diseases and saved lives.
Turkish youth inspired by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the first President of the Republic of Turkey, to maintain peace at home and wherever they live in the world. They are also committed to proactively getting involved in sustainability programs within their means. November 10 is also the 86th anniversary of Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s passing. Turkish Youth remembers Atatürk and dedicates this program to all the young people in the world.
Program
Opening Remarks and Introduction by
Dr. Nilüfer Esen-Bilgin
ATAA President
Moderator and Program Comments by
Dr. Selim Erhan
Member of the ATAA Board of Trustees
Keynote Speaker
Nilay Etiler, M.D.
“Fight against the Malaria during early years after
Turkish Republic of Türkiye Established”
Youth Speakers
Sean Özalpasan
“Village Institutions implemented in Türkiye by Atatürk”
Bora Özalp
“Misusing Science and its Impact on Society”
Serkan Gomez
“How are the younger generations viewing media information?
How powerful is visual arts?”
Open Youth Dialog
Next Program Announcement by
Yücel Burdurlu
ATAA UN Committee Co-Chair
Closing Remarks by
Alev Wieland
ATAA President Elect & ATAA UN Committee Co-Chair
Biographies
Nilay Etiler, M.D.
Director of the Donor Management and Transplantation Science Program
School of Public Health, University of Nevada
Nilay Etiler is a medical doctor who specializes in public health and preventive medicine. She served as a general practitioner in primary health care units, a field coordinator in various vaccine campaigns, a medical activity manager in migrant health clinics, as well as a professor who taught courses on public health and preventive medicine in Türkiye.
She currently serves as the Director of the Donor Management and Transplantation Science Program at the School of Public Health, University of Nevada, Reno (UNR).
Her experience and research focus primarily on healthcare policy, urban health, gender issues in women’s health, migrant health, and social justice in health.
Sean Özalpasan
Harvard-Westlake School, Los Angeles, CA
Sean is an 11th grader attending Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles, California. Sean is a proud member of the Turkish-American community and takes pride in participating in Association of Turkish Americans of Southern California (ATASC) events in Los Angeles, California.
He enjoys programming, computer hardware, finance, geography, and history. Sean enjoys learning languages, as he is currently taking advanced Spanish classes and beginner German classes at school. Furthermore, Sean enjoys traveling, and whenever he and his family go to Türkiye, they make sure to visit UNESCO-recognized ancient historical sites as well as important hallmarks of Ataturk’s legacy in Türkiye.
To further his understanding of Turkish history, Sean takes the Middle East Studies class at his school. This year, Sean wanted to join the ATAA 2023 Youth Competition because he wanted to educate people on the importance of the Turkish Straits.
Bora Özalp
ATAA Youth Committee member and TACAM Youth Member
Bora Özalp is a student at Detroit Country Day High School. He is a straight-A student and is ranked in the top 10% of his class. He plays basketball for his school’s junior varsity team and is also a member of the school’s ski team. Bora is an avid violin and piano player since age seven and has been playing in the school’s Honors Symphonic Orchestra. Bora was a member of the Detroit Country Day Middle School’s National Junior Honor Society, and he is a candidate member of the High School’s National Honor Society.
Bora has been actively involved with the Turkish American Association of Michigan from a very young age by participating in association’s Turkish language school, clubs, events and activities. He participates in Turkish American Cultural Association of Washington’s Turks Without Borders project as a conversation partner to high school students in Türkiye.
Bora also volunteers with Ҫağdaş Yaşamı Destekleme Derneği in Türkiye to help university students in conversational English. Bora volunteers his time during summers in Türkiye as a summer camp counselor in remote villages helping elementary school age students with learning English.
Bora is fluent in Turkish and Spanish. Bora’s goal is to continue his involvement in projects where he can use his skills helping students and by doing so establish friendships and connections between the Turkish-American youth in the US and in Türkiye.
Bora plans to become an Electrical and Computer Engineer with a focus on medical applications.
Serkan Gomez
University of Texas at Dallas, Psychology
Serkan Gomez is a dedicated sophomore at the University of Texas at Dallas, passionately pursuing a degree in Psychology while also following a pre-med track. His academic journey is complemented by a rich history of extracurricular involvement and achievements.
At a young age, Serkan was actively engaged in the youth and government debate programs, where he spent 6-7 years improving his skills and earned two major award medals. This experience laid a strong foundation for Serkan, currently participating in his college speech team, where he continue to develop his public speaking and critical thinking abilities.
Music has always been a significant part of Serkan’s life. He played the bassoon, contrabassoon, and saxophone for 7 years as a member of my school band, competed in the UIL All-State marching contest, where he performed alongside some of the finest marching bands in Texas. Additionally, Erkan has been playing the piano for 7 years, an endeavor that has enriched his musical and personal growth.
Balancing academics and work, Serkan has been working as a cashier at Sprouts Farmers Market for the past year and a half. This role has taught him valuable customer service skills and the importance of teamwork in a professional environment.
Serkan’s commitment to helping others is evident through his volunteer work. While he volunteered for 4 weeks of service at the Baylor Scott and White Medical Center, he gained insights into the healthcare field. He also volunteers with Turks without Borders, where he participate in initiatives aimed at helping youth to learn English and supporting and uplifting communities.
Throughout high school, his dedication to academic excellence was recognized with a spot on the Academic Honor Roll for two consecutive years.
As Serkan continues his journey at the University of Texas at Dallas, he remains committed to his academic and professional goals that are driven by a passion for psychology, medicine, and making a positive impact in the world.
Project Team
Alev Wieland
ATAA President-Elect , ATAA UN Committee Co-Chair
Alev Wieland has Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from University of Cincinnati, OH. Worked for Balcan Engineering at Proctor of Gamble as Project Engineer for 7 years. She retired from PepsiCo, Inc-AMEA Capability Director in 2012.
Alev has extensive experience in Lean Manufacturing, Lean Product Life Cycle Management, Equipment and Processes Development. Project Management, Construction Management, Food Manufacturing, Paper Converting, Cosmetics and Laundry Soap Industries. She has solid understanding of Engineering, Manufacturing and Operations Processes. She is an expert in ISO 9001 and GMP Certifications and Standards. Alev is the CEO of Manufacturing Excellence Technical Services and Alev Cosmetics.
Alev has been serving as the President-Elect of ATAA since May 2024. She served on the ATAA Board of Directors as the Southwest Region Vice President from 2020 to 2024 and as First Vice President from October 2023 to May 2024. Alev also serves as the co-Chair of the ATAA UN Relations Committee and Chair of the ATAA Newsletter Committee.
She is the Secretary General and NGO Relations Director Contemporary Education Foundation (COEDFO) since 2013, has been responsible for organizational communication, meetings management, documentation, website management. As the Trustee and active member of the Turkish American Association of Northern Texas (TURANT), she has been providing organizational operations support to its elected board members and helping with executions of projects since 2000.
Since 2008, Alev takes active role at her local Main Street Organization and International Community, helps with organizations of the major festivals that is proven to become the key events that provides income to the city. She served as President of Cincinnati Turkish American Association (CTAA) from 1994 to 1996.
Since 2023 Alev serves as the Trustee of the Turkish American Visual and Performing Arts (TAVPA).
Since March 2024, Alev is serving Dallas Turkish Businesswomen’s Network as the Advisor.
Dr. Selim Erhan
ATAA Trustee and ATAA UN Committee Member
Dr. Selim Erhan was born in Istanbul Turkey. After graduating with a chemical engineering degree from the University of Istanbul, he continued his studies at Western Michigan University with a Ph.D. in Polymer-Organic Chemistry. After teaching at Western Michigan University, Kalamazoo College and Lake Michigan College, he started a research career first at the USDA’s National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research in Peoria, IL. He continued his career in the private industry, working on application of bio-based products to industrial applications.
Dr. Erhan started actively working on introducing Turkey and the Turkish Culture in USA while studying at Western Michigan University in 1980. He joined the Turkish American Cultural Alliance in 2000 and became active in educational activities and in 2009. He was the co-founder of the highly successful TACA – Public Outreach Program, aiming at educating middle school, high school and university students on important issues. The Public Outreach Organization brought speakers like Prof. Justin McCarthy, Prof. Turkkaya Ataov, Emre Kongar and Lincoln McCurdy.
In 2013 he joined TACA’s Board of Directors and became the Director of the Ataturk School and the Adult Turkish School. Continued as the TACA Public Outreach Chair preparing seminars and conferences to reach out and enlighten the public in the Midwest region.
Dr. Erhan was elected as ATAA’s Midwest Region VP 2015 to 2019. He has continued working at ATAA, helped to form the UN Committee and was instrumental to form the highly successful Turkish American Presidents Group under ATAA, improving communications with the Component Associations in USA and pulling in similar Turkish organizations from Canada. In 2022, he was elected to ATAA’s Board of Trustees.
Yücel Burdurlu
ATAA UN Committee Co-Chair and ATAA Midwest Region Past VP
Yücel Burdurlu was born and raised in Istanbul Türkiye. After receiving her Bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Hacettepe University Ankara Turkey, she continued her graduate studies at California State University Long Beach.
After graduating, she started a career in private industry working on applied and theoretical research on coatings and coating raw materials. Yucel worked for Imperial Chemical Industries formerly known as ICI Paints North America in their Strongsville Research Center most of her career in the international innovation team where she was involved variety of interesting projects in collaboration with their Slough Laboratory in Slough, England, ICI France in Rouge, France and ICI South America Research Center in Sao Paulo, Brazil.
Next, Yucel worked for BUNGE Oils North America where, she worked with inorganic synthesis of anticorrosive pigments and tested them in collaboration with Batelle Laboratories in Columbus Ohio, University of Southern Mississippi and Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio, Texas.
Presently, Yucel is with True Value Manufacturing in Cary Illinois as a Research Chemist. Yucel lives in the suburbs of Chicago. She joined TACA’s Board of Directors in 2013-2015 and she was the Director of the Ataturk School and the Adult Turkish School 2014-2015.
Yucel also has been a member of the Chicago Turkish Festival Planning Committee and a volunteer in the festival since 2013 and has served as the Volunteer Coordinator for the Chicago Turkish festivals in 2016 and 2018. Yucel is planning to continue working on bringing Turkish and American groups together using her organization skills, people skills, education skills and her passion for harmony and peace.
For further inquiries, please e-mail uncommittee@ataa.org, presidentelect@ataa.org (Alev Wieland, Co-Chair & ATAA President Elect)
Websites: www.ataa.org | www.ataa.org/u-n
References:
www.ataa.org/newsletter/ataa-becomes-associate-member-of-the-un-dgc
