Organized by the Faculty of Medicine at Istinye University, the Science and Curiosity Talks series provided the university with a rich cultural development platform, offering events that encouraged academic curiosity and built a bridge between science and art under the guiding principle, “Curiosity and Science Liberate.”
Conferences at the Intersection of Art, Curiosity, and Science
The first event in the series, titled “Caravaggio: His Life and Works,” was delivered with captivating narration by art historian and author Celil Sadık. The session was moderated by Dean of the Faculty of Medicine, Prof. Dr. Türker Kılıç.
Prof. Dr. Kılıç introduced the core mission of the Science and Curiosity Talks in his speech:
“From the beginning, our motto has been: Curiosity and Science Liberate. Being a good scientist requires more than expertise in a specific field; it demands a globally informed mindset. As you know, ‘Hezarfen’ means a master of a thousand sciences.”
Art historian Celil Sadık reflected on the importance of art and its civilizational impact:
“In our country, interest in art history is quite low. One reason is the lack of art history courses in primary education.”
“Fueled by an unending curiosity about art and civilization, I have remained committed to my work in this field.”
Deepening Curiosity Through Philosophy: Naturalism and the Political
The second session of the series was titled “Philosophy I: Naturalism and the Political.” Professors M. Ertan Kardeş and Kurtul Gülenç explored the concept of naturalism and the political conceptualization of the body within a philosophical framework.
From Neuroscience to a New Culture and Academia
Another highlight of the series was the talk titled “What We’ve Learned from NeuroScience: New Science, New Culture, New Academia.” In this session, Prof. Dr. Çetin Balanuye emphasized that the foundation of life is information.
Prof. Dr. Türker Kılıç discussed the brain’s connectivity and its influence on contemporary artificial intelligence technologies, approaching the topic through the lens of information theory. He emphasized the miracle of the brain’s function and creativity:
“Brain tissue is the most beautiful thing in existence—because it thinks, creates art, and produces the human mind. That alone is a miracle.”
The Science and Curiosity Talks series nourished scientific thought through interdisciplinary curiosity, offering the university community fresh perspectives across various fields. It became a platform that emphasized knowledge not merely as an academic pursuit, but as a transformative power in all areas of life. By keeping curiosity alive and uniting science with other disciplines, the conference series aimed to foster the development of independent, critical thinkers—reaching students, academics, artists, and philosophers alike. Through such impactful events, Istinye University not only generates science but also cultivates a culture that encourages thinking, questioning, and understanding.
