Faculty of Letters and Sciences, Department of Sociology faculty member, Professor Dr. Tuncay Zorlu, delivered a presentation on the topic of "Studying the History of Science and Technology in an Engineering University: Human Resources, Curriculum, and New Approaches." This presentation took place as part of the History of Science Education and Research in Turkey Symposium commemorating the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, held on the 13th and 14th of October 2023. The symposium was organized by Istanbul Medeniyet University and the Turkish Historical Society (TTK).

In his discourse, Professor Zorlu delved into the comprehensive examination of the trajectory leading to the establishment and evolution of the Science and Technology History Master's and Doctorate program within the ITU Graduate Education Institute. From its inception to the contemporary period, he provided insights into the program's pivotal milestones, the formative process leading to its establishment at ITU, Turkey's premier engineering school, elucidating the shaping of the program's objectives and the composition of its teaching staff.

The presentation further scrutinized the process of harnessing ITU's academic potential, evaluating the academic backgrounds of students admitted to the program, the courses offered, and the overarching characteristics of the theses produced to date, all underscored with empirical data. Simultaneously, Professor Zorlu highlighted the invaluable resources within the ITU archive and library, housing an extensive collection of documents and images concerning the history of science and technology, particularly in the realm of engineering history, and underscored their potential as invaluable assets for the program. Moreover, Zorlu illustrated that independent studies on the History of Science had already commenced within the rank of ITU professors, long before some of the institutions of History of Science established in Türkiye.

Within the context of ITU's History of Science and Technology Master's Degree and PhD programs, guided by the fundamental tenets of expanding knowledge boundaries in science, technology, and art to meet societal needs, Professor Zorlu delved into prospective expansions. He considered the dynamic interdisciplinary nature of the field, global developments, and the nuanced contours and surveillance of the discipline, while also addressing the potential enhancements to existing methodologies.