A first in academia from Üsküdar University!

Üsküdar University has achieved a significant success by preparing the first master’s theses in Türkiye within the scope of the country’s first human space mission.

Üsküdar University master’s students Ebru Çam and Özge Demir, under the supervision of Asst. Prof. Cihan Taştan, Project Manager of the MESSAGE experiment, prepared their theses as part of Türkiye’s first human space mission.

Üsküdar University has achieved a significant success by preparing the first master’s theses in Türkiye within the scope of the country’s first human space mission.

The prepared theses were presented at the Science Mission Evaluation Workshop, hosted by TÜBİTAK in June, in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Technology, the Turkish Space Agency (TUA), and TÜBİTAK Space.

Dr. Cihan Taştan, Director of Üsküdar University’s Transgenic Cell Technologies and Epigenetic Application and Research Center (TRGENMER) and Project Manager of the MESSAGE (Microgravity Associated Genetics) Science Mission, presented the results of the mission he led at the workshop, together with Beyza Aydın, R&D officer at Üsküdar University’s TRGENMER & NPCELLAB.

Another first from Üsküdar University!

Üsküdar University master’s students Ebru Çam and Özge Demir, through their research under the guidance of Dr. Cihan Taştan, achieved an important success by preparing the first master’s theses within the scope of Türkiye’s first human space mission.

As part of the MESSAGE science mission, the students published their theses:“Mechanisms of Longevity and Cellular Aging in Microgravity: Investigating the Effects of Spaceflight on Aging, Oxidative Stress and Immune Responses” (Ebru Çam) “Expression Changes and Functional Interpretation of LOC Genes of Unknown Function in Microgravity Environment” (Özge Demir) With these works, they achieved an academic first in Türkiye’s space research field.

The first human space mission master’s theses from Üsküdar University

The master’s theses prepared within the scope of Türkiye’s first human space mission demonstrated not only the difficulty of scientific studies but also their feasibility. Throughout the process, Dr. Cihan Taştan and his team, as coordinators of the MESSAGE Science Mission, worked to overcome the challenges of sample collection in space through certified NASA training. Despite the difficulties microgravity conditions posed for experiments, experiment materials and protocols suitable for space conditions were developed.

Scientific results evaluated

The workshop was attended by Türkiye’s first astronaut Alper Gezeravcı, astronaut Tuva Cihangir Atasever, TÜBİTAK President Prof. Orhan Aydın, and numerous scientists. As part of the Turkish Astronaut and Science Mission project, the leaders of the 13 science missions carried out in space were presented with Turkish flags taken to the International Space Station and Certificates of Appreciation by the TÜBİTAK President, the President of the Turkish Space Agency, and astronauts Alper Gezeravcı and Tuva Cihangir Atasever. Within the program, the results of the scientific studies conducted during Türkiye’s first space mission were evaluated.

Scientific experiments in space went through challenging processes

Scientific experiments conducted in space go through processes that are significantly different and more challenging than those on Earth. The preparatory phases of our astronauts before their space journey, from diet and exercise programs to physiological monitoring, were carried out meticulously, while the MESSAGE Science Mission was also designed in accordance with these conditions.

A significant contribution to the history of science!

As a result of all these intensive efforts, the outcomes of the MESSAGE science mission were shared at the Science Mission Evaluation Workshop within the scope of the Turkish Astronaut and Science Mission Project, and the publication of the first master’s theses within Türkiye’s first human space mission provided an important contribution to the history of science.