As 11 February, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, brings the importance of equal opportunity in science and technology back to the agenda, successes from Türkiye in international science, maths and research competitions are also drawing attention. Girls from Işık Primary and Secondary School, part of the Feyziye Mektepleri Foundation Işık Schools – which stresses the importance of raising values-driven individuals alongside academic development – are standing out with the places they have won in international competitions.
To mark 11 February, the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, the international achievements of girls in science and technology came into the spotlight. Girls from Işık Primary and Secondary School, part of the Feyziye Mektepleri Foundation Işık Schools, attracted attention with their results in mathematics olympiads and science competitions.
Medals, places in finals and rankings won at international mathematics olympiads, science-based competitions and project events demonstrated the pupils’ skill in analytical thinking, problem solving and scientific research. Successes at competitions held in different countries showed that students raised in Türkiye are gaining a stronger presence on international science platforms.
Remarkable Success at an Early Age in International Mathematics Olympiads
Zeynep Yıldız, a Year 3 pupil at Işık Primary School, won silver medals at the Southeast Asian Mathematical Olympiad (SEAMO) and the Fermat Mathematics Olympiad held in Vietnam, earning a place in the international final round. Zeynep Yıldız’s success revealed highly developed skills in analytical thinking, problem solving and logical reasoning, and showed that she uses mathematics as an active tool for understanding natural phenomena and interpreting data.
A Systematic Model in Mathematics Education
In the mathematical brain-training programmes run at the school, pupils regularly practise problem solving, strategic thinking and reasoning. Among the pupils who stand out in this area is Meyra Melis Civelekoğlu.
Ela Bozdağ, İdil Ayhan and Vanessa Magriso achieved success in the Mathletics competitions, and İdil Ayhan and Zeynep Nur Topoğlu in the CryptoMath – Houdini’s Dilemma Cryptology Competition.
Among the pupils achieving international success were Lal Perek and Zeynep Nur Topoğlu in the Singapore and Asian Schools Math Olympiad (SASMO); Kayra Erkiner and Lal Perek in the American Mathematics Olympiad; and Kayra Vardarsuyu, Peren Maya Özarpat, Zeynep Çağlar and Beren Duman in the URFODU mathematics and science olympiads.
The Road to World Finals in Science Projects
Zeynep Güneş Köseoğlu and Derin Dalgıç were among the pupils taking part in TÜBİTAK project work, while Leyla Kuşüzümü and Meyra Melis Civelekoğlu stood out in chess for their strategic thinking skills.
Competing in the Future Problem Solving Program International (FPSPI), Year 7 pupils Mila Çavdar and Kayra Vardarsuyu won the right to represent Türkiye at the international final in the United States with their placing in the Global Issues category. Through the programme, pupils develop in many directions: global thinking, leadership, use of technology, time management and social responsibility.
International Awards in Sustainability and Science
With the “Hayat Küpü” (Cube of Life) project, prepared as part of the SEMEP programme led by the UNESCO National Commission of Türkiye, Beren Duman received the “Best Collection” award on the theme of sustainable agriculture and environmental awareness.
In the URFODU International Science Fundamentals Knowledge Competition, Kayra Vardarsuyu received a second-place certificate in biology, while Mualla Ada Duran, Zeynep Çağlar and Kayra Helen Algan earned third-place certificates.
Girls’ Representation in Science Is Growing Stronger
This picture of success, highlighted on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, shows that girls are more strongly represented in science, technology and academic research with every passing year. Supporting scientific curiosity from an early age, spreading a culture of project work and a values-based approach to education all play a critical role in shaping Türkiye’s scientific future.
