“Bayer Young Science Ambassadors” Project, Launched Six Years Ago in Cooperation with Bayer and Toplum Gönüllüleri Vakfı, Continues to Bring Science to Children at Full Speed

Bayer Turkey and the Society Volunteers Foundation (TOG) have launched the "Bayer Young Science Ambassadors" project, which is now entering its sixth year of operations. As part of the project's ongoing routes, volunteer "Science Ambassadors" met with students at Perihan Tulan Primary and Secondary School in Çiftlik Village and Nasırlı Village Primary School within Düzce province, conducting engaging science activities with children aged 9–12. University students participating on a voluntary basis in the "Bayer Young Science Ambassadors" project focus on developing children's ability to question natural phenomena and their surroundings, as well as strengthening their scientific research skills through science activities. Launched to ensure that children living in rural areas become scientifically literate and develop a love for science, the "Bayer Young Science Ambassadors" project aims to reach an additional 5,000 children in 2017 and raise awareness among more students about the importance of inquiry and curiosity. Recognized with prestigious awards by international award organizations, the project has brought together 1,750 volunteer science ambassadors and 22,860 students over the past five years.

The "Bayer Young Science Ambassadors" project, implemented by Bayer Turkey in cooperation with TOG, aims to encourage primary school-age children toward careers in science and contribute to the advancement of science in Turkey.

The Bayer Young Science Ambassadors Project, developed with careful attention, consists of two phases. First, Science Ambassadors, comprised of volunteer university students, participate in training designed with informal education modules under the heading "Scientific Literacy." Subsequently, they implement a series of activities in primary schools to foster children's interest in science and cultivate a love for it. Activity programs are conducted in schools taking into account weekly class hours. The activities feature seven engaging experiments that capture children's interest and align with Bayer's global business strategies, raising awareness of global megatrends relevant to the world's future such as growing and aging world population, increasing energy demand, rising food and feed requirements, improving living standards and declining resources. The "Science Seeds Team," the mobile unit of the Bayer Young Science Ambassadors project, was launched in 2014 as an extension developed especially for Bayer's 60th anniversary in Turkey. The Science Seeds Team travels by mobile educational vehicle, visiting villages and meeting with children in rural settlements. To date, the team has covered approximately 67,000 km and met with children at 196 locations.