Projects & olympiads

The school's hours beyond lessons. Olympiad groups work four to six hours a week; the project club prepares an application for the TÜBİTAK High School Research Projects competition every year.

6 hours / week

Olympiad groups

Students join in the first month of grade 9 through trial lessons, not a selection exam.

Each group has a teacher in charge and two fixed weekly sessions. A separate study plan is written for every student sitting the first round of the TÜBİTAK Science Olympiads; those who reach the second round go to winter camp with a teacher from school.

6 MathematicsTue, Thu 16:00–17:30 · Sat 10:00–12:00

4 PhysicsMon, Wed 16:00–17:30

4 ChemistryTue, Fri 16:00–17:30

3.5 BiologyThu 16:00–17:30 · Sat 10:00–12:00

5 Computer scienceMon, Thu 16:00–17:40

Weekly hours per olympiad group

Lab notebook

Projects are written the same way: research question, method, current result. Students are named by initials.

TÜBİTAK project · 2025–26 Ongoing

Microplastics in Bornova Creek

D. Y. and K. A., 11-B · Supervisor: Elif Demirtaş

Question.: At three points of the creek closest to school, does the microplastic count rise after rain?
Method.: Since October, a 1-litre water sample from three points every two weeks; filtering, counting under the microscope and comparing with rainfall data.
Result.: In the first 12 measurements, post-rain samples show about twice the count. Measurements continue until the end of May.

TÜBİTAK project · 2025–26 Ongoing

CO₂ and attention in the classroom

E. K., M. T. and S. B., 10-A · Supervisor: Can Özdemir

Question.: Does the classroom CO₂ level affect the result of a short attention test at the end of the lesson?
Method.: Per-minute CO₂ measurement in four classrooms with a sensor station we built; a five-minute attention test while ventilation breaks are varied.
Result.: Sensor calibration is complete; the first data set will be analysed in February.

Club project · 2025–26 Completed

Measuring gravity with a pendulum

Physics club, grade 9 · Supervisor: Can Özdemir

Question.: Can we measure g with less than one per cent error using a simple pendulum in the school lab?
Method.: Timing 20 swings at five different string lengths; g from the slope of the line between period squared and length.
Result.: g = 9.78 m/s²; 0.3% off the accepted value. The biggest error source is starting the stopwatch.

Olympiad work · 2025–26 Completed

The shortest path in a triangle

Maths olympiad group · Supervisor: Murat Erdem

Question.: Where is the point whose total distance to the three vertices of a triangle is smallest, and how is it found with compass and straightedge?
Method.: A compass-and-straightedge construction of the Fermat point using equilateral triangles; the proof and the special case of angles over 120°.
Result.: The group wrote up the construction and the proof; the work became a lesson note for grade 9.

Club project · 2025–26 Ongoing

Smart irrigation in the school garden

Robotics and design workshop · Supervisor: Ozan Yıldız

Question.: How much water does soil-moisture-based irrigation save compared with manual watering in the garden?
Method.: Two equal plots: one on a timer, one with the sensor system; a 3D-printed valve body; weekly water meter readings.
Result.: The system is installed; the comparison starts in spring.

How does a TÜBİTAK project run?

Sep–Oct. In the project club each student writes three research questions; one is chosen with the supervising teacher.

Nov–Dec. Literature review and method: how measurements are taken and what the control group is.

January. The application file is submitted on the TÜBİTAK calendar; an internal pre-jury meets a week before.

Feb–May. Measurements are repeated for projects going to the regional fair; others are shown at the school science fair.

Other clubs

Club	Area	Day & time	Teacher
Robotics and designArduino, sensors, 3D printing; small solutions for the school.	Science & technology	Wed 16:00–17:30	Ozan Yıldız
AstronomyTelescope observation and astrophotography.	Science & technology	Two nights a month, on the terrace	Can Özdemir
DebateWeekly debates and an inter-school tournament at year end.	Arts & culture	Fri 14:10–15:40	Haluk Sezer
BasketballSchool team and district league.	Sport	Tue, Thu 16:00–17:45	Okan Bilgin
VolunteeringMaths tutoring for middle schoolers at the neighbourhood library.	Community	Two Saturdays a month	Nilüfer Arslan