Strong Contribution to COP31 from Hitit University: 21 Applications Accepted
The Council of Higher Education has completed its evaluation of higher education institutions' contributions to the 31st Conference of the Parties (COP31) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, to be held in Antalya, Turkey, from November 9-20, 2026.
21 out of 25 project and event proposals submitted by Hitit University to the Council of Higher Education within the scope of COP31 were accepted. The results announced by the Council of Higher Education revealed that a significant portion of the University's work in the fields of sustainability and climate change, developed across various disciplines, will be carried into the COP31 process. The accepted list included research and technology development studies, as well as workshops, side events, youth activities, and proposals focused on international cooperation.
The application process was coordinated across the university
Hitit University's COP31 application process was conducted university-wide through the intensive and coordinated efforts of the Sustainability Office, the Project Coordination and Steering Office, and the International Office. Academics and students submitted work that was evaluated for COP31 themes, scientific content, application potential, and application categories, and then submitted to the Council of Higher Education's (YÖK) University Contribution and Project Notification System.
The final institutional notification was prepared as an interdisciplinary portfolio that brought together research and technology development, university-industry collaboration, international cooperation, and side-event and workshop proposals. The application file also included plans for academic contributions to COP31, as well as student participation.
21 studies were accepted within the scope of COP31
Following YÖK's academic evaluations, the project proposals accepted in the COP31 process were announced.
Project Coordintor | Project / Activity Proposal |
Öğr. Gör. Dr. Pelin Kılıç | Design the Sustainable City of 2050 |
Doç. Dr. İlknur Tosun Satır | Synthesis and applications of eco-friendly magnetic biocomposite materials for microplastic removal via adsorption |
Arş. Gör. Dr. Şevki Samet Kaplan | C2C Form: Critical Collaborations on Critical Minerals |
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Mustafa Seyrek | Cultural Heritage Recovery after Disasters and Conflicts – Understanding, Training, and Empowerment (CHERISH) |
Doç. Dr. Mustafa Coşar | Energy Consumption Optimization for Emission Reduction and Sustainability in Digital Infrastructures: A Building-to-Campus Approach |
Arş. Gör. Dr. Hafize Büşra Bostancı | Financing Circular Construction: Barriers, Incentives, and Emerging Business Model |
Arş. Gör. Dr. Hafize Büşra Bostancı | From Circularity to Regeneration: Rethinking Business Models for a Climate-Resilient Built Environment |
Arş. Gör. Dr. Hafize Büşra Bostancı | Scaling Up Bio-based Materials for Low-Carbon Construction: Barriers, Enablers, and Stakeholder Roles |
Tuba Koçer – Lisans Öğrencisi | G20 Climate Commitments and COP31: A Comparative Analysis of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) |
Arş. Gör. Dr. Gizem Özlük | Young Ambassadors: Do-It-Yourself Meeting |
Öğr. Gör. Dr. Abdurrahim Altunışık | International Climate Project Partnership and Matchmaking Event |
Arş. Gör. Dr. Hafize Büşra Bostancı | Redesigning a Climate-Resilient Campus: Co-design Workshop for Youth |
Öğr. Gör. Dr. Şule Şahin | Climate Literacy and Mathematics Education: Thinking with Data, Questioning Evidence |
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Mehmet Nurullah Alkan | Climate and Energy-Resilient Campus: Techno-Economic Feasibility and Decision Support System for Solar Energy, Cool Roof, and Shading Investments Using GNSS-Assisted UAV Photogrammetry |
Prof. Dr. Gülay Yılmazel | Climate-Resilient Primary Healthcare Services Workshop |
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Mustafa Seyrek | Protect Your Future with 5R! |
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Gamze Nur Müjdeci | Biotechnological Valorization of Vinegar Production Waste at Pilot Scale and Microbial Cellulose Production |
Prof. Dr. Seyfi Şevik | Sustainable Green Hydrogen Production System |
Doç. Dr. Hakan Kör | AI-Powered, Interactive Green Transformation and Carbon Footprint Platform |
Doç. Dr. Duygu Tutan | Green Dialysis and Climate-Resilient Dialysis Centers; and a patent for a method and system to re-treat reverse osmosis reject water from hemodialysis water systems in accordance with the Zero Liquid Discharge principle |
Dr. Öğr. Üyesi Çiğdem Dönmez Güngüneş | Design and Characterization of a Functional Material for the Removal of Micro- and Nanoplastic-Derived Phthalates from Aqueous Media via a Green Synthesis Method |
Climate solutions from diverse disciplines converge on a single platform
The accepted projects demonstrate that Hitit University’s research capacity in the fields of climate change and sustainability spans a broad interdisciplinary spectrum.
Ranging from the circular economy and low-carbon built environments to renewable energy and green hydrogen; from microplastic pollution and sustainable materials to climate-resilient health systems; and from energy efficiency in digital infrastructures to AI-driven climate solutions, these projects offer both scientific and practical contributions to various dimensions of the COP31 agenda.
The inclusion of projects focusing on youth participation in climate action, climate literacy, and international collaborations highlights that the University contributes to the COP31 process not only through research outputs but also through perspectives on education, engagement, social impact, and partnership development.
The fact that the accepted projects include a proposal developed by an undergraduate student serves as a significant example of how young people can make direct scientific and academic contributions to the climate agenda.
The aim is to translate scientific output into practical application and collaboration
A common theme across the Hitit University projects accepted for COP31 is the translation of scientific knowledge into practice, policy, and social impact.
Scalable solutions and sectoral applications stand out in the research and technology development efforts, while multi-stakeholder dialogue, collaborative solution development, and capacity-building approaches characterize the side events and workshops. Initiatives focused on university-industry collaboration and international partnerships are helping to position COP31 not merely as a platform for sharing results, but as a hub for fostering new research and project networks.
Program details to be announced later
Specifics regarding the presentation formats, dates, session times, exhibition and event areas, and other operational details for the projects and activities approved by YÖK (Council of Higher Education) for COP31 are expected to be finalized in the near future.
Once the programming work by YÖK and the COP31 organizers is complete, the finalized details will be publicly announced by Hitit University.
Hitit University will continue its efforts to integrate the generation of scientific knowledge with practical application, societal contribution, and international collaboration in the areas of climate change mitigation, climate adaptation, green transition, and sustainable development throughout the COP31 process.
We congratulate the academics and students whose project and event proposals have been accepted for COP31 and wish them continued success in their endeavors.
