Rich Biodiversity at Ayazağa Campus Highlighted with ITU Bioblitz 2025

On May 22, International Day for Biological Diversity, ITU members participated in the ITU Bioblitz 2025 Event, where they observed and photographed the flora, fauna, and fungi species at Ayazağa Campus alongside expert researchers. This year marked the fourth annual occurrence of the event, which aimed to identify as many species as possible within a single day, once again showcasing the campus’s rich biodiversity.

ITU Bioblitz 2025 brought ITU members together with expert researchers to identify, protect, and enhance the ecosystem at Ayazağa Campus on International Day for Biological Diversity. The event was organized in collaboration with the ITU Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences (AYBE) and the ITU Commission on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Biodiversity and Ecosystems.

Attending the event, ITU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal emphasized the unique biodiversity of the ITU Ayazağa Campus, noting that it serves as a habitat for nearly one-third of the approximately 500 bird species identified in Türkiye. Prof. Dr. Mandal also highlighted the importance of field observations conducted during the ITU Bioblitz 2025 for protecting and sustaining biodiversity at the university.

Our Rector reminded that biodiversity-focused studies on campus are not limited to just one day, referencing ITU's achievements in the 2024 UI GreenMetric rankings, where Ayazağa Campus ranked 1st in Türkiye, 22nd in Europe, and 38th globally. Prof. Dr. Mandal stated that the campus has the potential to serve as a pilot area for exploring solutions for nature and the future.

Prof. Dr. Mandal characterized the ecosystem that ITU has developed with its stakeholders as being shaped by both academic research and a profound connection to nature. He also likened ITU’s role to that of bees in nature, emphasizing its contribution to creating a sustainable future.

The event was organized by Dr. Emrah Çoraman, a natural scientist from the ITU Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences, and included expert researchers Prof. Dr. Ünal Akkemik, a botanist from Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Dr. Fatih Dikmen, an entomologist from Istanbul University, and Dr. Esra Ergin Erdoğmuş, a botanist from the Nature Conservation Center. The goal of the event was to identify the highest number of species in a single day. After a joint observation walk around the ITU Pond, participants split into research areas and later compiled their findings at the Eurasia Institute of Earth Sciences.

A notable example of citizen science, the ITU Bioblitz events have collectively identified approximately 1,000 species on the Ayazağa Campus. In the 2025 event alone, nearly 400 different species were recorded in just one day. By documenting and monitoring its biodiversity, ITU actively contributes to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity.