History of BMT-KAUM

The ITU Research and Application Center for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (ITU BMT-KAUM) was established in 2009 within Istanbul Technical University by a decision of the Council of Higher Education (YÖK), with the aim of strengthening gender equality in the fields of science, engineering, and technology. The center was founded by 10 faculty members under the founding directorship of our first female rector, Gülsün Sağlamer.

The founding members are Gülsün Sağlamer, Ahsen Özsoy, İpek İlkkaracan Ajas, Kadriye Bakırcı, Mehtap Hisarcıklılar, Mine Göğüş Tan, Nilgün Okay, Nuran Zeren Gülersoy, Seyhan Uygur Onbaşıoğlu, and Özge Atalay Çelik.

Since its establishment, the center has aimed to increase the visibility of women in academic, scientific, and social life, support the development of gender-sensitive policies, and contribute to knowledge production in the field of gender equality. The directorship of the center has been carried out respectively by Gülsün Sağlamer (2009–2013), Fatma Arslan (2013–2017), Yeşim Gürsel (2017–2018), Leman Figen Gül (2018–2020), and Hatice Ayataç (2022–present).

Between 2009 and 2013, the center operated at the Taşkışla Campus of Istanbul Technical University. On March 8, 2013, it moved to its new office in the Faculty of Mines building at the Maslak Campus in order to be closer to engineering faculties and students. This relocation was an important step that strengthened the center’s accessibility and interaction within the university. During the same period, activities organized for International Women’s Day, as well as symbolic initiatives such as special stamps and commemorative envelopes, helped extend the center’s visibility beyond the university.

Since its founding, ITU BMT-KAUM has taken an active role in national and international research projects, workshops, conferences, and policy development processes. Research conducted in areas such as employment, economic policies, scientific careers, and gender equality has been expanded through inter-university collaborations and international networks. The center has also increased its institutional visibility by hosting important events such as the European Women Rectors Conference.

In 2014, the ITU Directive on the Prevention of Sexual Harassment and Discrimination was prepared under the coordination of the center and came into force, establishing an institutional framework for gender equality within the university. This development marked an important milestone in creating a safe, inclusive, and equitable academic environment at ITU.

The center’s activities have not been limited to academic work; they have also expanded through social responsibility projects, training programs, sports, and art events. Projects such as “Kızlar Sahada” (Girls on the Field), which focus on women’s empowerment and solidarity, have extended the center’s social impact beyond the university. In addition, workshops and projects supporting women in entrepreneurship, sustainability, and STEM fields have been implemented.

Another important milestone was the launch of Mimoza Magazine in 2014, which serves as the center’s periodical publication. Published twice a year, the magazine contributes to the center’s mission of knowledge production and dissemination by providing a lasting platform for women’s studies. It features a broad range of content, from art and science to sustainability and social awareness.

Today, ITU BMT-KAUM continues to build strong collaborations both within and outside the university through its research, education, publication, and application activities, and maintains its role as a pioneering center supporting scientific knowledge production and institutional transformation in the field of gender equality.

This section is compiled from the article titled “ITU Research and Application Center for Women in Science, Engineering and Technology (ITU BMT-KAUM) and Mimoza Magazine from its Establishment to the Present Day,” written by Fatma Arslan and published in the 11th issue of Mimoza Magazine.