Atatürk University actively engages with local communities by offering educational programs, workshops, and awareness campaigns on sustainable water management practices. Through its Toplumsal Duyarlılık Projeleri (TDP / TDM) platform, departments, and outreach centers, the university fosters water literacy, building capacity in water conservation, watershed stewardship, and climate-resilient water use.
1. TDP / TDM Water Education Projects & Outreach
Atatürk University demonstrates strong institutional commitment to community water literacy through a range of educational projects that engage schools and neighborhoods in sustainable water management practices. These efforts are administered via the Toplumsal Duyarlılık Projeleri (TDP / TDM) platform, with documented results publicly shared.
Major Community Water Education Projects & Activities
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“Su ve Suyun Önemi” (Water and Its Importance, 2024)
Organized by TDM, this project delivered interactive presentations, hands-on educational games, and visual materials to local school students, teacher groups, and community participants to teach water cycle, water conservation, and environmental water values. TDM Atauni
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“Suyu Tanıyorum ve Koruyorum” (I Know Water and Protect It, 2023)
Implemented with Erzurum 15 Temmuz İmam Hatip Ortaokulu 6th graders (two groups of 35 each), the program combined Buz Müzesi visits, educational games, and magnet-based water cycle activity to reinforce water concepts. Leaflets and posters were distributed to maintain awareness in classrooms. TDM Atauni
“Su Kirliği ve Su Tasarrufu” (Water Pollution & Water Saving, 2023)
This TDM project focused on raising awareness of water pollution sources and promoting water-saving behaviors among community members. It included seminars, outreach events, and the release of a published results report. TDM Atauni
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“Su’suyorlar” (They Give Water, Year Unknown)
In this awareness and action project, students provide water bowls for street animals and educate about water’s role in ecosystems. Accompanying seminars and community installations aim to link human water awareness with ecosystem stewardship. TDM Atauni
2. Departmental & Faculty-Led Water Education & Community Interaction
- Community Lectures & Workshops via Environmental Clubs
Through university student clubs, lecture series, and environmental awareness weeks, Atatürk University hosts public seminars on water saving, watershed protection, and household-level water reuse techniques. These lectures often partner with local municipalities or NGOs (though specific event pages are not always archived online).
Institutional Integration & Impact
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All projects are supported and coordinated by TDM / TDP, ensuring institutional continuity and scalability.
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Results reports and project documentation are published on TDM’s website, enabling transparency and community verification.
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These initiatives reach not only students but also teachers, parents, and local communities, extending water literacy beyond campus boundaries.
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The combination of interactive learning (games, museum visits) and community installations (e.g. animal water bowls) builds long-term awareness and behavioral impact.
Through these documented community education programs in water science, conservation, and pollution awareness, Atatürk University satisfies and exceeds the expectation of providing educational opportunities for local communities under SDG 6.5.1.
