TEDxVan YYU

Speakers

Speakers may not be confirmed. Check the event website for the latest lineup.

• Ayşegül Feray GÖKDERE

  Yerbilimci ve Paleoklimatolog

  Ayşegül Feray Gökdere is a geological engineer, academic, and paleoclimatologist who studies past climate records to better understand today’s environmental and climate changes and to develop future climate projections. She has led numerous national and international paleoclimate projects, including the Russia–Türkiye bilateral cooperation project, and has recently returned from the TAE-X / 2026 10th National Antarctic Expedition. She is currently continuing her research through a TÜBİTAK 1001-supported cave project and actively contributes to international scientific collaboration through COST Actions.

• Hande AYDEMİR

  Televizyoncu, Gazeteci, Moderatör

  Ankara-born Hande Aydemir is a graduate of Hacettepe University's Department of Radio, Television, and Cinema. With a career spanning over 18 years, she has gained extensive experience in roles ranging from reporting to news anchoring. Known for her analytical approach and powerful communication skills, she currently serves as a moderator at tv100, hosting agenda-setting news and debate programs. Throughout her career, Aydemir has been honored with numerous accolades, including the prestigious Golden Stethoscope Award for her program Sağlıkta Dönüşüm (Transformation in Health), as well as "Best Debate Program" and "Best News Hour" awards. Beyond the screen, she remains active in academia, teaching oratory and communication to share her expertise with future generations. Committed to media ethics and the accurate dissemination of information, Aydemir continues to be a prominent figure in journalism, blending her professional broadcasting experience with educational leadership.

• İrem BAYRAM

  BESTVAN CEO

  İrem Bayram holds a degree in Business Administration and an MA in Global Politics, studied in New York, Washington, and Berlin. Currently at the PhD proficiency stage, she has managed Best Van’s transport network since 2013 and serves on the TOBB Sector Assembly. Beyond her leadership in family-owned energy and construction firms, she brands traditional Van herbed cheese via "Nadir Çiftlik." A KAGİDER member and Lake Van activist, she leads the "Pink Bus" social project. Fluent in English and Kurdish, Bayram is a candidate for the Van Chamber of Commerce Presidency, focusing on regional development and production-oriented growth.

• Maya PEREST

  Müzisyen

  Born in Izmir in 1996, Maya Perest began her musical education with piano at the Dokuz Eylül University State Conservatory and later studied painting and art theory at Montpellier Paul-Valéry University in France. Known for her multi-instrumentalist identity and profound works such as "Yok Bana Bu Cihanda," she blends Anatolian melodies with a modern language. Within the "Invisible Ties" theme, Perest shares the ancient bridges that art, education, and multiculturalism build between people through her own professional journey.

• Selçuk TOPAL

  Astrofizikçi,Bilim iletişimcisi

  An alumnus of the University of Oxford and a member of both the Oxford Union and the Royal Astronomical Society, Selçuk Topal is an astrophysicist specializing in galaxy evolution and molecular gas. He currently serves on the board of Turkey’s national observatories and continues his research in collaboration with international teams. Since 2013, he has led the "Gelecek Uzayda" (Future is in Space) initiative to promote scientific thinking on a global scale. As the creator, writer, and presenter of the documentary series İnanılmaz Evren, Topal also contributes to popular science media as a consultant and scriptwriter. A finalist for the Study UK Alumni Awards and a two-time finalist in astronaut selection processes, his work uniquely bridges the gap between high-level academic research and impactful public engagement.

• Sırrı OĞUZ

  NASA Uzay Aracı Sistem Yöneticisi

  Sırrı Oğuz is a world-renowned expert in pyrotechnics and energetic materials at NASA Johnson Space Center, where he leads the certification and integration of critical separation and escape systems for human spaceflight programs, including SpaceX Crew Dragon and Boeing Starliner. His work focuses on the precise use of controlled explosions to ensure astronaut safety—from launch to landing. Throughout his career, Oğuz has played key roles in major aerospace programs, including the development of the Orion spacecraft—a cornerstone of NASA’s Artemis program aimed at returning humanity to the Moon and enabling missions beyond. With over three decades of experience in aerospace ordnance, he has contributed to systems ranging from advanced fighter jet crew escape systems to spacecraft separation technologies. A recipient of NASA’s Exceptional Engineering Achievement Medal, he also serves as a senior member of multiple committees shaping standards and safety practices in energetic systems.