National Holiday in Turkey, #ibmcsc #turkey hard at work

Turkish flags on tall buildings

Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Today is Republic Day in Turkey – the 91st anniversary of the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey. After Turkey’s victory in the War of Independence (1919-1923), the Turkish Parliament proclaimed the new Turkish state as a republic. Parliament adopted a new constitution on October 29, 1923, replacing that of the Ottoman Empire. The leader in the Turkish War of Independence, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, became the country’s first president on the same day. We've seen his portrait in many of the offices, universities, and businesses around the city. According to Atatürk, Republic Day is Turkey’s most important holiday.

Preparations for today’s celebrations began earlier in the week when buildings were dressed in the Turkish flag. Yesterday’s noon traffic was like a long weekend in Toronto bumper to bumper horns blaring – Istanbulites anxious to spend some holiday time with family. Istanbul celebrates in style and we understand there will be a spectacular fireworks display on the Bosphorus this evening.

Even Google is celebrating

And while Turks are celebrating today, #ibmcsc #turkey will be hard at work continuing our search for best practices in STEM. So far we’ve found good examples in India, U.S.A., the Netherlands, Germany, Singapore, South Korea, England, and others here in Turkey. Now it’s a matter of seeing how they were implemented and understanding how Turkey might do the same. We’re also preparing for a workshop next Monday with some of the people we interviewed last week.
We hope to take in some of the celebrations* after our work day today. As they say, when in Istanbul…

* Celebrations have been cancelled due to a mining accident near the town of Ermenek in Karaman province. Hoping that a miracle has saved the miners who are trapped.