The panel titled “Interdisciplinary Bridges for Solutions on the COP Agenda”, organized within the scope of the Learn & Connect: 5.40 Lecture Series at Middle East Technical University, brought together a wide audience from across disciplines to discuss the growing challenges of the climate crisis and the need for collaborative solutions.
The session explored climate action through interconnected perspectives spanning science, policy, economics, education, and design, highlighting the importance of interdisciplinary cooperation in addressing one of the most pressing global issues of our time.
The opening remarks and moderation were delivered by Prof. Dr. Barış Salihoğlu, Advisor to the METU President and Director of the METU Institute of Marine Sciences and METU Climate Center. In his speech, Prof. Salihoğlu emphasized that the world is approaching a critical climate threshold, noting that recent global temperature increases clearly demonstrate how fragile the Paris Agreement’s 1.5°C target has become.
He underlined that the climate crisis is not only an environmental issue, but also a major economic and societal challenge with the potential to create significant welfare losses if current trajectories continue.
A university should act as a bridge
One of the key messages of Prof. Salihoğlu’s speech focused on the evolving role of universities. Stressing that universities should not be limited to producing academic knowledge alone, he described the vision of METU Climate with the following perspective: “A university should act as a bridge that connects students, society, industry, and decision-makers, while transforming knowledge into action.”
In line with this vision, he highlighted that METU contributes to climate action across a broad spectrum ranging from scientific research and technology development to education and policy engagement. He also emphasized the importance of transforming the campus itself into a “living laboratory” for sustainability and climate solutions.
COP31 as a milestone for METU
Another major focus of the discussion was Türkiye’s upcoming hosting of COP31. Prof. Salihoğlu noted that COP processes are no longer limited to intergovernmental negotiations, but have evolved into multi-stakeholder platforms where science, technology, society, and policy intersect.
He stated that METU’s ambition is not simply to participate in the process, but to become an active actor that connects scientific knowledge with societal stakeholders, develops solutions, and contributes to transformative action.
The panel featured contributions from Prof. Dr. Semra Cerit Mazlum, as well as members of the METU Climate Center Administration, Prof. Dr. Ebru Voyvoda, Prof. Dr. İpek Gürsel Dino, Asst. Prof. Gülizar Özyurt Tarakcıoğlu, Prof. Dr. Gaye Teksöz, and Assoc. Prof. Pınar Derin Güre. The speakers shared insights on a wide range of topics related to the road to COP31, including the transformation of knowledge production, energy systems, the built environment, climate education, and financial mechanisms.
Throughout the session, one common message stood out clearly: meaningful climate solutions cannot emerge from a single discipline alone, but through the collaboration of interconnected fields of knowledge working together.
The event concluded with closing remarks by METU Rector Prof. Dr. Ahmet Yozgatlıgil, who emphasized that the role universities must play in addressing the climate crisis is becoming increasingly critical. He noted that METU will continue contributing strongly to this process through its scientific capacity and interdisciplinary approach.
