As a result of the briefing given by Prof. Dr. Levent Gültekin to the then Rector of Atatürk University Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı and the board of directors about the Biodiversity Science Museum project in early 2018, the procedures for the establishment of the Biodiversity Application and Research Center were initiated immediately, and the research center became operational with its publication in the Official Gazette No. 30418 dated 11 May 2018.
A model museum review was planned as the first stage in the process of establishing the “Biodiversity Science Museum” that will function within the research center. For this purpose, a series of examinations were carried out in MUSE - Museo delle Scienze, Trento, Italy between November 19-23, 2018 and in Zoological Institute, Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia between October 27-30, 2019 and official scientific cooperation agreements were signed between the mentioned units and Atatürk University for the establishment of the Biodiversity Science Museum.
Following the allocation of the building where the Biodiversity Application and Research Center will operate, after the decision to bring together the collections in various units of Atatürk University within the Biodiversity Science Museum, a series of project studies were initiated under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Levent Gültekin in line with national and international priorities with Atatürk University's own resources.
Modern laboratories have been established to conduct research in the field of biodiversity, and permanent exhibitions and educational units have been created to share science with the public. The Biodiversity Science Museum, which started accepting visitors on a trial basis in June 2023, has already been visited by approximately 10000 people.
“Atatürk University Biodiversity Science Museum – ABBM-holds international code and is listed in the GBIF “Global Biodiversity Information Facility” It has taken its place in the scientific collection list: https://scientific-collections.gbif.org/collection/6f2806b6-e547-412a-87ce-6d1c45a4b9df
Atatürk University has a rich history of research in the field of fauna and flora identification in the Eastern Anatolia Region, with many professors from different departments conducting investigations. Various faculties and departments, including the Faculty of Education, Faculty of Science - Department of Biology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Faculty of Agriculture - Department of Plant Protection, have initiated the establishment of collections over the historical course of the university. The most prominent among these is the "Entomology Museum" established by the Department of Plant Protection.
It is worth opening a parenthesis and hearing from the founder of the Entomology Museum, retired Professor Dr. Hikmet Özbek: "As you all know from the history of the department, Plant Protection was a unit within the Plant and Crop Production Department. The late Hasan Yüksel was the first faculty member. I started as the first assistant in 1965 and began collecting the first insect specimens, especially from the campus, in the summer of 1965. In 1967, I went to the United States with an AID scholarship to the University of Nebraska to do my master's. I saw excellently prepared insect collections there. We had to create a large collection in accordance with the rules in the 'Entomology' course. There was a huge collection at the University of Nebraska. Upon my return in 1970, creating a similar collection at my university was my biggest dream. Despite extremely limited, almost nonexistent facilities, we continued our efforts and tried to do something with my assistants."
While many professors, researchers, and students contributed to the formation of these collections, the most remarkable and even extraordinary level of contribution stands out from Prof. Dr. Hikmet Özbek, Prof. Dr. Adem Tatlı, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kuru, and Prof. Dr. Erol Yıldırım, whose efforts have played a crucial role in the establishment of the collections, a significant portion of which is now housed in the Biodiversity Science Museum.
