Atatürk University initiated the establishment of the Biodiversity Science Museum following a briefing given by Prof. Dr. Levent Gültekin to the university's Rector, Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı, and the board of directors in the early months of 2018. The setup of the Biodiversity Application and Research Center began promptly, and the research center became operational with the publication of the official announcement in the Official Gazette numbered 30418 on May 11, 2018.
As part of the establishment process of the "Biodiversity Science Museum" within the research center, the first step involved planning a model museum examination. To achieve this, the Rector of Atatürk University Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı, the Coordinator of Foreign Relations, Prof. Dr. Taşkın Öztaş, and the Director of the Research Center Prof. Dr. Levent Gültekin conducted a series of inspections between November 19-23, 2018, at MUSE – Museo delle Scienze, Trento, Italy, and between October 27-30, 2019, at Zoological Institute, Komarov Botanical Institute, Russian Academy of Sciences, St. Petersburg, Russia. During these visits, official scientific collaboration agreements for the establishment of the Biodiversity Science Museum were signed between the specified units and Atatürk University.
Following the allocation of a building for the activities of the Biodiversity Application and Research Center, a decision was made to bring together collections from various units of Atatürk University under the Biodiversity Science Museum. Subsequently, with the university's own resources and the strong support and interest of Rector Prof. Dr. Ömer Çomaklı in line with national and international priorities, strategic planning by Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Atilla Keskin, and the leadership of Prof. Dr. Levent Gültekin, a series of project works were initiated.
Modern laboratories were established for conducting biodiversity research, and permanent exhibitions and educational units were created to share science with the community. The Biodiversity Science Museum, which began accepting visitors in June 2023 on a trial basis, has already been visited by approximately 5000 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.
