Geology Festival -JEOFEST'24, organized for the second time this year in cooperation with Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and Chamber of Geological Engineers Izmir Branch, started in Kültürpark. Speaking at the opening of the festival, which is held only in Izmir in Turkey, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay explained the work they will do to prepare the city for disaster. Mayor Tugay stated that Izmir needs an Earthquake Master Plan and underlined the need for urgent microzonation work.
Geology Festival-JEOFEST'24, organized for the second time this year in cooperation with Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) Chamber of Geological Engineers Izmir Branch, started in Kültürpark. In the opening program, Chamber of Geological Engineers Izmir Branch President Koray Çetin Önalan, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. He gave a hammer to Cemil Tugay. Dr. from Istanbul University Faculty of Engineering. Faculty Member Yıldırım Güngör made a presentation titled "An Overview of the Concept of Geological Heritage in the Light of Geoprotection Studies in Turkey". Following the speeches, Fossil, Gemology, Photography and Cartoon exhibitions were held at Kültürpark Atlas Pavilion within the scope of JEOFEST'24, with Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. It was opened with the participation of Cemil Tugay. The dinosaur egg fossil found in Mongolia by actor Murat Aygen, a stone and fossil collector, also attracted attention.
“Our local government will be in a position where scientists are listened to”
Making the opening speech of the festival, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Dr. Cemil Tugay stated that he is a medical doctor and scientist and said, “They call me a politician. However, I worked as a doctor for 36 years. After all, I am a person who believes in science and I believe that we should use reason and science to solve problems. I've always enjoyed talking things over with scientists. "In the next 5 years, our local government will be in a position where scientists are listened to," he said.
“Micro-zoning is urgently needed in Izmir”
Stating that he always has his eyes and ears on scientists, Mayor Tugay said, “Since the day I started my duty, I have been trying to quickly handle emergency interventions and also plan to implement the projects I have dreamed of. Izmir needs an Earthquake Master Plan. We need to know the underground of Izmir. I realized that we are far from fault lines that could produce major earthquakes, but our ground feature is in a position to break almost everywhere. After the 2020 earthquake KarşıyakaI visited the damaged areas, neighborhood by neighborhood. During this earthquake, I realized that the ground-building relationship must be established correctly. This process must proceed within the building-ground relationship. During the February 6 earthquake, I went to the earthquake zone and witnessed closely what happened there. There is an urgent need for microzoning in Izmir. Building inventories need to be prepared. "While these are being done, underground cold and hot water maps will be prepared," he said.
“A Natural History Museum will be brought to Izmir”
Referring to the importance of geological science, Mayor Tugay said that they will increase the number of geological engineers in Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and carry out studies in their light. Underlining that it is necessary to protect the public's, and especially young people's, faith in nature, human rights and science, Tugay said, “If we do not do this, we cannot fix things. We must work harder and contribute more to our city. We should hold bigger events in the third JEOFEST. This suits our city and will definitely find a response from our people. There is a demand to bring the Natural History Museum to the city. This museum will have a very important place in the city culture. I will work on this issue as well. "It will be an honor for me to be your companion," he said.
“We will work with common sense for disaster-resistant Izmir”
Hüseyin Alan, Chairman of the Chamber of Geological Engineers, drew attention to the risks in Izmir, which is located on active fault zones and has the risk of encountering an earthquake of magnitude 7 or higher at any time. Alan said, “We wish that qualified staff will be appointed to the Disaster Affairs directorates established in the districts with the Disaster Affairs Directorate. In the coming period, as the Chamber of Geological Engineers, our cities sitting on active fault zones, and the local administrations of these cities, will be scrutinized. Within the scope of the UN-2030-Sendai Disaster Risk Reduction strategy, we will prepare city reports on the institutional structures and competencies of our local administrations in this regard, and how much resources are allocated to work on ensuring the life safety of local people, and share them with the public and relevant people and institutions. It is possible to create a disaster-resistant Izmir with common sense. "I think that we can make all kinds of contributions to relevant public institutions and organizations, especially Izmir Metropolitan Municipality and district municipalities, from our own professional areas of expertise, and cooperate on these issues," he said.
“Our goal is to produce one scientist from each school.”
Koray Çetin Önalan, President of the Chamber of Geological Engineers Izmir Branch, said: “JEOFEST is an opportunity for our children to get to know nature and basic sciences. Our ambition and goal is to produce one scientist from each school. We have to gift the Natural History Museum to this beautiful city. "We geologists are very stubborn, we will not give up on this issue," he said.
Fossil Exhibition, Gemology Exhibition, Photography and Cartoon Exhibition were also opened at the Festival.
JEOFEST'28, which will continue at Kültürpark until April 24, aims to explain the past, present and future of the world by introducing the science of geology to children, young people and the whole society. Within the scope of JEOFEST'24, there are Fossil Exhibition, Gemology Exhibition, Photography and Cartoon Exhibition at Kültürpark Atlas Pavilion. The exhibition, which will remain open for a month, can be visited between 10.00 and 17.30 on weekdays and Saturdays and between 11.00 and 18.00 on Sundays.