The Importance of the First 72 Hours During Earthquake Week

The “Science Café” event, organized by our University’s Science and Technology Communication Coordination in collaboration with the University’s Search and Rescue Club and the Volunteer Disaster Response Team Association, highlighted earthquake awareness and disaster preparedness. The event, held at İstinye University Medicalpark Gaziosmanpaşa Hospital Conference Hall, was attended by over a hundred people.

During the program held on Friday, March 6, 2026, the topic of the critical first 72 hours after an earthquake was discussed, aiming to strengthen awareness of being prepared for disasters within the scope of Earthquake Week, March 1–7. The event combined scientific knowledge with field experience in search and rescue, providing participants with a comprehensive perspective on disaster management.

The opening speech of the program was delivered by our University’s Science and Technology Communication Coordinator, Prof. Dr. Serkant Ali Çetin. In his speech, Prof. Dr. Çetin emphasized that universities have the responsibility to foster scientific culture and awareness across all segments of society and stated that İstinye University is one of the pioneering universities in Turkey addressing science communication within an institutional framework.

As part of the event, Umut Kaan Güven, President of İstinye University Search and Rescue Club, and Dr. Mustafa Cantürk, Chief Physician at İstinye University Medicalpark Gaziosmanpaşa Hospital, shared important information regarding coordination, response processes, and the role of healthcare services during disasters.

Later in the program, Erhan Güven, Secretary General of the Volunteer Disaster Response Team Association, with the participation of the association’s president Ufuk Konuralp, conducted an interactive presentation titled “Do You Know What 0–72 Hours Means?”. In the presentation, which drew intense interest from participants, the decisive impact of the initial hours after a disaster on survival rates, the importance of individual preparedness, and the role of community solidarity were discussed in detail.