📍 BATEM & EXPO Antalya Trip
Today was one of the most eventful and informative days of the camp. At 9:30 a.m., we received information from Associate Professor Sevda Altunbaş about the BATEM and EXPO visits we would be making throughout the day. We discussed the rules we needed to follow during the trip, our responsibilities, and the connection between these visits and the soil.
At 10:00 AM, we boarded our vehicles and set off for the Western Mediterranean Agricultural Research Institute (BATEM). After a journey of approximately half an hour, we arrived at the institute at 10:30 AM. We were greeted by experts in the institute’s conference room. First, we watched a presentation and promotional video explaining BATEM’s activities in the field of agricultural research. It was interesting to hear about the projects the institution carries out not only at the regional level but also at the national level.
After the presentation, we had the opportunity to tour the laboratories. By observing the analyses conducted on soil samples, we saw how much of the theoretical knowledge we had learned was put into practice. In particular, the applications related to soil analysis, moisture measurement, and plant nutrition left a strong impression on us. At the end of the tour, we took some souvenir photos and departed from BATEM.
At 12:30 PM, we took a lunch break at a nearby restaurant. We had a short break to eat together.
At 1:30 PM, we went to the EXPO Antalya Exhibition Area. During the guided tour, we received detailed information about sustainable agriculture practices, plant diversity, and living spaces in harmony with nature. The sections of EXPO showcasing the gardens of different countries were particularly interesting. Discovering the cross-cultural symbolism of plants was very educational. Our guide helped us evaluate the balance between nature and humans from different perspectives.
We returned to our campus around 5:00 PM. By the end of the day, we were all tired but had learned a great deal. We feel that our awareness of the soil has increased even further.