DESIGN DAY

As part of the Workshop Activities and Design Day to be held at Konya Science Center on May 23, 24, 29, 30, and 31, 2026, workshop activities will be organized to encourage participants to explore the intersections of science, technology, and design through hands-on experiences and creative production processes. Throughout the event, visitors will have the opportunity to observe the relationship between scientific concepts, daily life, and design by experiencing different disciplines such as optics, paleontology, the history of engineering, visual perception, and coding logic.

Workshop Activities and Design Day aims to make science understandable and producible while encouraging participants to observe, question, design, and create.

FEES

Entrance to the science center is subject to an admission fee, while participation in events and workshops is free of charge. Admission fees are:

Children and students: 30 TL
Adults: 40 TL
PROGRAM FLOW
Design Day:

The event will take place between 11:00 AM and 5:45 PM.

All workshops are based on free participation and do not have fixed session hours. Participants may join the workshops for as long as they wish.

WORKSHOP PROGRAMS
1. Camera Obscura

Age: 8+ Location: Konya Science Center (Mechatronics Workshop)

Description:

In this workshop, participants are encouraged to explore the basic principles of image formation through Ibn al-Haytham’s studies on optics. The theories developed by the great medieval scientist Ibn al-Haytham regarding light and vision, along with the historical importance of the camera obscura setup, are discussed. During the practical application process, participants observe in a concrete experimental environment how light travels in straight lines and how light passing through a small opening forms an image on the opposite surface.

Through this deeply rooted scientific heritage, participants gain awareness of the fundamental operating principles behind modern cameras and imaging systems. The workshop aims to make the functioning of optical systems understandable through a simple yet effective experimental experience.

2. Fossil Lamp

Age: 5+ Location: Konya Science Center (Life Workshop)

Description:

In this workshop, participants are encouraged to discover fossil records that have survived from millions of years ago to the present by becoming acquainted with the science of paleontology. Information about how paleontologists discover, classify, and interpret fossils is shared with participants, inspiring curiosity about ancient life forms.

During the application process, participants design and produce their own fossil lamps. In this process, they experience a creative production journey where science and art come together. The workshop aims to transform curiosity about natural history into a tangible design product while simultaneously developing scientific observation and aesthetic sensitivity.

3. Al-Jazari’s Automaton

Age: 12+ Location: Konya Science Center (Design Workshop)

Description:

In this workshop, participants are encouraged to explore the automatic machines and mechanical mechanisms developed by Al-Jazari, one of the greatest engineers raised in the Islamic world, during the 12th century. The importance of the inventions and designs featured in Al-Jazari’s work Kitab al-Jami in the history of science is explained, while the fundamentals of gear systems and movement mechanisms are introduced.

During the practical process, participants assemble laser-cut wooden pieces to design and construct a small geared automaton inspired by Al-Jazari’s automatons. This process supports mechanical thinking, three-dimensional spatial reasoning, and engineering design skills. The workshop aims to recreate the engineering heritage of history with the hands of today.

4. Optical Illusion

Age: 9+ Location: Konya Science Center (Discovery Workshop)

Description:

In this workshop, participants are encouraged to explore visual perception and perspective concepts by experiencing Albert Ames’s studies firsthand. The research conducted by Albert Ames, who made significant contributions to the field of perceptual psychology in the 20th century, is introduced, focusing on perspective and visual illusion, while discussing how the eye and brain interpret visual information.

During the practical process, participants observe how objects within the same environment can be perceived at different sizes. Through a concrete experience, the concepts of perspective, point of view, and visual illusion are examined, encouraging participants to question the relationship between perception and reality. The workshop aims to help participants scientifically interpret visual illusions encountered in daily life while developing critical observation skills.

5. Equal-Arm Balance Scale

Age: 9+ Location: Konya Science Center (Technology Workshop)

Description:

In this workshop, participants are encouraged to discover the working principles of the equal-arm balance scale by both designing and using one themselves. Concepts such as balance, mass, and weight, along with their relationship to measurement applications in daily life, are explored.

During the application process, participants construct their own balance scales from wooden materials, experimenting with finding the balance point and achieving equilibrium between the two pans. This process supports measurement, estimation, and comparison skills through a hands-on construction experience.

The workshop aims to develop both engineering thinking and awareness of basic physics concepts by allowing participants to personally recreate one of humanity’s oldest measurement tools.