Giresun students build award-winning robots, grow mushrooms, harness solar energy

A vocational high school in Türkiye's Black Sea province of Giresun is cultivating a new generation of engineers through an innovative blend of technology, agriculture, and sustainability. The BATEM Robot Team, established 11 years ago at Bulancak Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, has accumulated an impressive record of national competition victories while expanding into agricultural production and renewable energy initiatives.

Robotics Excellence and Patent Achievement

The team secured first place in the Fast Line Follower category at TEKNOFEST 2019 and claimed top honors in the Maze Master category at last year's MEB Robot Competition, along with second and third place finishes in other categories. Beyond competition success, students developed a hazelnut sorting and cracking machine capable of separating nuts into six different sizes, which received patent registration from the Turkish Patent and Trademark Office in 2024. "We believe vocational education and technology are our country's future," said Principal Turgut Hacınoğmanoğlu, emphasizing the role of value-added production in national development.

Agricultural Innovation and Sustainable Practices

Three years ago, the school established a greenhouse where students now cultivate lettuce, tomatoes, and beans. This academic year, responding to student interest, faculty created a climate-controlled mushroom cultivation area that has already yielded its first harvest, serving as a model for local producers. The initiative demonstrates how technical education can address diverse sectors beyond traditional manufacturing.

Solar Energy and Self-Sufficiency

The school has commenced installation of a solar energy system that will power campus lighting, marking another milestone in its sustainability journey. Electronics teacher Erkan Kaşık noted that while the team once relied on purchased components, students now design their own electronic cards and control units, producing three-dimensional robot parts using in-house 3D printers. Students like Fahrettin Mert Duykun, who aspires to work in defense industry, and Bedirhan Usta, who discovered robotics at BATEM, exemplify the transformative impact of hands-on technical education.