A Major Contribution to Global Earthquake Science from Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory

Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute (KOERI) is hosting the most prestigious scientific gatherings of the international seismological community. The Peter Bormann Young Seismologist Training Course (YSTC) and the ORFEUS & Geo-INQUIRE Workshop, held between August 31 and September 5, brought together dozens of researchers and expert seismologists from 20 countries at the Kandilli Campus.

Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute, Türkiye’s most deep-rooted institution in earthquake science, brings together its more than 150 years of observational and research heritage with young researchers on a global scale.

40 Young Seismologists from 20 Countries at Kandilli

The well-established Peter Bormann Young Seismologist Training Course (YSTC), which has contributed to the development of young seismologists across various European countries since the 1990s, was hosted this year by Boğaziçi University Kandilli Observatory and Earthquake Research Institute.

A total of 40 young researchers from 20 different countries, 28 of whom were international participants, attended the training program held between August 31 and September 5.

In the training sessions, which were also contributed to by academics from Middle East Technical University (METU) and Hacettepe University in addition to Kandilli Observatory, theoretical and practical lectures were delivered across a broad spectrum, including:

  • Engineering seismology and strong ground motion,

  • Earthquake source mechanisms and near-fault effects,

  • Site conditions and ground motion simulations,

  • Seismological data analysis, earthquake risk, and structural dynamics,

  • Tsunami observations and modeling.

Kandilli Campus Has Become an International Scientific Hub

Following the training program, an international training and workshop program was held between September 3 and 5 in cooperation with the Observatories and Research Facilities for European Seismology (ORFEUS) and Geo-INQUIRE. Within the scope of the ORFEUS meeting, approximately 80 seismologists and earthquake engineers from different countries around the world gathered at Kandilli and delivered presentations.

Through this opportunity, the young researchers participating in the YSTC had the chance to listen to world-renowned scientists who are experts in their fields, establish professional networks with international colleagues, and lay the groundwork for future academic collaborations.

The Summit Moves to Istanbul: ESC 2026

Immediately following this intensive scientific activity at Kandilli, the 40th General Assembly of the European Seismological Commission (ESC 2026) was held in Istanbul between September 6 and 11. Bringing together hundreds of researchers from more than 60 countries, ESC 2026 turned Istanbul into the epicenter where the heart of global earthquake science beat.