METU/ODTÜPlant Finder

Information

Who We Are

The field workers, educators, botanists, and developers credited by the original METU Flora Project.

METU Flora Project and Flora Group

The original project was prepared with support from Doğa Koruma Merkezi, the work of volunteers, and contributions from the METU Department of Computer Education and Instructional Technology.

The roles and biographies below are an archival record transferred from the 2020 site. They do not claim to describe anyone’s current position. Portrait frames are reserved for newly approved images.

Photo awaiting review
Fethiye ArslantaşMaps, fieldwork, herbarium specimen preparation

A METU City and Regional Planning graduate who describes the campus as the place where learning beyond classrooms led to an interest in nature conservation and the changing colors of steppe, forest, and lake.

Photo awaiting review
Gözde AtağFieldwork, herbarium specimen preparation

A METU Biology student and volunteer nature guide at the time of the original project, working to make care for nature a shared public responsibility.

Photo awaiting review
Can BilginFieldwork, campus ecology

An ecologist whose main zoological interests include birds and large mammals, and who joined the flora work through a long-standing interest in METU campus ecology and field discussion.

Photo awaiting review
Zeyneb Vildan ÇakılFieldwork, herbarium specimen preparation

A recent METU Molecular Biology and Genetics graduate at the time, committed to knowing and communicating nature alongside molecular-level academic work.

Photo awaiting review
Barış ÇalışkanFieldwork, herbarium specimen preparation

A nature guide who grew up exploring trees, soil, and insects and continued learning and sharing knowledge in Ankara’s and METU’s forests, lakes, and steppe.

Photo awaiting review
Gökhan EryılmazOriginal website, code, and interfaces

A METU community member who valued the rare experience of university life in close contact with nature and contributed to the original digital experience.

Photo awaiting review
M. Banu GündoğanFieldwork, original website design

Connected with METU nature since 1981 and involved in designing and delivering nature and science education activities with volunteer teams, including technology as part of that work.

Photo awaiting review
Umut HasanoğluFieldwork, herbarium preparation, plant identification

A METU Biology student in the archival text, interested in plants, nature walks, cycling, collaborative production, nature education, sustainable living, and sparking curiosity about living things.

Photo awaiting review
Halime KaratoprakFieldwork, herbarium specimen preparation

A METU Biology student at the time who described nature as a source of curiosity, attention, learning, and a desire to pass knowledge through walks, games, and workshops.

Photo awaiting review
Mustafa MallıOriginal website, code, and interfaces through CEIT 436

A final-year METU Computer Education and Instructional Technology student in the archival text, who preferred walking through campus and enjoying its vegetation.

Photo awaiting review
Melek MercantaşFieldwork, herbarium specimen preparation

A METU Environmental Engineering graduate and Earth System Science student at the time, for whom the campus became a home whose birds, flowers, and seasonal changes invited constant discovery.

Photo awaiting review
Nurbahar UstaFieldwork, herbarium preparation, plant list and visual grouping

A bioengineer and ecologist whose work considered climate change, plant distributions, ecosystem dynamics, conservation practice, and public engagement, alongside amateur bird and plant observation.

Photo awaiting review
Mecit VuralPlant identification, botanical consultancy, fieldwork

A systematic botanist who joined campus botanical walks and contributed identification expertise while working with wider botanical networks on Türkiye’s plant conservation and illustrated flora.

Photo awaiting review
Uğur ZeydanlıCoordination, fieldwork, plant identification

A coordinator, educator, and conservation practitioner who has photographed and studied METU campus plants since 1993 and describes time in the field as the most rewarding part of the work.