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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.