RC Quarterly

Former RC history teacher Hafize Değer sets the historical context for the founding of the Republic once more for RCQ, as she has done myriad times in class.

Yeşim Arat RC 74, Professor of Political Science and International Relations at Boğaziçi University, writes about the contributions of women and feminists to the Republic.

Professor of Economics and Economic History at Boğaziçi University, Şevket Pamuk RA 68 evaluates his field in the past century and provides a view for the second century.

The Winter 2024 issue of the RC Quarterly, focusing on the RC celebrations for the Turkish Centennial and RC's 160th, is now online.

With her vast expertise in theatre as an academic, writer, and critic, Dikmen Gürün ACG 61 reviews the role of theatre in the early Republican period.

Music critic, writer, and academic Evin İlyasoğlu ACG 66 recounts the impressive journey of Turkish music, with the foundation of the Republic.

The Republic gave her the security to pursue a career in psychology.

Cevat Eyüp Taşman RC 1910 and Mehlika Taşman Ribnikar ACG 35 were instrumental in developing Turkey’s petroleum industry.

The life of Salâhattin Mehmet Erk tells the story of one of the important new institutions of the Republic.

Confidence and hope defined her time at ACG.

A tribute to former RC English teacher Cyrus Carter.

Pakay, a significant photographer, recorded a little-known part of Baldwin's life

RC students learn to navigate the world of ChatGPT.

Barbaros Serter RC 10, the co-founder of VoltiNet, explains how electric cars are shaping the future.

Want to see past issues of the RC Quarterly? Visit the RC Quarterly Archives.

A look back at a century on stage, and how RC is preparing the next generation of students.

Teachers who have helped bring some of the most recent productions to the stage share their memories.

Haldun Dormen continues to perform, lead and inspire to this day.

Kortay continues as a teacher, acting coach, actor, director, translator and dubbing artist.

“Every moment on stage was a joy for me and I enjoyed it as if I would never be able to do it again."

Çiğdem Selışık Onat was on stage often during her time at ACG.

Levendoğlu recalls a historical moment that happened while on the RC stage.

A chance to practice English turned into a life-long passion.

“‘Don’t ever stop doing theater’ may be the most important sentence of my life.”

“RC formed my artistic background.”

“This is not an easy career, but I am smitten.”

“Courage, freedom, and power were integral parts of RC as values.”

“Theater is a tool of world building.”

“RC enabled me to dip my toes into writing on theater.”

The app is helping to transform the edtech industry.

Sürmeli credits RC CIP for inspiring him to go into public health.

The new program give students new respect for the environment.

Students learn about the business world through various activities.

This year kids ages 8-16 joined the RCSummer and RCS Academy programs in record numbers.

RC is helping students navigate the next technology wave by allowing them to try out the technologies in RC’s own VR and AR labs, and giving them the skills to design their own virtual experiences.

“I’ve never wavered in my belief that Avalanche will be one of the most important projects in blockchains.”

“There’s currently a gold rush with everything Web3.”

“We need to give blockchain technology some more time to finish its baby steps.”

“I see a world where every individual becomes a micro-creator in the future.”

“There is no doubt that AI will - and already is - completely changing how we create."

“E-Sports literally is no different from traditional sports.”

İsmail Ertürk RC 77, Senior Lecturer at the University of Manchester, explains how art and economics are becoming intertwined through digital platforms.

After 42 years at RC as an English and computer teacher, Colin Edmonds is retiring. Article republished from the Bosphorus Chronicle.

Math teacher Claus Cadorette retires after 38 years at RC. Article republished from the Bosphorus Chronicle.

Head of School Adam Oliver discusses how Web3 tools are being used for school administration as well as learning.

The 199 members of the Class of ’22 graduated on June 21 on the Dave Phillips Field. 

Members of the Class of '22 have received acceptances from top universities.

Events at Bizim Tepe are back! Here are some highlights.

Alumni were thrilled to be able to connect again at the NYC Bar Night and Spring Fireside Chat.

London area alumni enjoyed meeting up in May.

From music and drama in the theatre to summits and festivals around campus, students were excited to rediscover the joys of in-person activities this spring.

The Prof. Seyhan Nurettin Eğe ACG 49 Excellence in Science Award for Girls was presented at the Lise 11 assembly on March 28, 2022.

Now in it's 21st year, the competition recognizes students' artistic talent.

Prof. Dr. Olcay Neyzi ACG 46 and her contribution to pediatrics in Turkey are commemorated in this piece written by Sinan Hiçdönmez RC 15.

“Business and social enterprises will have to collaborate more meaningfully.” 

“Success and happiness come, as a person creates impact."

“I feel grateful that RC gave me such a good basis to interpret the world.”

Engineer and entrepreneur Sıddıka Demir talks about her efforts to promote diversity for innovation, and what it's like to provide guidance to start-ups.

“Kodluyoruz plans to alter the educational opportunities of millions of young people in Turkey.”

“As leaders, we need to use our intuition as well as our knowledge for a more conscious ecosystem approach.”

 “Social impact is present in almost every project at the Columbia Global Centers | Istanbul.”

“Impact cannot happen in isolation; it requires collective action.”

The merger of Robert Academy and the American College for Girls also saw the merging of the two student papers, when the Bosphorus and the Campus Chronicle became the Bosphorus Chronicle.

“Taking responsibility helps us understand what can be improved.”

For İlayda Büyükdoğan RC 16, the journey from RC to startup has been anything but traditional.

“Design can be pivotal to social, economic, and environmental impact.”

“I have learned to see my job not only in terms of competition to generate better investment performance but also in terms of cooperation to work towards a more sustainable way of life.”

“Corporations have a great responsibility because of their vast sphere of influence, and they can act as catalysts.”

Hasan Burak Demir, along with his university classmate Umut İsmetoğlu, established Zerosum Games in 2019, while a junior at Boğaziçi University studying management. The acquisition of this relatively new company by Zynga, one of the world’s leading game groups, is a massive achievement.

“After the UN announced the Sustainable Development Goals, there was a paradigm shift.”

“Women have the drive to fight discrimination and transform society for equality.”

“Identifying different solutions to a wide range of problems is the stuff of qualitative research.”

The professor of epidemiology hopes to provide leadership in the area of insect transmitted diseases, microbial pandemics, climate change effects on infectious disease and in global health diplomacy.

The world-renown scholar of management information systems was presented the award which is given for exemplary service of Canadians who make a significant difference to Canada through their lifetime contributions.

Atılgan takes over from Founding President Prof. M. Ali Alpar RA 68.

The 2020-21 academic year began online, and the distance learning experience has been enhanced based on best practices gained during the 2020 spring semester.

The award recognizes Buğra for her work, her publications and her determination.

“Pregnant Spiral” is a part of the exhibition Contemporary Ceramic Art from the Middle East at the V&A which also includes Uras’s “Ottoman Belly”.

Millas recognized for his work Aile Mezarı (The Family Grave, Doğan Kitap).

Yalçınalp received two awards for her coverage of the Izmir earthquake and refugee migration in Edirne.

Günvar's Soneler (Sonnets, Ötüken Neşriyat) selected as best Turkish poetry book.

Art teacher Maria Sezer and music teacher Margaret Halıcıoğlu talk about the Creative Arts program.

Yıldız's latest short film Wave has been recognized at several festivals around the world.

A message from Head of School Adam Oliver.

“I am grateful to RC for showing how to seek wisdom and help all on your own.”

“We have started understanding nature better.”

“We all have to face the sea and not turn our back to it. Sea is life, sea is bread, sea is tourism.”

“We need a design process to quickly regenerate nature that we have polluted and destroyed.”

“We need to realize our impact and take responsibility.”

“We should work together to learn about the impacts of our lifestyles on nature.”

“RC nature was my inspiration.”

“We need academics especially in international affairs that require defending our nation’s rights.”

“I would recommend to those interested in wind energy to join the multinational companies based in Turkey.”

“In climate activism the role of youth – and that of children – unfortunately seems to be essential and indispensable.”

“Climate education doesn't end in the classroom, and it was really important to me that RC recognized that.”

“Solar plus batteries will be a major piece of power infrastructure in the world in a decade.”

“Robert College always provides a vision ahead of the times.”

“Nobody involved in the industry can be immune to the EV revolution.”

“Clean energy systems will be an integral part of our future.”

“Consumers are now looking for companies that not only create products and services, but also add value to their communities, as well as to our world.”

“Sustainability is now a driver behind innovation, evolution of new business, and risk management.”

“Our environmental problems require a lot of innovative and cross disciplinary solutions.”  

“Our clothes are a part of the climate crisis, and we have to reverse the narrative to make them part of the solution.”

“I placed sustainability and eco-friendliness at the heart of my brand.”

“Our questions should stretch beyond technological discovery.”

“I cannot imagine designing a project without thinking about its impact on the world we live in.”

“We have to let go of greed.”

“RC has instilled self-responsibility in me to respect nature, farmers, and the consumers.”

Sabancı University awarded their first-ever honorary doctorate to industrialist Jan Nahum.

Professor Gülrü Necipoğlu, Aga Khan Professor of Islamic Art and Architecture and Director of the Aga Khan Program in the Department of History of Art and Architecture at Harvard University, has been appointed to the British Academy as a Corresponding Fellow in the discipline of History of Art and Music.

Prominent scholar Emine Fetvacı has been named Boston College’s Calderwood Professor in Islamic and Asian Art

Deniz Tortum’s film Maddenin Halleri (States of Matter) won Best Film and Best Director at the Accessible Film Festival, and Best Documentary at Altın Portakal.

“The physics courses at RC with a lot of experiments certainly inspired me as an artist.”

IEEE (The Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Turkey recognized Bülent Sankur for his work on signals processing.

Stüdyo Singapur is a news and commentary program featuring chats with Turkish entrepreneurs, academics, businesspeople and diplomats.

Sculptor lauded as an imaginative and versatile representative of contemporary art.

Melih Fereli RC ENG 70 is a pivotal figure in the Turkish art scene and is Arter’s Founding Director. RCQ had the opportunity to ask him about all things art and Arter.

“I want people to feel that art is part of daily life and something to be shared.”

“Women having agency as producers and consumers outside the domestic sphere, and challenging the patriarchy are important issues for me.”

“Contemporary artists feel a responsibility to raise awareness about issues of our time.”

“I generally start with a certain feeling and try to depict that feeling.”

“This is no time to be timid.”

“The physics courses at RC with a lot of experiments certainly inspired me as an artist.”

“I was drawn to curation because it allows one to join many different conversations.”

“Don’t try to prove intelligence though art; you will end up with neither.”

“If you have a genuine interest in art, it comes with a kind of thirst that drives you.”

“Art is a great way to overcome stuckness.”

''Looking for feminist solidarities is a driving force for me.''

“My RC friends are still the most reliable sources for me. I turn to them for feedback, insight, collaboration.”

“The Kale Design and Art Center will be an interdisciplinary production and meeting point.”

“Art plays a powerful and proactive role in affecting change.”

“Genç Modern aims to bring together young professionals interested in the arts and involve them in Istanbul’s dynamic art community.”