Bejan Tekay

Bejan Tekay’s journey reflects a relentless pursuit of education and innovation despite considerable challenges. As a child, captivated by the TV show "Arka Bahcede Bilim," which ignited his passion for science and experimentation, this passion carried him through rigorous study, placing him in the top 0.5 percentile on Turkey's high school entrance exam, earning a scholarship to Bahcesehir College Science and Technology High School.

Growing up in politically tense and economically restricted Kurdish regions of Turkey, Tekay learned resilience and problem-solving, with an interest in quantum computing sparked during an internship at his hometown university, but he quickly recognized the disparity in resources compared to Western Turkey. This realization drove him to seek a full scholarship at Santa Cruz University where he worked under Professor Elise Duffau on research about misconceptions in news.

Tekay’s educational journey achievements include developing a system to detect animals trapped under car components, which earned his team a top-five ranking globally in the Conrad Challenge and an invitation to pitch at NASA. He co-founded the "Hevsel #8784" FRC robotics team, the first in Southeastern Anatolia, which won awards and served as a pioneer in the region.

He won the Teknofest second-best innovation project for the "Animal Savehicle" project, a system preventing animal deaths in vehicle components and also secured a regional championship at TUBITAK, prompting the start of patenting. Tekay further expanded his research with full scholarships to Kadir Has University and the Santa Cruz University Science Internship Program, and later through the Pioneer Academics and Lumiere Research Scholars programs.

He was inspired by upper-class students gaining admission to prestigious universities and aimed to be a role model for younger students. This mentorship included guiding students through the Conrad Challenge, founding the school's first FRC team, and creating a chemistry lab initiative to enhance practical learning. On the Bambu Volunteer Education Program he mentored an underprivileged student for the High School Entrance Exam.

He launched a project to introduce STEM concepts to students with limited resources, including organizing a science festival and collaborating with the Science Heroes Association to spread STEM education in disadvantaged areas. 
His innovative spirit led to the creation of the Animal Savehicle Company, which developed sensor-based circuits to detect and deter animals from vehicle components. He also co-founded Copipest, a project aimed at regulating pesticide dosages to prevent soil infertility and pollution.

Despite facing significant personal and societal challenges, including prejudice as a Kurd in Turkey and economic hardships, Tekay remained resilient. His experiences with the 2023 earthquakes in Turkey further strengthened his commitment to community involvement and interdisciplinary studies. His global perspective was shaped by participation in international programs like the Science Internship Program, Pioneer and Lumiere research programs, and the Leangap Entrepreneurship Program, while his involvement with Evrim Agaci, Turkey's leading science platform, has seen him contribute to science education on a national and global scale.