Pioneering Project Supported by TUBITAK from SDÜ Bringing Together Science, Art, and Social Benefit

Süleyman Demirel University is undertaking another interdisciplinary project that places social contribution at the center while improving the quality of medical education.

The project titled "The Effect of Ceramic Art on Holistic Psychosocial Well-being and Motor Skills in Medical Students: A Mixed Methods Study," involving Prof. Dr. Sabriye ERCAN (Deputy Dean of SDÜ School of Medicine), Assoc. Prof. Dr. Serap ÜNAL (Director of SDÜ Ceramic Research and Application Center), and Res. Asst. Ayşe Melike BİRCAN (Faculty Member at SDÜ Fine Arts Faculty Ceramic and Glass Department), has been awarded support under the TUBITAK 1002-A Rapid Support Module.

The project aims to examine the effects of ceramic art on medical students' levels of psychosocial well-being and fine motor skills through a scientific and controlled approach. Being the pioneering study to be conducted in Turkey in this scope places the project in a unique position in both medical education and art-based interventions.

The study aims to bring a holistic perspective centered on the human being to medical education. This approach, which strengthens students' psychosocial resilience during an intense and stressful educational process and supports hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills, has the potential to contribute indirectly but sustainably to the development of clinical skills. At the same time, it is expected to present an evidence-based model that demonstrates how art-based practices can be integrated into medical education.

The project aims to contribute to the development of physicians who prioritize mental well-being through social contribution and strengthen empathy and awareness. In this respect, the study will not be limited to the university environment but will provide scientific foundation for protective and developmental approaches supporting public health in the long term.

Within the scope of the project, our medical school students are expected to participate voluntarily in the research. During this process, our students will be active participants in a scientific study while experiencing a unique opportunity immersed in art that supports their personal and professional development.

As Süleyman Demirel University, we congratulate all the academics who contributed to this pioneering project that brings together science, art, and social responsibility on the same platform, and we once again emphasize our university's continued commitment to quality medical education and scientific production that adds value to society.