STEAM HACKATHON - About the Hackathon

👉 “Our team came together with the shared purpose of using digital technologies and creative collaboration to solve real-world challenges. We are united by the motivation to learn, innovate, and make a positive impact.”

👉 “Our team culture is based on collaboration, respect, and creativity. We value diverse perspectives, support each other’s learning, and work together with enthusiasm to achieve our goals.”

👉 “Our mission is to preserve and reimagine hidden cultural heritage using digital tools, so that young people can learn, create, and connect across cultures.”

The aim of our hackathon is to bring young people together under the light of Hipparchus and guide them towards a common goal through science. Inspired by Hipparchus of İznik, this hackathon forged a connection between Turkey and Italy through İznik tiles and ceramics. These timeless works represent the harmony of art, science, and culture. Our research on this topic is being shared to inspire new generations.

Hipparchus

Hipparchus (c. 190 BC – c. 120 BC) was a Greek astronomer, mathematician, and geographer from Nicaea in Bithynia, remembered as one of antiquity’s greatest scientific minds. Working mostly on the island of Rhodes, he pioneered trigonometry by creating chord tables and introduced the system of dividing circles into 360 degrees, which became fundamental for astronomy and mathematics. He compiled one of the first known star catalogues, listing about 850 stars and inventing the magnitude scale to classify their brightness. Hipparchus also discovered the precession of the equinoxes by comparing his own stellar observations with older records, realizing that the equinox points slowly shift over time. He refined models of the Sun and Moon’s motion, measured lunar periods with high accuracy, and estimated distances to the Moon and Sun—remarkably close in the case of the Moon. In geography, he advanced the use of latitude and longitude and critiqued earlier work by Eratosthenes. Although most of his writings are lost, his surviving commentary on the Phaenomena and references in Ptolemy’s Almagest preserve his legacy. Hipparchus’s emphasis on precise observation and mathematical modeling laid crucial foundations for later astronomy and earned him recognition as one of the greatest astronomers of the ancient world.

Iznik Tiles

İznik tile making flourished particularly during the Ottoman period in the town of İznik (formerly Nicaea), near Bursa, for which it is named; it reached its highest quality in the 15th and 17th centuries. The underglaze technique was primarily used on fritware (quartz-based stoneware), which was then coated with a glossy, durable glaze. Initially, deep cobalt blue and turquoise were prominent; from the mid-16th century onward, tones such as olive green and pale purple were developed, and later, bright red (boled red) and emerald green. Quality declined in the 17th century. Examples of motifs include tulips, carnations, ornamental leaves/"reed" leaves, stylized cloud bands, geometric borders, and stylized floral and bird motifs. İznik tiles and panels can be found in important Ottoman structures such as Topkapı Palace and the Blue Mosque.

Italian Ceramics

Italian ceramics are renowned everywhere in the world for their quality, beauty, and traditional crafting. Their origins date back to Etruscan and Roman times, but it was during the Renaissance that they reached their peak with decorated majolica. The cities of Faenza, Deruta, Vietri, and Caltagirone are among the most famous centres for ceramic production. Each region has developed distinctive styles and techniques, connected to local culture. Patterns range from religious scenes to natural and geometric elements. Today, Italian ceramics combine tradition and innovation, keeping an ancient and precious art alive.

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