From left to right: Gretchen McClain, president of the commercial business unit of ITT, Mr. Peter Forssman, Chairman of Stockholm Water Foundation, Mary Zhao from Canada(award of excellence), Ceren Burcak DAG, 2009 Stockholm Water Prize Laureate Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, Ms. Helene Brinkenfeldt Manager of Stockholm Junior Water Prize

About Ceren Burcak Dag

While most 18 year olds are interested in social relationships and dating, Istanbul native and 2009 Stockholm Junior Water Prize Ceren Burcak has interests that are a bit more focused -nanotechnology, condensed-matter physics, astrophysics and neurology are only a sampling of Ceren’s academic and personal loves. And it goes without saying that she is deeply passionate about climate change and sustainability. According to Ceren “I have always been sensitive to environmental issues“.

While the Stockholm Junior Water Prize may be Ceren’s first award, she is no stranger to carrying out advanced research. The topic for her previous research project titled “The Study on the Drying Diffusion Rates of the Softgel Capsules Depended on the Temperature” was concerned with outer part of softgels in the medical manufacturing process.

In addition to being the winner of one of the most prestigious international junior awards in the world, and having a list of interests that mirrors those of Albert Einstein’s (one of her idols), Ceren is also a published writer in both Turkish and English. She has written on topics that range from literature to science and philosophy. She is currently working on her first science fiction novel, with hopes of publishing it within the next few months.

For all her passions, Ceren says she is most interested in Physics, a love that resulted in the research for her award winning process. In addition to her studies in advanced physics, Ceren has been reading the works of Nietzsche, Russell, Einstein, Khayyam, James Joyce and Asimov. Ceren plans to continue her research and studies in Physics; she is currently busy searching for universities with the ‘perfect physics lab’.

From left to right Mr. Peter Forssman Chairman of Stockholm Water Foundation, Ceren Burcak Dag.

Achievements

• “Butterfly Theorems” – April-May 2007 TUBITAK (National Science Council of Turkish Republic) Science and Math Competition, Math Winner on Europe-Marmara Semi-Final and 4th of Turkey Award on Final with
• “EXPERIMENTAL DETERMINATION OF THE DIFFUSION RATES OF SOFT GELS DRYING AT DIFFERENT TEMPERATURES AND pH” – April 2008 TUBITAK (National Science Council of Turkish Republic) Science and Math Competition, Physics Projects Exhibition on Europe-Marmara Semi-Final – May 2008 Istanbul Education and Science Fair – March – July 2009 First Step to Nobel Prize in Physics Award
• “A Solution to Energy-based Water Contamination: Rain as an Alternative Clean Energy Source” – April-May 2009 TUBITAK (National Science Council of Turkish Republic) Science and Math Competition, Math Winner on Europe-Marmara Semi-Final and Selected as Representative Project of Turkey on Stockholm Junior Water Prize by National Junior Water Prize jury – August 2009 Stockholm Junior Water Prize Award
• 2008 National Philosophy Olympiads, 13th of Turkey with an article named “Çöp Kutusundaki Adalet” (Justice in the Trash Can)
• 2009 National Philosophy Olympiads, 4th of Turkey with an article named “Eğitimde Engeller ve Engellerin Evrimi” (The Hindrances in Education and The Evolution of Hindrances)
• 2005 Essay Competition in Sisli, top of category with “Bir Gunlukten Notlar”
• 2006 Libresca & CulTurkiye Story Competition Mansion Award in Turkey with “Kirmizi Bir Polo”

Ceren's Favorite Links

• Scientific American
• Daily Galaxy
• NASA
• Science Daily
• Technology Review

Passions

Nature itself and discovering nature though observation are my two passions. Trying to simulate natural phenomena in a lab environment or on paper (Gedankenexperiment which Albert Einstein talks about in his writings) fascinate me.

Left to right Kevser Senturk national organizer, Ceren Burcak Dag, Tulay Olcay Ceren’s advisor

Aspirations

I want to be a qualified physicist and mathematician who is well versed in philosophy. I believe that comprehending the natural underpinnings of physical laws and theories is the most significant stuff in physics, as well as in philosophy. Also, the only way to simulate physical processes in nature is mathematics. Hence my aspiration.

Wishes

To have enough time to conduct research and to contribute to many fields. I do not see these interests as a career plan, but rather as a way of life.

Activities

• Reading
• Writing science fiction stories, philosophical poems, scientific and philosophical articles
• Playing flute and listening to classical and hard rock music
• Watching philosophical and science fiction movies
• Discovering physics principles (proving equations in different ways)
• Playing with numbers
• Doing science projects, participating in science fairs, spending time in lab

In five years what do you see yourself doing?

I see myself as a scientist conducting research and leading projects that bring solutions to problem areas around the world with need, and as a person still driven by passion for discovery and great curiosity.