Hey all! I'm Batu. I'm a '26 from Istanbul, Turkey, and I am passionate about the cognitive science of design, developmental psychology, aesthetics research, postcolonial literature, and social media marketing! Be sure to reach out with questions about exploring the liberal arts, learning a new language at Dartmouth, cafes in town (one of my favorite blog series dare I say), study abroad programs, and research on campus!
Writing 5 is one of the courses that count towards the first-year writing requirement. The course covered content relating to the self, transformation, and social dynamics relating to majority and minority. Dr. Godley is simply phenomenal. Her instruction was extremely accessible even though she covered intense topics. I could not have enjoyed my Writing 5 more!
Design Thinking was above and beyond my expectations. The course is structured around weekly projects, where we apply different cognitive strategies to cover topics like design principles, human need-finding, brainstorming, scenario building, and visual thinking.
Introduction to Cognitive Science covers a variety of fields including psychology, computer science, linguistics, and philosophy to provide insight into cognitive processes. This course helped me develop an understanding of all facets of cognitive science and which ones I would be interested in further pursuing as part of my major.
SummerIstanbul, Turkey
I was home during my first summer! A non-exhaustive list of things I've done includes sunbathing, coding my personal blog, and going on runs. #rest #relaxation
Psychology 10 is a deep dive into almost everything you might need to become well-versed in conducting research, analyzing data, and interpreting findings in a statistically sound manner. Professor Pfister is the most approachable professor I have ever had the pleasure of learning from. Statistics isn't exactly my forté, but I now feel confident in my stats foundation!
I loved taking this class with Madame Alverde, a professor from Université Toulouse ; Jean Jaures was an incredible experience. She made sure to correct our mistakes on the spot and improve them eloquently.
This course allowed me to explore the intersection of aesthetics and digital media, focusing on how digital environments reshape traditional concepts like materiality and form. I particularly enjoyed comparing human and AI-generated analyses of art and examining the frameworks that shape contemporary digital studies, from visual culture to design philosophy.
SummerHanover, NH
I was on campus pursuing full-time research in the Cognitive Science department. My research focuses on children's capacity to imagine and reason about possibilities!
I remember my orientation week as an incoming student very vividly. I was nervous beyond belief and probably looked clueless while trying to hide how clueless I felt. One of the main things that helped me feel a sense of belonging was the on-campus programming and sessions led by upper-level students, known as Orientation Leaders (OLs). Their guidance and warmth motivated me to become an OL myself for the class of 2027, which was an amazing experience. For the class of 2028, I decided to take it a step further and serve as a Senior Orientation Leader. Think of Senior OLs as the ones assisting with the recruitment of OLs and planning all the programs that shape the orientation experience.
During the spring term, we had weekly meetings where we brainstormed and meticulously planned each session we wanted to include in orientation. We also reviewed OL applications and met with applicants to curate a cohesive and enthusiastic team. Once summer came around, our work shifted to logistics like scheduling and venue management. Everything was happening behind the scenes, all for the incoming class!
During the two weeks of actual orientation, I facilitated various events and met so many '28s. One of my favorite moments was performing in "Your Class, Your Words," a spoken word recital that captures the essence of the incoming class through select lines from the application essays of incoming students. I even took the Class Selfie during the First Meeting of the Class of 2028!
In addition to blogging, I work as a Fellow for the Tucker Center, which focuses on promoting spiritual and ethical life on campus. As part of this role, I'm leading the Interfaith Alternative Spring Break Trip. Read on to learn more about my work!
