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!
Taught by Professor Andrew Simon, this course explored histories of the Middle East and North Africa through film, media, and supporting texts. From French Algeria to the Armenian Genocide and the Egyptian Revolution, each week centered on critical engagement with audiovisual material and primary sources. Through reflections, discussions, and a final research project, students examined how media shapes collective memory and questions of voice, power, and resistance. Thoughtful, rigorous, and deeply transformative, this course reshaped how I think about both history and storytelling.
This course offered a dynamic exploration of Paris’s art and architecture, grounding students in the city’s cultural and historical foundations. Weekly lectures established a theoretical framework spanning Paris’s origins, key art movements, and the evolution of its monuments. Our Wednesday site visits made this course truly unforgettable, where we stood before the very landmarks we studied, turning theory into lived experience.
Spring 2025 Courses: A Season of Curiosity and Creation
Now that I'm two weeks into spring term, it feels like the perfect time to share a bit about the classes I'm taking. And honestly? I don't think I've ever been this excited about a course lineup. Let's dive in!
Though this course falls squarely within my major, it covers a niche I haven't yet explored: language impairment and its neurological roots. I saw it as a chance to stretch the scope of my cognitive science studies. Despite the intimidating title, Professor Samantha Wray created such an inclusive and intellectually stimulating environment from day one. Students bring a variety of disciplinary backgrounds (including but not limited to cognitive science, neuroscience, and linguistics), and that diversity of perspective makes each discussion richer. We don't just analyze landmark papers; we collaboratively compare language models and present our insights in every class.
At long last, I'm enrolled in the class I've had my eye on since my very first spring at Dartmouth: Sonic Arts! My relationship with music is intense (Spotify told me I clocked in 200k minutes last year), and that energy spills into my creative work in other media, like photography. Despite having no formal training, I've found so much joy in the hands-on, exploratory nature of this course. We immerse ourselves in the history of experimental sound, play with theory, and compose using department-provided gear that makes the whole process feel like play. It's been a perfect space to reconnect with curiosity.
Even though this course is offered through the Art History department, its interdisciplinary nature makes it a natural fit for my major, especially given that my thesis focuses on art perception in the digital age. Each week, we dive into readings that span computer science, philosophy, and aesthetics, asking what it really means to create and perceive art in a time when machines can (or maybe cannot…) do both. The small seminar format makes the class feel more like a think tank than a lecture. I often find myself wishing it ran longer.
Each class brings something distinct to the table, and together, they're shaping what might be one of my most inspiring academic terms yet. Altogether, these courses remind me why I love the approach to learning and teaching at Dartmouth: not just informative but also imaginative.
During winter term, I participated in the inaugural program, Tuck Pathfinders, which connected first-year students with Dartmouth alums and provided us with career advice!
I sat down with Aarushi Jain '25, a coxswain on the women's rowing team, to learn more about the opportunities to study abroad as an athlete at Dartmouth!
