Information Technologies and Communication Authority President Ömer Abdullah Karagözoğlu attended the 40th National Informatics Congress organized by the Turkish Informatics Association with the main theme of “Resilient Informatics Ecosystem Against Natural Disasters.”
Speaking at the closing session of the congress hosted by the Information Technologies and Communication Authority, Karagözoğlu said, “Information and communication technologies are used today in many areas to facilitate and accelerate life. Just as in every aspect of life, technological innovations stand out as solution-providing tools in the face of natural disasters.”
Noting that metropolitan cities have been the settlements most affected by disasters for years, Karagözoğlu stated, “Behind this situation lies the unplanned and rapid population growth in our cities, along with deficiencies in infrastructure, resources, and information networks, which create vulnerable conditions against disasters. Therefore, taking preventive measures before a possible disaster, reducing losses, and enabling rapid interventions in disaster situations becomes crucial.”
Karagözoğlu said, “Creating a resilient informatics ecosystem against natural disasters also holds an important place among these preventive measures. We must acknowledge that this requires a collective effort. The 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes once again demonstrated the power of technology and the importance of collaboration. It provided us with the experience that we need resilient and robust infrastructure, effective intervention plans, and transparent communication. While our efforts to build a more resilient informatics ecosystem continue, we need to remember the lessons learned from the earthquakes and make the best use of the upcoming collaboration and innovation opportunities. Because collaboration among all stakeholders responsible for disaster management, innovative solutions, and a proactive approach to disaster preparedness form the fundamental components of our resilience journey.”
Emphasizing the importance of establishing a resilient informatics ecosystem against natural disasters, President Karagözoğlu stated, “In terms of creating a resilient informatics ecosystem against natural disasters, I consider strengthening our country's fiber infrastructure even further, protecting our critical infrastructure against cyber threats, and developing disaster-resilient communication solutions as key priorities.”
Highlighting the importance of the communication dimension for a resilient informatics ecosystem against disasters, Karagözoğlu noted that under the “Disaster Communication Plan” prepared by AFAD and the Presidency of Communications Directorate, with BTK also participating as a supporting solution partner, the necessary studies are being determined to ensure that our citizens are correctly informed before, during, and after disasters. “One of the most important issues in combating natural disasters is perhaps the preparation of disaster plans, as in the example just mentioned specifically for ‘communication.’ In this regard, I find the presentations and speeches made at this Congress, organized with the theme of ‘Resilient Informatics Ecosystem Against Natural Disasters,’ very valuable, and I believe they will guide us in the upcoming process and provide significant assistance in forming policies and strategies.” With these words, he concluded his speech.
Following the speech, the congress concluded with the ceremony of the 6th TBD / Prof. Dr. Aydın Köksal Science Awards, the TBD 25th Science Fiction Short Story Contest Awards, and the Informatics Service Awards.