Academics from Kastamonu University have launched a new scientific research project that will contribute to the protection of the region's water resources and sustainable environmental management. The project titled "Evaluation of Water Quality Around Küre Mountains National Park (Ulukaya) Using Water Analysis and GIS Techniques," which will be carried out in collaboration with public institutions outside the university, was accepted on October 8, 2025.

The research project, supported by a budget of 799,285 TL and lasting 16 months, is led by Prof. Dr. Ekrem Mutlu, a faculty member from the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences. In the project, Dr. Elif Seda Özbek serves as the advisor, and Associate Professor Dr. Dilek Aykır Akdağ from İzmir Kâtip Çelebi University serves as the project coordinator. Additionally, Research Assistant Büşra Kırcı, Assistant Professor Esma Mutlu, and master's students Yasin Boztepe and Dilara Kıvanç from our university's faculty are participating as researchers.

As part of the project, physical, chemical, and biological analyses of water resources around the Küre Mountains National Park and Ulukaya Waterfall will be conducted. Additionally, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques will be used in the project to analyze water quality data in the region, map the data, and create a scientific model for the protection of water resources and sustainable environmental management. The results obtained are expected to make significant contributions to the ecosystem health and conservation policies in the region.

Our Rector, Prof. Dr. Ahmet Hamdi Topal, stated that the project is in line with the regional development vision and made the following assessments:

Our university continues to transform its accumulated academic knowledge into concrete projects focused on the environment, ecology, and sustainability. Kürek Mountains National Park and Ulukaya Waterfall are of great importance for our natural heritage. The scientific examination of the water quality in this valuable area will be a guiding light for both environmental protection and local government policies. Congratulations to our project team, and I wish them success in their work. "