By Cemil Özyurt - Going to a musical in New York’s Broadway, walking in Central Park, shopping at SoHo, and being mesmerized by the lights of Times Square and looking around for minutes on shop windows of 5th Avenue are ordinary activities done by each tourist that comes to New York City. But if you come to NYC and are willing to take the two hours long drive to the north, to the ‘upstate’ region, you will have a chance to get out of the chaos of the millions and meet a brand new New York that has a magnificant history and nature.

Betül Kaçar joined The University of Arizona Molecular and Cell Biology department as an astrobiology professor. This is a first time a molecular biology professorship position specifically targeted for origins of life and astrobiology. After earning her PhD in Bio Molecular Chemistry at Emory University’s School of Medicine and Chemistry, she developed an interest in evolution and deep questions that impacted the way life is today. She applied for a NASA postdoctoral fellowship. They awarded her with this fellowship and she also received a NASA Early Career Fellowship, as well as a grant from the Exobiology Branch of NASA. Kaçar responded TURKOFAMERICA’s questions.

Bahceşehir University Global has been working on its educational activities in the USA for around 13 years, since 2004. The total 34 graduates of its MBA programs in three different specialized fields. BAU has been offering students educational services in the USA for the past four years. Not only under the roof of Bahçeşehir University but also as the Mentora College Language School of BAU Global. We talked to Enver Yücel, President of the BAU Global about his current investments in education and his future plans.

AKDO, the tile and stone brand, has opened its first showroom to spotlight its global stone, tile and mosaic collections in a single place. Located at 22 West 21st Street in New York, the 10,000-square-foot, two-floor space is evidence of the 25-year-old company’s transition from product design, manufacturing and distribution to retail. The new showroom has two custom art mosaics on display, one adapted from a chinoiserie wallpaper and another a floral still life, both created from thousands of pieces of natural stone in dozens of colors. Hakkı Akbulak, AKDO president and co-founder, talked to TurkofAmerica.