It was revealed that the “Cyprus Herbarium and Natural History Museum”, which comprises collections gathered via scientific studies of various units of Near East University over the past 18 years, including 11 thousand kinds of plant samples, types of fungi, insect species, various reptile species, marine organisms and materials related to Cyprus geology, was opened by the TR Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Başçeri and by Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Erkut Şahali.

According to the press release issued by the Directorate of Press and Public Relations of Near East University, the opening ceremony was held at NEU Faculty of Pharmacy building to which TR Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Başçeri and Chief Advisor Kadir Akçeşme; Founding Rector of Near East University Dr. Suat İrfan Günsel; Deputy General Secretary of National Unity Party Ahmet Savaşan; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Near East University Assoc Prof Dr İrfan Suat Günsel; Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Özay Günsel Children’s University Anna Günsel; NEU Rector Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan, Rector of Özay Günsel Children’s University Prof. Dr. Filiz Meriçli; Vice Rectors, Deans, Academicians and Guests attended.

It was pointed out that at the opening ceremony, Rector of Near East University Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan made a speech; alongside Head of Earthquake and Soil Research and Evaluation Centre of Near East University Prof. Dr. Cavit Atalar; Head of Cyprus Herbarium and Natural History Museum Prof. Dr. Salih Gücel; and Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Erkut Şahali.

Rector of Near East University Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan stated that Cyprus Herbarium and Natural History Museum was a medium of science, education and discovery of the way to nature and that the NEU constantly accelerated on the path to realise a significant synthesis.

Furthermore, he stated that the museum was cooperating with institutions in Turkey and various institutions around the world. Prof. Dr. Hassan said that through the Herbarium and Natural History Museum a new transnational quality has been achieved and that the museum deserved the international due to its plant accumulation, display, space features and methods.

Also, he said that as a result of 18 years of scientific efforts, the plant samples were dried up and preserved via special techniques. Moreover, Prof. Dr. Hassan stated that 11 thousand of almost 600 species endemic to Cyprus will be available at the Museum, in addition to 140 species of Cyprus and 19 plants endemic to the Beşparmak Mountains in Northern Cyprus will be displayed at the museum. Furthermore, fossils and geological materials, insect specimens, ladybug collection, reptile samples, fungi, seaweeds will also be exhibited.

Prof. Dr. Hassan asserted that new opportunities and perspectives will be provided to the studies of biology, pharmacy, medicine, pharmacology, forestry and food engineering; and the museum will also enrich TUBİTAK projects and cooperation with other universities.

Science and Art take place in all fields of art …
Prof. Dr. Hassan said that Near East University has always pioneered in the fields of education, health, innovative techniques and methods in addition to its visions on art. Moreover, he stressed that the determined and devoted leadership of the Günsel family and one of their leading aims involved culture-art activities; and currently the establishment of the Herbarium and Natural History Museum was a product of this understanding.

Prof. Dr. Hassan: “Near East University and Kyrenia University are mobilizing al their dynamics for the benefit of the country and therefore, they create an identity which encompass science and education and art.” Prof. Dr. Ümit Hassan ended his words by expressing gratitude to everyone in bringing the Herbarium and Natural History Museum to life.

The Museum comprises samples dating back 220 Million Years…
It was pointed out that in his speech, Head of Earthquake and Soil Research and Evaluation Centre, Prof. Dr. Cavit Atalar stated that the foundations of the Herbarium and Natural History Museum were laid in 1995 via the work of expert delegation of Cyprus Geological Survey of Mineral Research and Exploration Institute.

Additionally, Prof. Dr. Atalar expressed that in 2005, with the support of the Scientific Research Projects of T. C. Embassy (BAP) they had carried out the evaporite studies on the first evaploids. In 2010, they had carried out very significant studies. He further expressed that they had samples Cyprus Geology that started with submarine lava 92 million years ago. Moreover, the museum will exhibit 250 million-year-old limestone trees of the Beşparmak mountain range and the fossilized trees of 220 million years ago. He said that they will continue to offer more examples in a large collection.

Prof. Dr. Gücel: “As we make 18-year-old dream come true, there is a story behind each and every sample collected…”
Head of Cyprus Herbarium and Natural History Museum Prof. Dr. Salih Gücel expressed that they were realising a dream which they had been working towards over the past 18 years and that the museum comprised samples dating back 220 million years ago.

Having the biggest herbarium of the island, Prof. Dr. Salih Gücel stated that the herbarium was registered with NEU code and that that currently there were 11 thousand samples at the museum; later to be increased to a higher number. He also said that each and every sample exhibited at the Museum had a story. Alongside samples dating back to 220 million years ago, there were samples collected as a result of studies carried out in Cyprus, one of which is the oldest living specimen living in the world. He also stated that there were data from old climatic studies that date back 174 thousand years.

Prof. Dr. Salih Gücel asserted that the Herbarium and National History Museum was established through the financial and moral supports of the Günsel family and the TR Embassy to Nicosia, and the project funds given by ministries and Scientific Research Project funds. He ended his words by stating that he wished to thank to all the researchers who have laid the ground in Tashkent Nature Park, his researcher friends Ozge Oden Fuller, Wayne Fuller, Cavit Atalar and others.

Minister Erkut Şahali: “Establishing a Herbarium is one of the most significant ghings that an academician can do…”
Making a speech, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Erkut Şahali stated that ensuring the establishment of the herbarium is one of the most important jobs of an academy; and added that the intervention of the Near East University was rather special and pleasing.

In addition to the above, Minister Erkut Şahali stressed that collecting data from nature and offering it to humanity was a troublesome business and emphasised that this was a job which needed to be done with devotion. Such that dedication enables the realization of service to humanity and stressed that he sincerely shared this enthusiasm and congratulate everyone involved in making a contribution to that day.

He said that as a state they believed that these studies need to take place more and added that no matter what they did, as those who are responsible for public order, they could not succeed in producing for the society as much as the academies did. He stressed his belief that they needed to follow on from the path that the Academy has opened. Furthermore, he said that it was necessary to fulfil the duties of those who came after them properly. Moreover, he expressed that once they achieved the collective awareness involved, the values of the Turkish Cypriot people and the values they can achieve by using these values will be able to be heard in the world.

Minister Erkut Şahali thanked everyone involved in the opening of the Museum on the island and read the congratulations message of the Prime Minister Tufan Erhürman to everyone present at the opening ceremony.

Subsequent to the speeches, TR Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Başçeri, Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources Erkut Şahali, Founding Rector of Near East University Dr.

Suat İrfan Günsel and other authorities cut the opening ribbon and explored around the museum.