We lost Prof. Dr. Mustafa Var on 2 February 2026. Born in 1963 in Bafra, Samsun, he was a scientist and educator who devoted his life to understanding nature, protecting it and carrying it into the future through knowledge.

In the footsteps of science, art and design

• 1985Graduated from the Faculty of Forestry, Istanbul University.
• 1987Completed his master’s degree at Yıldız Technical University.
• 1989Introduced the concept of “plateau tourism” to the Turkish literature.
• 1992Completed his PhD at Karadeniz Technical University.
• 1995–2000Conducted postdoctoral research in environmental science and applied ecology at Okayama University as a Japanese Government (MEXT) scholar.
• 1996–2013Led sister-university agreements between Karadeniz Technical University and Japanese universities, above all Okayama University.
• 2001–2017Taught at Okayama University as a visiting lecturer 13 times and organised conferences and seminars.
• 2009–2013Represented Türkiye as a visiting scientist at the Royal Botanic Gardens in London and Edinburgh.
• 2014 and 2023Won the “Best Implemented Residential Garden” award and, with the YTÜ Davutpaşa Campus Nation’s Garden, the “Best Implemented Campus Project” award.
• 2025Served as project manager and editor-in-chief of the woody plant guides for all 81 provinces, completed under the General Directorate of Combating Desertification and Erosion, and authored the volumes for 67 provinces.

Over his academic career he served as head of division, deputy head of department, vice dean and rector’s advisor. From 2019 until his death he was a member of the Ministry of Environment, Urbanisation and Climate Change’s Central Council for the Protection of Natural Assets. He spoke at 40 conferences and brought his eye for nature to 4 national photography exhibitions.

With his modesty, his productivity and his sincere care for his students, he left a mark not only on academia but on everyone who knew him.

Images and text: VAR Design Studio, 2 August 2026 (images in Turkish).