Students from Adana advance to the final in Prague with a project preventing space debris

Students at the Çukurova Science and Art Center in Adana won first place in the Turkey leg of the Girls Go STEM Student Challenge 2026 with their project named SUTURA-RW, which prevents satellite parts from scattering into space in the event of a malfunction by taking inspiration from the shell structure of the diabolical ironclad beetle, earning them the right to participate in the international final in Prague, Czechia.

Defne Su Birbiçer, İkra Öztürk, and Şebnem Nil Özoğlu, students at the Çukurova Science and Art Center (BİLSEM) in Adana, were inspired by the interlocking shell structure of the diabolical ironclad beetle to prevent satellite parts from exploding and turning into space debris during potential malfunctions. Developed under the guidance of their advisor teacher Dilşad Ergen, the containment system project called SUTURA-RW secured first place in the Turkey leg of the Girls Go STEM Student Challenge 2026, organized by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology.

The students, who prepared their preliminary prototype using a 3D printer, will compete in the international final with the participation of 28 countries, to be held in the capital of Czechia, Prague, on November 25-26.