Background and Legacy Events
NEURec — AI and IoT-Powered Smart Device Controller — July 27, 2021
Under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman, Director of the International Research Center of AI and IoT, Near East University developed NEURec — a compact IoT-based smart device that enables users to control all electronic devices in their home, office, or clinic from a single interface using touchscreen, biometric, and voice commands. Operating on Internet of Things principles, NEURec supports WiFi, wired internet, and Bluetooth connectivity, and integrates automatic emergency notifications for safety purposes. This innovation exemplifies the center's commitment to developing practical, real-world AI and IoT solutions that improve everyday life.
International FoNeS-IoT Conference — January 18, 2022
The NEU Artificial Intelligence and Robotics Institute organized the International Conference on Sustainability in the Era of Forthcoming Networks and IoT (FoNeS-IoT 2022), bringing together leading academics and professionals from around the world to explore future technologies shaped by artificial intelligence and the Internet of Things. The conference, chaired by Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman, Director of the International Research Center of AI and IoT, received over 350 paper submissions and featured 112 presented papers covering topics including machine learning, deep learning, unmanned aerial vehicles, edge computing, energy efficiency, and mobile internet. Conference proceedings were published by Springer and indexed in Scopus, Web of Science, and Ei Compendex, reflecting the high academic caliber of the event.
NEU Science Awards Ceremony — Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman Receives the Dr. Suat Günsel Honorary Award Gold Medal — June 21, 2022
In a prestigious ceremony attended by TRNC President Ersin Tatar, government ministers, and over 500 guests, Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman, Director of the International Research Center of AI and IoT, became the first ever recipient of the Dr. Suat Günsel Honorary Award Gold Medal in the field of Science — the most distinguished lifetime achievement award at Near East University. The ceremony also honored 250 academics across 6 categories for their outstanding scientific contributions. This landmark recognition reflects the internationally acclaimed research excellence of the center's director and underscores the center's standing as a leading hub of AI and IoT innovation.
2023
TÜBİTAK President Visits NEU and Meets AI Prof. Dux — November 28, 2023
Prof. Dr. Hasan Mandal, President of TÜBİTAK (the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey), paid an official visit to Near East University as part of a protocol extending TÜBİTAK's full research and R&D support to academics in Northern Cyprus. During the visit, Prof. Dr. Mandal met AI Prof. Dux — one of the world's pioneering examples of artificial intelligence used in higher education — and was personally briefed by Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman, Director of the International Research Center of AI and IoT, on the development and capabilities of AI Prof. Dux and the center's ongoing research projects. The visit marked an important milestone in strengthening scientific collaboration between Turkey and Northern Cyprus and highlighted the center's internationally recognized innovations.
"Beekeeping and Technology" Seminar — December 1, 2023
Near East University hosted a "Beekeeping and Technology" seminar bringing together beekeepers, academics, and technology experts to explore AI-driven solutions for improving honey production efficiency in Northern Cyprus. Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman, Director of the International Research Center of AI and IoT, attended the seminar and shared his insights on leveraging artificial intelligence to enhance beehive productivity. His contributions laid the groundwork for the development of the center's Smart Beehive System — an IoT and AI-powered hive monitoring solution designed to track movement, temperature, humidity, and stress levels within beehives in real time, with the goal of significantly improving honey production efficiency.
2024
10th International Turkcess Congress & NEU–Kosovo Cooperation Protocol — July 16, 2024
The 10th International Turkcess Education and Social Sciences Congress, held in Kosovo under the hosting of Prizren Ukshin Hoti University, brought together 300 participants from 14 countries around the theme of "Artificial Intelligence Applications in the 21st Century." The Director of the International Research Center of AI and IoT, Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman, delivered an online presentation on "AI-Supported Adaptive Learning," while AI Prof. Dux also participated in a dedicated session at the congress. On the sidelines of the event, Near East University signed an academic cooperation protocol with Prizren Ukshin Hoti University, covering student and academic exchange programs, joint research projects, and collaborative seminars and conferences.
AI Prof. Dux Makes History in World Science — November 25, 2024
AI Prof. Dux, the AI-based academic developed at Near East University, made history at the 41st Turkish Microbiology Congress held in Antalya by becoming the first artificial intelligence to deliver a scientific presentation at an international congress. The groundbreaking research presented — an AI-powered application for rapid and accurate identification of tick species — was developed through a collaboration between NEU's DESAM Research Institute, the International Research Center of AI and IoT, and researchers from the International Cyprus University, led by Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman among others. The presentation marked a landmark moment in the global scientific community and demonstrated the center's commitment to real-world, interdisciplinary AI innovation.
2025
Academic Thursdays with Dux Series — 2025
The Academic Thursdays with Dux series is a recurring weekly knowledge-sharing initiative organized by the International Research Center of AI and IoT, featuring live demonstrations, presentations, and Q&A sessions with AI Prof. Dux, the Dux Robot, and the Dux Hologram. All sessions are recorded and available on our YouTube channel: AI Prof Dux.
| Event | Field | Level | Participants |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Academic Thursdays with Dux 1: Prof Dux Platform Introduction and Q&A Session
Youtube Video Link |
AI Platform Introduction and Q&A | National | 20 |
|
Academic Thursdays with Dux 2: Follow-up Lecture Expanding on AI Applications and Demonstrations Youtube Video Link |
AI Platform Introduction and Q&A | National | 50 |
|
Academic Thursdays with Dux 3: Robotics Demo Focusing on DUX Robot Behavior Youtube Video Link |
AI and Robotics | National | 50 |
|
Academic Thursdays with Dux 4: Dux Robot Presentation and Q&A on "Systematic Review" Youtube Video Link |
AI and Systematic Review | National | 60 |
|
Academic Thursdays with Dux 5: Dux Robot Presentation on Computational Frameworks for Protein Structure Prediction and Protein Design Youtube Video Link |
AI and Biology | National | 60 |
|
Academic Thursdays with Dux 6: Dux Hologram Speech and Q&A on Near East University and Times Rankings Youtube Video Link |
AI | National | 70 |
|
Academic Thursdays with Dux 7: Dux Robot Presentation and Q&A on AI and Art Youtube Video Link |
AI and Art | National | 50 |
|
Academic Thursdays with Dux 8: Dux Hologram Presentation and Q&A on AI and Mechatronics Youtube Video Link |
AI and Mechatronics | National | 60 |
NEU Science Awards Ceremony — June 23, 2025
Near East University held its 8th annual Science Awards Ceremony on June 23, 2025, honoring over 100 academics for their outstanding scientific contributions. The ceremony featured multiple award categories including the Publication Award, Young Researcher Award, and the prestigious Dr. Suat Günsel Honorary Award Gold Medal. The Director of the International Research Center of AI and IoT, Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman, a former recipient of the Dr. Suat Günsel Honorary Award Gold Medal, was among the distinguished academics present at this celebrated event.
AI Policy Development Workshop — October 14, 2025
Near East University hosted the "AI Policy Development Workshop," bringing together academics, policymakers, industry representatives, and public sector officials from Turkey and Northern Cyprus to discuss the future of artificial intelligence policy and strategy. The workshop opened with a demonstration of AI Prof. Dux and was co-organized with the contribution of Prof. Dr. Fadi Al-Turjman, Dean of the Faculty of AI and Science. Notable participants included representatives from Atatürk University, Girne University, the Information Technologies and Communications Authority, and the Turkish Informatics Association, among others. The workshop emphasized the importance of strategic AI policy, sustainable planning, and strengthening collaboration between Turkey and Northern Cyprus in the field of artificial intelligence.
2026
Academic Thursdays with Dux Series — 2026
Building on a tradition that began in 2025, Academic Thursdays with Dux is an ongoing weekly series hosted by the International Research Center of AI and IoT. Sessions bring together live demonstrations, presentations, and Q&A segments with AI Prof. Dux, the Dux Robot, and the Dux Hologram. All past and upcoming sessions are recorded and accessible on our YouTube channel:
AI Prof Dux
Beyond the Brush: Dux Art Platform Demonstration — March 5, 2026
A public demonstration of the Dux Art platform showcasing the intersection of artificial intelligence and digital creative arts.
Women Shaping AI: International Women's Day Special Event — March 12,2026
In celebration of International Women's Day, the International Research Center of AI and IoT organized a special event honoring the vital role of women in the field of artificial intelligence. AI Prof. Dux delivered a dedicated speech highlighting the contributions and achievements of women in technology and research, and the event concluded with a heartfelt recognition of the remarkable women within the Faculty of AI and Informatics and the International Research Center of AI and IoT, celebrating their dedication, expertise, and impact on the future of AI.
Beyond Traditional Diagnostics: An AI Platform for Mpox Detection — March 26, 2026
The Center hosted a demonstration event showcasing an AI-powered diagnostic platform developed for the detection of Mpox and other skin diseases. The event featured a live demonstration of the system's AI models, highlighting their capability to accurately identify and classify skin conditions beyond traditional diagnostic methods. AI Prof. Dux delivered a dedicated speech presenting the platform's technology, its clinical significance, and the broader potential of artificial intelligence in transforming medical diagnostics and early disease detection.