Çağrı Mert Bakırcı

Founder of Evrim Ağacı, Popular Science Writer and Science Communicator

Speaker

Languages Spoken: English, Turkish

Topics: Artificial Intelligence, Digitalization, Future Trends and Technologies, Personal Transformation, Science

Science

Inspiring Lessons from Science & Natural History

Doubting Ourselves and Reality: What Mercury, Neptune, and Pluto Can Teach Us

When life doesn’t unfold as expected, we often begin to question ourselves—or blame the world around us. In reality, the truth is far more complex and fascinating. Through the stories of Mercury, Neptune, and Pluto, this keynote explores what science can teach us about resilience, perspective, and navigating life’s uncertainties.

Scientific Skepticism & Pseudoscience

Pseudoscience, Conspiracy Theories & the Real World

Spiritual advisors, conspiracy theories, and pseudoscientific claims are more popular than ever. Yet many of these ideas contradict the most fundamental principles of neuroscience and scientific inquiry. This session explores how to distinguish evidence-based knowledge from misinformation, why scientific skepticism is essential today, and how critical thinking protects us from manipulation.

Human Manipulation: Cognitive Biases & Logical Fallacies

Why do intelligent people believe false information? Why are we so easily persuaded by flawed arguments? This keynote explains how cognitive biases and logical fallacies influence our decisions, relationships, and everyday thinking, helping participants become more effective communicators and critical thinkers.

General Science

What Is My Place in the Universe?

Throughout history, humanity has sought to understand its place in the universe. Modern science offers a remarkable perspective on who we are, where we came from, and how we fit into the cosmos. This inspiring keynote combines astronomy, biology, and philosophy to expand both knowledge and imagination.

Artificial Intelligence, Consciousness & the Mind

Could You Be an Artificial Intelligence?

What is consciousness? How do we know that other people are conscious? If one day an AI claims to be conscious, how could we determine whether it truly is? This thought-provoking keynote explores the intersection of artificial intelligence, philosophy of mind, and consciousness.

The Brain: Is There a Ghost in the Machine?

The human brain is the most complex system we know. Does consciousness emerge solely from neural activity, or is there something beyond the physical brain? This session examines how modern neuroscience approaches one of humanity’s oldest philosophical questions.

Stress Is Eating You Alive!

Stress is not your enemy—it is a biological survival mechanism. The real challenge is learning how to understand and manage it effectively. This keynote explains the neuroscience of stress and offers practical insights into turning stress from an obstacle into an advantage.

Digital Transformation, Future Trends & Technology

Can Artificial Intelligence Learn How to Learn?

Although AI has made extraordinary progress, it still falls short of human intelligence in many ways. Could the missing ingredient be the ability to truly learn how to learn? This keynote explores the future of AI while revealing surprising insights into human cognition.

Digital Transformation: Will Artificial Intelligence Take Your Job?

Will AI replace human workers—or empower them? Which professions are most likely to change, and what skills will remain uniquely human? This session separates hype from reality, examining AI’s impact on employment, productivity, and the future of work.

Will the Internet of Things Turn You into an Object?

As billions of connected devices become part of a vast digital ecosystem, they increasingly shape how we live and make decisions. This keynote explores the opportunities, risks, and societal implications of the Internet of Things (IoT).

Personal Transformation

The Neuroscience of Self-Awareness

This keynote explores questions such as:

What is awareness?
What is self-awareness?
How is self-awareness connected to consciousness?
How does the brain create self-awareness?
Are humans the only self-aware beings?
Can non-living systems possess awareness?
The psychology of awareness
When do we become aware of ourselves?
Can someone lack self-awareness?
Practical applications and self-awareness skills
What kind of self-aware leader are you, and why does it matter?
What prevents self-awareness?
How can self-awareness be developed?

The Neuroscience of Awareness
What is awareness? What is self-awareness?
How does self-awareness relate to consciousness?
How does self-awareness relate to the brain? Do only humans have self-awareness?
Can only living things have awareness?

The Psychology of Awareness
When do we become self-aware?
Are there people with no self-awareness?

Applications and Mastery of Awareness
What type of self-aware person/leader are you? Why is it important?
What hinders awareness?
What improves awareness?

Çağrı Mert Bakırcı, PhD was born in 1990 in Ankara. He studied at TED Ankara College until high school, then transferred to Çankaya Milli Piyango Anatolian High School, as it was then called. He became the top 10th accepted student of the Mechanical Engineering Department of the Middle East Technical University after becoming 1275th in the university entrance exam in 2008. During his university years, he led different student societies and took the then defunct METU Mechanical Society and turned it into METU Mechanical Engineering and Innovation Society (METU Mech). METU Mech continues to work as one of the most active student clubs today.

He started an unofficial Biology minor in the Department of Biology at METU between 2009-2010, and in the meantime, he founded a student group called Tree of Evolution under the METU Biology and Genetics Society on November 5, 2010. Today, Tree of Evolution continues to work as a science initiative and it is the most visited, most comprehensive, and one of the most reliable popular science websites of Turkey.

Bakırcı, who graduated from the Middle East Technical University in 2013, had taken courses from the Biology department that would almost satisfy a double major and worked as an assistant researcher in many laboratories at the department. He was accepted to Texas Tech University Mechanical Engineering Department for his doctorate. Here, he completed his doctorate on evolutionary robotics in Burak Aksak’s BIOMS laboratory. His doctoral work was about using the theoretical background of evolutionary biology in the field of robotics and developing a guideline for engineers on evolutionary algorithms. Bakırcı, who also completed his doctorate in Biology Department of Texas Tech University, successfully defended his thesis and graduated in 2018.

Instead of staying in the academy, in 2018, him, his partner and their small team decided to pursue a career with Tree of Evolution project to make it the most comprehensive science communication platform, which had been ongoing for the past 8 years at that point. Tree of Evolution is currently one of the most visited websites in Turkey, namely, 1 out of every 5 people in Turkey visit the website each year. Within the Tree of Evolution project, numerous books, thousands of popular science articles, hundreds of science videos, hundreds of podcasts and various novel science projects has been produced and continues to be produced.

Bakırcı currently lives in Texas where he continues his duties as the CEO and editor-in-chief of Tree of Evolution, as well as leading digital projects such as Kreosus. He is also contributing to national newspapers like BirGün and Oksijen, writes new books and popular science articles, and he creates new science projects.

Books

Authored Books