Vicdan Bulunmaz Özer, a name that truly lives up to its meaning

Professor Atila Özer!

A civil engineer by training, a world-renowned Fine Arts professor, and a cartoonist.

In 2010, while I was conducting academic research on occupational accidents in the construction sector, the idea of organizing a cartoon competition on this subject began to stir in my mind.

The Cartoon Art Research and Application Center and Museum, founded by Professor Atila in the Odunpazarı district of Anadolu University, was perhaps the most important reason why these thoughts were occupying my mind.

When I visited the museum, I saw Professor Atila Özer, whose name I knew but whom I had not met before.

I introduced myself as an assistant professor in the civil engineering department.

When he immediately mentioned that he was also a graduate of the faculty of civil engineering, a warmth filled the room.

When I explained my purpose, the professor thought aloud for a moment.

This was because no cartoon competition had ever been held on this subject before.

Even though the topic was risky, it was not much of a problem for a professor talented enough to declare his birthday, April 3, as “World Cartoon Museums Day.”

Would famous cartoonists send their work to this competition? 

Then, he said, "Don't worry at all, we will do it together."

Following that, over five hundred cartoons arrived for the competition from more than a hundred countries.

In the meantime, while our work for the competition and the event was progressing rapidly, I received some very bad news.

Our professor had been struck by a terrible illness.

He had to spend most of his time either in the hospital or in sterile environments.

The disease progressed very quickly, and our professor could no longer speak.

I conveyed my wish to cancel the competition and the event due to the professor's illness through his precious wife, German teacher Vicdan Bulunmaz Özer—a name that truly lives up to its meaning (Vicdan means conscience, and Bulunmaz means irreplaceable/rare).

The professor sent a message saying, "Never, I will help you from my sickbed; do not cancel the competition and the event, stay in touch with Professor Vicdan."

Our professor evaluated the cartoons submitted for the competition from his sickbed.

However, unfortunately, before the competition took place, our professor passed away in 2011 at the very young age of 62.

We were heartbroken, but we had to fulfill our professor's final wish.

We turned the event into a memorial for our professor.

It was a very successful event. The name of Professor Atila was enough.

The world's most important cartoonists sent their works. The pieces are still used as educational material regarding occupational accidents and safety in the construction sector.

Afterward, we held two more events in memory of our Professor Atila.

In the meantime, Professor Vicdan Bulunmaz Özer has not been idle either. As a loyal life partner, she has compiled and organized all the memories, documents, and drawings related to our Professor Atila's life at Anadolu University and published a beautiful memoir book.

13 years have passed.

I am now organizing a new competition to make a contribution to Professor Vicdan and to commemorate our Professor Atila once again.

“International Construction Accidents Cartoon Competition in Memory of Professor Atila Özer”