Rise Fellow 2023

Yigit is an environmental activist dedicated to tackling the effects of plastic pollution and climate change in his community. He volunteers as a member and organizer at some of Turkey's most prominent non-governmental organizations and co-authored a book on the
potential for an economic council in the Middle East. Yigit is also a STEM student who won several medals and distinctions at national and international math competitions. For his Rise project, Yigit created a sustainable and biodegradable plastic produced from hemicellulose and glycerol to tackle the harmful effects of petroleum-based plastics.