Aegean Atelier is a platform of interdisciplinary liberal arts  teaching and learning based on local crops of Anatolia. The  recent project (Mahalle Mantarı) focuses on mushrooms  and truffles of the Ömerli-Şile region. A fundamental aspect  of this interdisciplinary research group is sustainability, the  interrelationship among the assemblage of humans, animals  and plants. In tune with the priorities of Özyegin University  regarding environmental issues, sustainability and outreach to  local communities, the NGO organized the first two events of the  project Mahalle Mantarı where İklil Selçuk from the Faculty of  Social Sciences and Özge Samancı from the Faculty of Applied  Sciences were the co-facilitators.