I am deeply honored to have received the “Wissen der Vielen – Citizen Science Research Award” (3rd place) for my article:

Melike Şahinol (2022): 3D-printed children’s prostheses as enabling technology? The experience of children with upper limb body differences. Journal of Enabling Technologies, 16 (3), 204–218. https://doi.org/10.1108/JET-02-2022-0017

This article was developed as part of my project Additive Manufacturing: Enabling Technologies in the Childhood, in which I explore how 3D-printed prostheses shape the lives, identities, and agency of children with upper limb differences.

Sometimes words are not enough to express the depth of gratitude and emotion one feels at a particular moment. Receiving the “Wissen der Vielen – Citizen Science Research Award” is one of those moments for me.

When I started my research on 3D-printed prosthetics for children, I could not have imagined the journey it would take me on. From confidential conversations with children and their families to collaborating with incredible volunteers and makers and sharing these experiences with communities in Turkey, Germany, the US, and beyond. This project has been shaped by so many hands, hearts, and minds, and this award belongs to them as much as it does to me.

I don’t usually share much about my personal journey here, but this award is very meaningful to me in many ways. As the daughter of working-class immigrants in Germany, my path to science was anything but easy – marked by resilience, self-doubt, and the challenge of carving out a space as a woman in environments where belonging was never guaranteed (and still remains uncertain). Overcoming these insecurities and finding my own voice was a long process that is still ongoing.

This recognition is not only for my research, but also reminds me that these paths, however difficult they may be, can lead to places where our experiences and perspectives matter. For me, this moment represents a bridge between my background and the communities and children I work with today.

But regardless of any award, I want to emphasize how important the many people are who work every day in the field of health care, disability, inclusion, and empowerment.

People who are often invisible but who work tirelessly to ensure that children and other vulnerable groups have access to opportunities, recognition, and participation. This commitment deserves just as much recognition and visibility, because it is their voices, ideas, and actions that drive change and transform lives.

In my research, I have the great privilege of accompanying, documenting, and making some of these stories visible. For me, this work is not only about science, but also an act of solidarity and co-creation.

The award is a symbol, but its real value lies in the relationships that are formed and in the trust placed in me by the children, their families, and the people who are committed to this issue.

My deepest gratitude goes to the children who so courageously shared their stories, thoughts, and experiences with me. Without you, this research would not exist. This award belongs above all to you. 🦾❤️🦾

I would also like to thank Robot El Derneği Türkiye, especially Zeynep Karagöz and Serdar Okumuş, for their tireless commitment to children and for always being open to my ideas and research. Your dedication has been nothing short of inspiring.

To the makers and volunteers whose creativity and dedication ensure that children have access to customized, 3D-printed prosthetic hands—you are the beating heart of this work.

My heartfelt thanks also go to the families and everyone who contributed to this project. Together, you have made the voices and perspectives of children visible and shown the world that technology is not just about devices, but about care, empowerment, and community.

I would also like to thank the DFG-funded network “Dis-/Abilities and Digital Media” (German Research Foundation, project no. 439948242) led by Prof. Dr. Robert Stock. From 2020 to 2024, I was part of this network. During this time, I developed and published this award-winning publication. I am very grateful to the DFG for supporting this important initiative. The network was an incredibly enriching place for me, providing me with valuable insights, collaborations, and contacts that have had a lasting impact on my research.

My sincere thanks go to Christopher Coenen and Prof. Dr. Armin Grunwald from ITAS (KIT), whose collaboration and guidance have inspired me over the years. Our work within the LIGHT research group has helped to highlight the importance and future potential of research with the active participation of children.

I am also sincerely grateful to the Max Weber Foundation for its continued support and for providing the institutional framework that has made this project visible and sustainable.

After the devastating earthquakes in Turkey on February 6, 2023, Prof. Dr. Christoph Neumann and the Orient-Institut Istanbul (OII) supported my project and Robot El Derneği Türkiye, giving us a platform to raise awareness of the importance of 3D-printed prostheses. I am also grateful for that.

My deepest and most heartfelt thanks go above all to Prof. Dr. Raoul Motika, who, as former director of the OII, laid the foundation for the growth of this research. Without his trust and visionary leadership, this project would not have been possible. His support created a space in which sociology of technology (or STS) and sociology of medicine could flourish and develop.

Finally, I would like to thank everyone who invited me to talk about this project. At conferences, workshops, and public events, they gave me the opportunity to share these stories and have meaningful conversations.

On a personal note, I would like to express my love and gratitude to my family, my late parents, whose values and love guide me every day, my siblings, and my friends, my loved ones, who have always encouraged me. Your unwavering belief in me has carried me through moments of doubt and challenge, and I share this award with you.

This award is more than just recognition. It is a sign that participatory research can build bridges between science and society by connecting people through shared knowledge and collective action. I am honored to be part of this journey and look forward to continuing to build these bridges together.