A Qualitative Study on University Students Seismic Awareness Maps: The Case of ÇOMÜ

This research aims to assess the earthquake awareness of university students in Çanakkale. The study was carried out within the scope of qualitative research design and was conducted with a study group consisting of 35 university students selected by purposeful sampling method. Data were collected through a semi-structured interview form and analyzed using the descriptive analysis method. The findings show that the most important issue against earthquake risk in Turkey is 'building inspection and reinforcement.' In the case of Çanakkale, critical expectations such as 'accelerating the urban transformation process' and 're-evaluation of settlement plans' have emerged. In addition, 'post-earthquake behavior' and 'safety in student accommodation and dormitories' came to the fore among university students' primary opinions regarding the earthquake. 82.86% of the participants think that the general level of awareness against natural disasters in Turkey is insufficient. At the same time, 37.14% stated that the society's earthquake preparation was inadequate after the February 6 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes. It has been emphasized that in countries with high earthquake awareness, such as Japan, the most important strategic element is 'learning from the past by confronting disasters.' In line with these results, it was suggested that practical training regarding earthquakes should be increased and earthquake drills should be carried out in a more realistic manner. In addition, reconsideration of environmental plans according to the current risk situation is among the recommendations.