Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey

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The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (Turkish: Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu, TÜBİTAK) is the main body responsible for organizing research and development activities on the national level in Turkey, with headquarters located in Ankara.

Contents

History[edit]

TÜBİTAK was established by President Cemal Gürsel, who first formed a scientific council to guide the Ministry of Defense (in parallel to a separate scientific law council to write the new constitution of the Turkish Republic) in 1960 and later ordered the foundation of the broader Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey as the extended continuation of his MoD Scientific Council with the primary advisory duty of providing guidance to the government's plans and policies.

Subsequently, the bill "278" passed on July 24, 1963, in the new era of planned economy subsequent to the first five year development plan of the country, set the official record for the Council's presence and duties. Cahit Arf, who was appointed by Gursel as the founding director and whose leading foundation work was assisted by a group of scientists including Prof. Erdal İnönü,[1] was subsequently named as the first chairman of the Council on December 26, 1963. The Council's first ten members were professors Erdal İnönü, Ratip Berker, Hikmet Binark, Mecit Çağatay, Reşat Garan, Feza Gürsey, Orhan Işık, Mustafa İnan, Atıf Şengün and İhsan Topaloğlu. They nominated Professor Nimet Özdaş as the first secretary general of TÜBİTAK effective March 1, 1964.

Activities[edit]

TÜBİTAK is responsible for the development and coordination of scientific research in line with the national targets and priorities, set by the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA). More than 2,500 researchers work at the 15 different research institutes and research centers attached to TÜBİTAK, where both contract-based and targeted nation-wide research is conducted. TÜBİTAK represents Turkey in international research efforts including memberships in European Science Foundation and the European Union Framework Programmes for Research and Technological Development.

Following research centers and institutes are subordinate to TÜBİTAK:[2]

  • Marmara Research Center (MAM)
    • Energy Institute
    • Food Institute
    • Chemistry Institute
    • Environment Institute
    • Materials Institute
    • Earth and Marine Sciences Institute
    • Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology Institute
  • Center of Research for Advanced Technologies of Informatics and Information Security (BILGEM)

Awards[edit]

TÜBİTAK gives following awards:[3]

  • Science Award to living scientists for significant contributions to the advancement of universal science,
  • Service Award to those, who have significantly served the development of science and technologyi
  • Incentive Award to living scientists under the age of 40 and who have proved to have the necessary qualifications to contribute to science in the future at an international level,
  • Special Award to Turkish scientists living abroad (equivalent to the TÜBITAK Science Award).

Censorship of Evolution[edit]

Despite the acclaimed role in promoting scientific thinking among Turkish public as well as in shaping nation’s scientific policies,[4] the Council has been increasingly criticized for taking an anti-evolutionary attitude since the late 2000’s.[5] In the March 2009 issue of Council’s popular scientific periodical “Bilim ve Teknik”, the initially planned cover story commemorating the 200th Birthday of Charles Darwin was retracted after a last minute decision by the board of directors and subsequently, editor in chief Çiğdem Atakuman was forced to resign.[6][7] The board of director member Dr. Ömer Cebeci stated that the “Darwin” cover was prepared without the board’s consent. Upon publicizing of the matter in the media as well as strong reaction by scientific community,[8] in June 2009, the periodical had evolution theory as its cover, but this time illustrated by a less provocative butterfly picture than the initially planned Darwin picture.[9][10] In January 2012, upon asked about the Council’s view on the Darwin’s theory of evolution during a press conference, TUBITAK’s head director Yücel Altunbaşak stated “Turkey needs integrity. We’re talking of planes and missilies. This is our focus. There are some who believe in evolution and there are some who don’t. We rather need unity”.[11] In January 2013, the Council was once again criticized in the media for not publishing new editions of sold out popular science books on evolution and natural history, among them “The Selfish Gene” (R. Dawkins), “Gun, Germs and Steel” (J. Diamond), “The Blind Watchmaker” (R. Dawkins), “The Triple Helix” (R. Lewontin), “Ever Since Darwin” (S.J. Gould), “Darwin and The Voyage of Beagle” (A. Moorehead).[12] The Council denies censorship and claims this matter to be a result of copyright disagreement and disputes in publishing rights within Turkey with the third parties.[13][14] The organization has thus far not made any clear statement regarding its position on evolution.[15]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ İnönü, Erdal. "Cahit Arf'tan Anılar". TÜBİTAK.  (Turkish)
  2. ^ "R&D Activities". TÜBİTAK. Retrieved 2013-02-19. 
  3. ^ "TÜBİTAK Awards". TÜBİTAK. Retrieved 2013-02-18. 
  4. ^ http://www.tubitak.gov.tr/tr/kurumsal/hakkimizda/icerik-biz-kimiz
  5. ^ Nature 458, 259 (19 March 2009) | doi:10.1038/458259a
  6. ^ http://www.cnnturk.com/2009/turkiye/03/09/tubitaktan.inanilmaz.sansur/517049.0/index.html
  7. ^ Nature 458, 259 (19 March 2009) | doi:10.1038/458259a
  8. ^ http://haber.sol.org.tr/mansetler/ukd-tubitaka-evrim-kitabi-hediye-etti-haberi-11723
  9. ^ Nature 471,578 (31 March 2011doi:10.1038/471578c
  10. ^ http://blog.milliyet.com.tr/tubitak--bilim-ve-teknik-dergisinin-haziran-sayisi-ile-darwin-den--ozur--mu-diledi-/Blog/?BlogNo=185073
  11. ^ http://haber.sol.org.tr/bilim-teknoloji/tubitak-bilim-insanlarini-acun-ile-meshur-edecek-haberi-50523
  12. ^ http://kitap.radikal.com.tr/Makale/evrim-gitti-tubitak-rahat-etti-351033
  13. ^ http://www.trtturk.com.tr/haber/tubitak-evrimi-yasakladi.html
  14. ^ http://news.sciencemag.org/scienceinsider/2013/01/turkish-science-agencys-book-sel.html?ref=hp
  15. ^ Nature 458, 259 (19 March 2009) | doi:10.1038/458259a

External links[edit]

Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK)
Marmara
Research Center (MAM)
Informatics and Information Security
Research Center (BİLGEM)
Research & Development
Units
Research & Development
Support Units
Products & Projects
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