Turkish Academy of Sciences

Turkish Academy of Sciences
Name	Turkish Academy of Sciences
Formation	1993
Headquarters	Ankara
Leader title	President

Turkish Academy of Sciences

The Turkish Academy of Sciences is a national learned society founded in 1993 to promote scientific research, recognize scholarly excellence, and advise on science policy in Turkey. It interacts with international bodies, national ministries, and universities to coordinate research priorities and public engagement. The Academy has played a prominent role in linking Turkish investigators with networks such as the European Research Council, UNESCO, OECD, NATO Science for Peace and Security, and regional initiatives involving countries like Greece, Cyprus, Azerbaijan, and Iran.

History

The Academy was established by law in the early 1990s during a period marked by reforms following the collapse of the Soviet Union and the expansion of European Union research programs such as Framework Programmes. Founding figures included scholars who had ties to institutions like Istanbul University, Ankara University, Middle East Technical University, Boğaziçi University, and the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Council. Early activities connected the Academy with international academies such as the Royal Society, the National Academy of Sciences (United States), the Deutsche Akademie der Naturforscher Leopoldina, and the Académie des sciences. Political events in Turkey, including constitutional debates and state reforms in the 2000s and 2010s, affected the Academy's statutory status and relations with ministries such as the Ministry of Industry and Technology and the Ministry of Education. Eminent Turkish scientists associated with the Academy have included scholars who also held positions at centers like the Max Planck Society, Harvard University, Oxford University, Cambridge University, and MIT.

Structure and Governance

The Academy's governance mirrors models used by bodies like the Royal Society and the National Academy of Sciences (United States), with a council or presidium, subject committees, and a secretariat based in Ankara. Organizational units coordinate thematic panels that interact with universities such as Hacettepe University and institutes like the Salt Research Institute and the Turkish Atomic Energy Authority. Governance reforms have involved oversight by parliamentary committees and engagement with agencies such as the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey. Leadership has included presidents who previously served at institutions like Bilkent University and research organizations such as the European Molecular Biology Organization.

Membership and Elections

Membership consists of elected fellows drawn from academia, industry research centers, and national laboratories, with categories similar to those in the Royal Society and the Académie nationale des sciences systems. Election procedures involve nomination by peers at institutions including Istanbul Technical University, Dokuz Eylül University, Sabancı University, Koç University, and the Turkish Petroleum Corporation research units. Members have included recipients of prizes from organizations such as the Nobel Prize, the Fields Medal, the TÜBİTAK Science Award, and the Lasker Award. International associate members and corresponding fellows provide links to academies like the Russian Academy of Sciences and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Activities and Programs

The Academy runs symposia, conferences, and workshops engaging partners such as the European Science Foundation, G20 Science Academies, and the Islamic World Academy of Sciences. Programmatic themes have covered areas involving collaborations with the World Health Organization, the Food and Agriculture Organization, and consortia addressing topics linked to research centers at Karolinska Institute, Johns Hopkins University, Caltech, and ETH Zurich. Educational outreach has included public lectures in collaboration with municipal cultural centers in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, and provincial universities. Policy advisory reports have been submitted to parliamentary commissions and ministries during crises overlapping with events like the 2011 Van earthquake and public debates influenced by decisions from the Constitutional Court of Turkey.

Research Funding and Grants

The Academy administers competitive grant schemes modeled on programs such as the European Research Council grants, targeting principal investigators at universities and research institutes, including Çukurova University and the Atatürk Forest Farm. Funding instruments have complemented national funding from agencies like the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) and international grants from foundations such as the Wellcome Trust and the Horizon 2020 framework. Grant evaluations have drawn reviewers from institutions like Imperial College London, University of Tokyo, Seoul National University, and research councils such as the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.

Awards and Honors

The Academy confers awards and medals recognizing lifetime achievement, early-career excellence, and specific contributions in fields overlapping with bodies like the Royal Academy of Engineering and the European Academy of Sciences. Notable honorees have included scientists who also received international awards such as the Copley Medal, the Nobel Prize in Physics, and the Albert Einstein World Award of Science. Awards ceremonies have been attended by officials from universities including Yıldız Technical University and institutes like the Istanbul Technical University research centers.

Controversies and Reforms

The Academy has faced controversies over statutory changes, member dismissals, and alleged political interventions, drawing scrutiny from organizations such as Amnesty International, the European Commission, and legal challenges brought before courts including the Constitutional Court of Turkey. Reforms have been proposed in response to critiques from international academies like the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the International Science Council. Debates have involved figures linked to parliamentary parties such as Justice and Development Party (AKP) and opposition groups like the Republican People's Party, and engaged commentators from media outlets and academic journals in Turkey and abroad. Efforts to restore perceived autonomy have included proposals for legal amendments, collaboration agreements with foreign academies like the Académie des sciences morales et politiques and institutional reviews by bodies such as the European University Association.

Category:Scientific organisations based in Turkey