Turkish president presents awards to 3 scientists

ANKARA

President Recep Tayyip Erdogan presented one of Turkey’s most prestigious annual awards, the International TUBA Academy Prize, to three scientists on Monday.

Niyazi Serdar Sariciftci from Linz Johannes Kepler University, Zulfiqar A. Bhutta from the University of Toronto and Aga Khan University and Mehmet Genc from Istanbul Sehir University received the awards, according to a statement on the website of TUBA (Turkish Academy of Sciences).

In the category basic and engineering sciences, Sariciftci received the award for his works “in the field of organic photovoltaic cells capable of efficiently converting solar energy to electrical energy”, said the statement.

Bhutta (health and life sciences category) was rewarded for his studies “in the field of family health including epidemiological researches about maternal and infant health”.

Genc (social sciences and humanities) received the prize for developing "a new method, perspective and innovative explanations in the study of Ottoman economic history”.

Speaking at the award ceremony in the presidential palace in Ankara, Erdogan said that “new Turkey” - a slogan used by the government to describe a series of reforms ahead of 2023, the 100th anniversary of the founding of Turkish Republic - would be built on science, research and innovation.

“I believe and trust our scientists,” Erdogan said.

The award includes an Academy Medal as well as prize money of $ 30,000 for each, accoring to the TUBA statement.

“Nominations are made by TUBA members, academies and inter-academy organizations with which TUBA is in cooperation and other science institutions and scientist invited as nominators,” it added.