Turkish Scientists Resign in Protest

As the Turkish government threatens the autonomy of a research institution, its scientists threaten to leave.

Written byJef Akst

| 2 min read

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Turkish Academy of Science's President Yucel KanpolatTUBA

More than one-third of the members of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA) have announced their resignations after the government made only minor amendments to its plan to take control of the organization’s administration.

TÜBA is a scholarly society that recognizes outstanding scientists, conferring awards and fellowships to distinguished researchers, and makes scientific policy recommendations to the government. This past August, the Turkish government announced its plans to nearly triple the number of TÜBA members to 300, with most new members to be appointed either by Prime Minister Recep Erdogan or the Council of Higher Education, an organization under government control, instead of being elected by current members. In addition, the government would terminate the current president and appoint a new one, rather than allowing ...

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Meet the Author

Jef Akst
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Jef (an unusual nickname for Jennifer) got her master’s degree from Indiana University in April 2009 studying the mating behavior of seahorses. After four years of diving off the Gulf Coast of Tampa and performing behavioral experiments at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga, she left research to pursue a career in science writing. As The Scientist's managing editor, Jef edited features and oversaw the production of the TS Digest and quarterly print magazine. In 2022, her feature on uterus transplantation earned first place in the trade category of the Awards for Excellence in Health Care Journalism. She is a member of the National Association of Science Writers.
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