Science may be in firing line in Turkey
In the 1920s the newly elected Turkish President Kemal Ataturk set about turning the previous Islamic Ottoman Empire into a modern secular state.
For 90 years the Turks modernised themselves economically, politically and culturally . But older Islamic beliefs run deep through Turkish society and the old religion is always trying to reassert itself, more so since Recep Tayyip Erdogan became Turkey’s Prime Minister and President.
Supported by a strong conservative Muslim base, Erdogan’s backers think he has turned Turkey into a manufacturing and exporting powerhouse. His critics, on the other hand, think he has become an autocrat who ruthlessly silences anybody who opposes him.
Last month, a cabal of disaffected generals tried unsuccessfully to unseat Erdogan. He has shown his autocratic hand by firing or suspending 6000 soldiers, 8800 policemen, 45,000 civil servants in the military and judiciary, 100 generals and 492 clerics at the Directorate for Religious Affairs.
Many Turkish academics have been asked to resign or be accused of treason. With 21,000 teachers losing their teaching licences and 1500 university deans fired, education has almost been brought to a halt. Erdogan’s government has ordered all universities to call back Turkish academics, including scientists, from abroad.
Under hastily enacted telecommunications law, 80 Turkish journalists have been arrested and many foreign journalists harassed or exiled. Twenty news websites critical of the government have been blocked and a new internet filter installed to ban separatist material on line. Twitter and Facebook have been turned off.
Turkish science has made good progress during the past 60 years, now boasting 180 universities and many other technical institutes, many very strong on engineering. Last year, Aziz Sancar won the Nobel Prize for his discoveries on DNA chemistry.
But some science is losing ground in Turkey as schools and universities are urged to ‘‘harmonise’’ science with the Koran. Of all European countries, Turkey is the most opposed to teaching evolution.
A few years ago, Ankara University’s Professor Kence tried For my life I’ve experienced things a different way. I don’t feel like I’ve lost anything. I thought I was normal. To find out other people can close their eyes and visualise a beach, I find that pretty amazing.
I always watched movies when I was growing up, I never had any interest in reading. A book for me is a bunch of thousands of words. The words don’t turn into pictures for me.
My recognition of sounds seems to be better than most people. I have really good eyesight and good vision. I think the main thing is you’re not as reliant on visual to set up a bronze statue of Charles Darwin in front of his biology building. The prospect of the statue so offended Islamic fundamentalists that they targeted the professor in a vigorous crusade, mailing him the message: ‘‘Enjoy your final moments.’’
Anti-evolutionism has taken a weird form in Turkey, spearheaded by the debonair 60-year-old Adnan Oktar, a Muslim mystic, televangelist and latterday Hugh Heffner. Many of his followers believe he is the prophesised Mahdi, or redeemer of Islam.
Oktar, an Erdogan backer, wields considerable political power in Turkey, recently persuading Turkish courts to ban internet users from viewing evolutionist Richard Dawkins’ website.
Oktar’s private TV channel badmouths the pagan infidel Darwin in front of adoring cues. It proves the way people learn isn’t just by seeing. I know what a tree looks like without being able to see a tree in my mind.
What techniques do you use to help you remember images?
I often narrate to myself if something’s important. I have to describe that stuff so I can remember some things. I’ve got photos on my phone of people and places I’ve been. I’m aware of the fact that if I just look at something and don’t talk to myself about it, I’m not going to remember it. audiences of scantily dressed, botoxed Versace-clad ‘‘kittens’’ – mainly wealthy socialites basking in anti-evolution chic. Scientists say that Oktar has no understanding of biology. His 800-page Atlas of Creation is full of
I remember how things feel and how things smell and how things sound more than what things look like. I can think of my girlfriend’s voice, my mum’s voice. I can think of what things taste like.
If there were a cure, would you want it?
I’ve never missed it. If I required brain surgery, no. If someone said you could do some exercise, I’d probably give it a go. It sounds amazing...
People say it’s so vivid that you can visualise people’s faces so that would be awesome. absurd assertions and laughable errors. Scientists are among the many academics arrested for ‘‘spreading terrorist propaganda’’. Other scientists are feeling very uneasy as they don’t know where Erdogan will strike next.
Contrary to Bob Brockie’s comments in his Catalyst column (July 25), the Royal Society of New Zealand has long included the humanities in its mandate.
In 1867 the New Zealand Institute (later renamed the Royal Society of New Zealand) was founded to ‘‘promote the general study and cultivation of the various branches and departments of art, science, literature and philosophy’’.
In 1935 the brief was narrowed to science but the present legislation, since 2012, stipulates ‘‘science, technology and the humanities’’.
This is entirely appropriate because the big problems of the world will only be solved by drawing upon the combined insights of the sciences, social sciences, engineering and the humanities.
Like scientists, humanities scholars – who work in the disciplines of English, history, languages, religion, philosophy, literature and law – seek to understand how the world works by looking through the lens of the human condition.
In facing complex challenges such as climate change, environmental degradation or genetic modification, science and technology can only provide some of the insights and information needed for communities to make decisions about how best to respond. The human dimension that the humanities bring is vitally important.
The value of humanities research has been recognised by being included in the Marsden Fund, New Zealand’s prestigious fund for investigator-led research, since 1997.
The society manages this fund on behalf of the government to support research excellence in science, engineering, maths, social sciences and the humanities. The fund will increase significantly over the next three years.
The society remains committed to the ideals on which it was founded, including its role to support high standards of research and scholarship.
It will continue to promote and advance science, technology and the humanities, and support public debate on important issues affecting all New Zealanders by drawing upon the findings of all relevant disciplines.