Turkish Society for History of Science
Turkish Society for History of Science was established in 1989 in Istanbul with the initiative of Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu as the first Association on History of Science by bringing together scientists focusing on history of science. This association received Turkish name in 1991, and now has more than 60 members.
Turkish Society for History of Science
Turkish Society for History of Science(TBTK) was established in 1989 in Istanbul with the initiative of Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu as the first Association on History of Science by bringing together scientists focusing on history of science. This association received Turkish name in 1991, and now has more than 60 members.
Among the founding members of the association, Prof. Dr. Celal Saraç (Physics), Prof. Dr. Ali Rıza Berkem (Chemistry), Prof Dr. Ekrem Kadri Unat (Medicine), Prof. Dr. Turhan Baytop (Pharmacy), Prof. Dr. Muammer Dizer (Astronomy) have passed away. Passing the thirty year mark since establishment, our association have Turkish historians of science representing various scientific fields among our members, such as Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu, Prof. Dr. Sevim Tekeli (History of Science), Prof. Dr. Ramazan Şeşen (History), Prof. Dr. Esin Kahya (History of Science), Prof. Dr. Feza Günergun (History of Science) ve Prof. Dr. Melek Dosay (History of Science) Prof. Dr. Nil Sarı, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kaçar ve Prof. Dr. Atilla Bir. These founding members were chosen from among the figures who pioneered the study of the history of certain branches of science in our country, and the faculty members who teach the history of science at universities in Ankara and Istanbul.
Our association was allowed to use the name “Turk” and to become a member of the International Union for the History and Philosophy of Science (IUHPS/DHS) with the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 5 January 1991. TBTK became a member of the said association in 1993. It was officially accepted at the general assembly convened during the XIXth International Congress of the History of Science held in the city of Zaragoza. As it is known, this union is an international union to which the history of science societies established in the countries of the world are members and countries are represented thus. TBTK has benefited significantly from this membership and fulfilled his duty to promote the History of Science studies in Turkey.
TBTK is the only institution representing Turkey in the International Union of History and Philosophy of Science. It also works to promote the history of science studies in Turkey in international academic circles.
Derneğin Kuruluşu
TURKISH SOCIETY FOR HISTORY OF SCIENCE (TBTK) is an Istanbul-based association that has been operating since 1989 as one of the non-university organizations conducting research on science, technology and medical history in Turkey. It was officially established in Istanbul on 29 June 1989 by the gathering of a group of scientists specializing in mathematics, physics, chemistry, astronomy, medicine and pharmacy history in Turkey, with the efforts of Prof Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu.
Among the founders of the association there are Turkish scientists representing different branches of science such as E. İhsanoğlu and Celal Saraç (Physics), Ali Rıza Berkem (Chemistry), Ekrem Kadri Unat (Medicine), Turhan Baytop (Pharmacy), Muammer Dizer (Astronomy), Sevim Tekeli (History of Science), Ramazan Şeşen (History), Doç. Dr., Esin Kahya (History of Science), Feza Günergun (History of Science) ve Melek Dosay (History of Science). These founding members were chosen from among the figures who pioneered the history of certain branches of science in our country and the faculty members who teach history of science at universities in Ankara and Istanbul.
The purpose of establishment of TBTK; To conduct research in the fields of History of Science, especially Turkish History of Science and Technology, and to encourage, revive and disseminate such studies; It also aims to increase the interest in science and the history of science and to popularize the studies on the history of science and technology throughout Turkey by taking the subjects of the history of science out of the academic circles. The institution continues to work in line with this goal. TBTK, to promote the contributions of Turks to science in different periods, organizes scientific meetings, conferences, national and international symposiums, and organizes scientific meetings, , in order to attract the attention of the public to the subjects of the history of science and publishes works on history of history of science both in the country and abroad.
FIRST GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEETING AND FORMATION OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
In the statute of the TBTK, it has been decided that the ordinary general assembly meetings will be held in April every two years. The first general assembly meeting of the association was held on 2 June 1990. At this meeting, efforts were initiated to add the adjective “Turkish” to the name of the institution established with the name of the History of Science Association and to become a member of the International Union for the History and Philosophy of Science—IUHPS.
As a result, with the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 5 January 1991, the Institution was allowed to use the name “Turkish Society for History of Science” and to become a member of IUHPS. Our association became a member of the aforementioned union by As a result, with the decision of the Council of Ministers dated 5 January 1991, the Institution was allowed to use the name “Turkish Society for History of Science” and to become a member of IUHPS. Our association became a member of the aforementioned union in the XIX. International Congress of the History of Science It was officially accepted at the general assembly convened during the XIX. International Congress of the History of Science in Zaragoza, Spain. This union is an international association in which the history of science societies established in the countries of the world are members and their countries are represented. TBTK has benefited significantly from this membership and has ensured that the History of Science studies in Turkey are spread all over the world thanks to the International Union for the History and Philosophy of Science.
At the XXth Congress of the Union, which met in 1997 in Liège, Belgium, as a manifestation of this cooperation, TBTK President E. İhsanoğlu first became the vice president of the International Union of the History and Philosophy of Science – Department of the History of Science IUHPS-DHS; then was elected as the chairman of IUHPS-DHS (2001-2005) as a result of the elections held at the International Congress of the History of Science (Mexico City, 8-14 July 2001). Again in 1997, Feza Günergun, who has been the General Secretary for many years since the establishment of the TBTK, was elected as the vice president of the “Commission on the History of Science and Technology in Islamic Civilization” operating within the Union.
TBTK, due to the fact that its founding chairman is also the general director of the Islamic History, Art and Culture Research Center [IRCICA] and the founding chairman of the Istanbul University Faculty of Letters, Department of History of Science [Department in 1989, Department again in 2000] [1984-2000] carried out its joint activities with both institutions more easily.
Dear members and volunteers of the history of science,
Our association was founded by Prof. Dr. Ekmeleddin İhsanoğlu in 1989 to carry out activities and research on the History of Science in Turkey, to support those working in this field, to introduce the place and importance of the history of science in the development of their society, to participate in projects in the international history of science and to represent Turkey. This year, when we celebrate its 30th anniversary, will also be a new beginning year.
Our association has prepared a new strategic plan to realize this mission and has started its studies to achieve its goals in the short and long term. It has created a New Web site that covers up-to-date science history news, announcements and activities. Studies to meet the needs of the public, such as preparing expert examination reports in the field of history of science expertise, and valuation of antique objects are included in our field of activity. In addition, our Institution will gain a structure that operates within the framework of national outputs, and courses, special History of Science trips, seminars and workshops will be held within its own body.
The first of these courses is called the “School of Istanbulite” and follows a program on knowing, recognizing, loving and promoting Istanbul. In addition, a workshop for making historical and contemporary scientific instruments or souvenir miniatures will be established soon.
Finally, our institution is in preparation of a protocol with the Turkish Patent Institute and will soon provide patent office services. On our 30th anniversary, we will start accepting new members in order to provide wider participation and contribution, and those who work in the fields of the history of science will be accepted to our association, and anyone who wants to will be accepted as a correspondent member.
I look forward to the valuable thoughts, participation and contributions of our esteemed members in the new period, and wish them health and well-being.
Chairman of TBTK
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kaçar
OUR PUBLICATIONS
JOURNALS
1-) Türk Bilim Tarihi Kurumu Haber Bülteni
Turkish Society for the History of Science, in order to introduce the history of science activities in Turkey and abroad to the public, to exchange news between those who work in the history of science and those who are interested in this subject, and to ensure the recognition of Turkish history of science studies abroad, published a newsletter under the name of Turkish History of Science News Bulletin in English and Turkish languages. The News Bulletin, which was edited by Feza Günergun, who was the General Secretary of the institution for a long time, and later Gaye Erginöz, and published in the printing house of Marmara University with the contributions of the Association Treasurer Emre Dölen, has 23 issues so far. The Bulletin is also the news organ of TBTK since it was first published in 1991. In the News Bulletin, besides the activities of the institution, research on the history of science in Turkey and other countries, introductions of published books and scientific meetings, news from institutions engaged in history of science research and education in Turkey are included, and a list of books donated to the TBTK library is presented.
BOOKS
1-)Türk ve İslam Dünyasında Bilim ve Teknoloji Sempozyumu (İstanbul, 3-5 Haziran 1994) Bildiri Özetleri
2-) Prof. Dr. Edward S. Kennedy: A Brief Biography and List of Publications
On the occasion of the awarding of Prof. Dr. Edward Kennedy’s honorary membership of the TBTK, a booklet was published containing his biography and a list of his publications.
3-)Dr. Orhan Koloğlu, Halka Doğru Bilim (Türkiye’de Bilim Gazeteciliği)
One of the members of the association, the work of Dr. Orhan Koloğlu (Istanbul, 1997) is the first book on its subject published in Turkey.
4-) Türk Teknoloji Tarihi, I. Türk Bilim ve Teknoloji Kongresi Bildirileri.
5-) Osmanlıca Tıp Terimleri Sözlüğü
TBTK
Board of Directors
Our members of the board of directors elected to take office in the 2021-2023 period.
Prof. Dr. Mustafa Kaçar
Chairman of the Board
Prof. Dr. Atilla Bir
Vice Chairman of the Board
Prof. Dr. Tuncay Zorlu
Secretary General
Dr. Dursun Ayan
Accountant
Dr. Nihal Fırat Özdemir
Member
Vision
We Believe
Compared to the past, the interest and relevance to the history of science in the world and in Turkey is increasing day by day. Within the framework of today’s developments, Turkish Society for History of Science, as a non-governmental organization, has determined a new vision by planning new projects and activities reaching large masses in the field of history of science. This vision is “to bring to light the manuscripts on the History of Islamic Science and Technology in the world of history of science”.
1. To reveal all the works that are the cornerstone in the history of sciences
2. Presenting scientific innovations
3. To restore the vitality that existed in the past in our scientific production
Mission
Claiming Inheritance
Our mission is to bring to light the works that have been and will be realized in the field of science and technology in the Islamic World and Turkey from the birth of the Islamic civilization to the present day, and to make them usable by translating them. In these works, it is to ensure that the inventions and machines, tools and devices made by Islamic scientists are made again. Thus, the promotion of scientific studies in Turkey is to lay the groundwork for technological developments and to encourage young people to invent.
1. Organizing history of science events and trainings
2. To influence the excitement of scientific production
3. Gathering history of science students under one roof
WHAT WE DID
Our Activities
Studies and necessary information about the history of science in Turkey are announced by the Turkish Society for History of Science (TBTK). TBTK, which evaluates all kinds of studies in the field of history of science both in our country and abroad in the most accurate way, has a special importance in terms of being the first and only international society for the history of science in Turkey with its activities. Celebrating its 10th anniversary in 1999, TBTK continues its activities in line with the aim of disseminating science not only to scientific circles but also to non-scientific circles throughout the country, as well as providing a taste of the studies on the history of science in our country to both Turkish and foreign scientists. Today, the importance given to science and technology in all developed countries in the world and the support of science and technology within the science policies of these countries is not a coincidence. Science policy will have an important place in Turkey’s economic and social development. In the last 20 years, with the special support of our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, primarily science and history of science studies have been supported in our country, and great moves have been made in this field throughout the country.
5
Honorary Member
79
Principal Member