# TÜBİTAK Awards

The TÜBİTAK Awards (Turkish: Türkiye Bilimsel ve Teknolojik Araştırma Kurumu; also referred to as the TUBITAK Scientific Achievement Award, TÜBİTAK Bilimsel Başarı Ödülü), are annual academic awards of the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK), an autonomous research institution of the central government of Turkey. These awards recognize the academic contributions of Turkish and foreign scientists in the fields of science and technology, including engineering, and mathematics. Presented by the president of Turkey, the awards are classified into four categories and promote advancements in science, technology, and innovation.
While the TÜBİTAK Awards are designed to promote advancements in science and technology, they are typically awarded to living individuals (though not exclusively). Recipients of the TÜBİTAK Science and Incentive Awards, recognize scholars for their significant contributions to the global scientific community and receive several accolades. Each awardee is presented with ten gold coins, a gold plaque, and a certificate of achievement. Also, recipients receive cash support amounting to ₺1.25 million (approx. $42,510) to assist in their ongoing scientific research activities.

## History

The Science Awards were first established in 1966, followed by the introduction of the Service and Incentive Awards in 1969. In 2007, the TÜBITAK Special Award category was created to recognize the contributions of Turkish scientists living abroad, serving as an equivalent to the Science Award. That same year marked the inclusion of social sciences and humanities among the fields eligible for awards, although the inaugural awards in these disciplines were not presented until 2008. Later in 2019, the president issued Circular No. 2018/6 on September 5, 2018, under which the History of Science Award was presented to professor Fuat Sezgin as a one-time equivalent to the TÜBITAK Science Award.
Since the inception of the TÜBİTAK Awards in 1966, awards have been presented to a total of 881 scientists, including 206 Science Awards, 20 Special Awards, 89 Service Awards, and 566 Incentive Awards.

## Awards
### Science Award

The TÜBİTAK Science Award is awarded to living scientists who have made "significant contributions to science at the international level" through their research conducted in Turkey. The award recognizes scientific achievements that contribute to global scientific communities. It is conferred after the eligibility criteria are met. Candidates should be engaged in research and have practically implemented their findings in their respective scientific fields on a global scale.

### Special Award

The TÜBİTAK Special Award is presented to living scientists who are citizens of the Republic of Turkey and have "significant contributions to science at the international level" through their research conducted abroad. This award serves as an equivalent to the Science Award, recognizing the significant impact of Turkish scientists in the global scientific community.

### Service Award

The TÜBİTAK Service Award is conferred to both living scientists and, posthumously to died scientists. Scientists with "outstanding contributions to the development of science and technology in Turkey" are eligible for this award. It is primarily presented to recognizes the "outstanding impact" of their work on advancing scientific and technological progress within the country.

### Incentive Award

The TÜBİTAK Incentive Award, sometimes referred to as Encouragement Awards, is awarded to scientists residing in Turkey who have demonstrated the potential to make "significant contributions to science at the international level" through their research. While the award is designed to encourage early-career researchers, it is presented to candidates under the age of 40 as of the first day of the year the award is presented. It recognizes and promotes early-career researchers who exhibit exceptional qualifications and potential in the field of science.

## Nomination

The nomination process for the TÜBİTAK awards (excluding Science and Service awards) involves several scientific organizations and institutions. Eligible nominators include TÜBİTAK awardees, the Council of Higher Education, the Turkish Academy of Sciences, and the senates or boards of directors of universities. The highest decision-making bodies of public and private sector institutions operating in science and technological fields are also responsible for nominating the candidates.
The Science and Service awardees are independently nominated by the TÜBİTAK board of directors.

## Recipients
### Recipients of Science Award

| S. No. | Year | Awardee | Field |
| 01 | 1974 | Cahit Arf | Mathematics |
| 02 | 1974 | Orhan İcen | Mathematics |
| 03 | 1976 | Erdoğan Şuhubi | Mathematics |
| 04 | 1979 | Masatoshi Gündüz Ikeda | Mathematics |
| 05 | 1984 | Hilmi Demiray | Mathematics |
| 06 | 1986 | Tosun Terzioglu | Mathematics |
| 07 | 1989 | Namık Kemal Pak | Physical |
| 08 | 1992 | Selman Akbulut | Mathematics |
| 09 | 1993 | Attila Aşkar | Mathematics |
| 10 | 1995 | Ali Ülger | Mathematics |
| 11 | 2007 | Ali Mustafazade | Mathematics |
| 12 | 2015 | Marat Akhmet | Mathematics |

### Recipients of Service Award

| # | Year | Awardee |
| 01 | 1969 | Zihni Derin |
| 02 | 1971 | Mustafa Inan |
| 03 | 1971 | Bekir Alkan |
| 04 | 1972 | Fahir Yeniçay |
| 05 | 1972 | Tevfik Sağlam |
| 06 | 1973 | Fatin Gökmen |
| 07 | 1973 | Akil Muhtar Özden |
| 08 | 1974 | Ata Nutku |
| 09 | 1974 | H. Suat Aknar |
| 10 | 1975 | Süheyl Ünver |
| 11 | 1975 | Hulusi Behçet |
| 12 | 1975 | Nuri Şeker |
| 13 | 1976 | Hilmi İleri |
| 14 | 1977 | Aydın Sayılı |
| 15 | 1977 | Kerim Erim |
| 16 | 1977 | Hamdi Peynircioğlu |
| 17 | 1978 | Emin Halid Onat |
| 18 | 1978 | İhsan Doğramacı |
| 19 | 1978 | Seref Zileli |
| 20 | 1978 | Mustafa Uluöz |
| 21 | 1979 | H. Nafiz Pamir |
| 22 | 1979 | Bedri Karafakıoğlu |
| 23 | 1979 | Reşat Garan |
| 24 | 1979 | Sabahattin Özbek |
| 25 | 1980 | Tarık Özker |
| 26 | 1980 | Fikret Saatçioğlu |
| 27 | 1981 | Fikret Kortel |
| 28 | 1981 | Macit Erbudak |
| 29 | 1981 | Mustafa Parlar |
| 30 | 1981 | H. Nüzhet Terem |
| 31 | 1982 | Muhtar Başoğlu |
| 32 | 1982 | Nazım Terzioğlu |
| 33 | 1983 | Sait Akpınar |
| 34 | 1983 | İ. Şükrü Aksel |
| 35 | 1983 | Hamdi Açan |
| 36 | 1983 | Mustafa Santur |
| 37 | 1983 | Hacim Kamoy |
| 38 | 1983 | Asım Zihnioğlu |
| 39 | 1984 | İlhami Cıvaoğlu |
| 40 | 1984 | Nusret Karasu |
| 41 | 1986 | Zafer Paykoç |
| 42 | 1986 | Orhan Düzgüneş |
| 43 | 1986 | Kazım Türkoğlu |
| 44 | 1987 | Ekrem Göksu |
| 45 | 1987 | Necmi Sönmez |
| 46 | 1989 | Mustafa Aytaç |
| 47 | 1989 | Cahit Örgen |
| 48 | 1989 | Sabiha Özgür |
| 49 | 1990 | Adnan Çakıroğlu |
| 50 | 1990 | Ahmet Hulusi Köker |
| 51 | 1990 | Ayten Güvener |
| 52 | 1990 | Remzi Geldiay |
| 53 | 1991 | Remziye Hisar |
| 54 | 1991 | Ratip Berker |
| 55 | 1991 | Mehmet Ozan Sungurlu |
| 56 | 1992 | Kazım Ergin |
| 57 | 1992 | Duran Leblebici |
| 58 | 1992 | Selahattin Koloğlu |
| 59 | 1993 | Lütfullah Ulukan |
| 60 | 1993 | Nusret H. Fişek |
| 61 | 1993 | Mithat Özsan |
| 62 | 1994 | I. Akif Kansu |
| 63 | 1994 | Dogan Kuban |
| 64 | 1994 | Kamile Sevki Mutlu |
| 65 | 1995 | Şükrü Kaymakçalan |
| 66 | 1995 | Hüseyin Demir |
| 67 | 1995 | Nurhan Avman |
| 68 | 1996 | Abdullah Kızıtırmak |
| 69 | 1996 | Rıdvan Ege |
| 70 | 1996 | Sadi Sun |
| 71 | 1997 | Tevfik Karabağ |
| 72 | 1997 | İmran Özalp |
| 73 | 1997 | M. Nimet Özdaş |
| 74 | 1998 | Sırrı Erinç |
| 75 | 1998 | Asuman Ü. Müftüoğlu |
| 76 | 2000 | Asuman Baytop |
| 77 | 2000 | Fikret Yücel |
| 78 | 2000 | Tulu Baytin |
| 79 | 2000 | Sadık Kakaç |
| 80 | 2002 | Ali Rıza Berkem |
| 81 | 2002 | Aykut Erbengi |
| 82 | 2002 | Ekrem Kün |
| 83 | 2003 | Teoman Özalp |
| 84 | 2004 | Cevat Erder |
| 85 | 2004 | Altan Günalp |
| 86 | 2006 | Muhiddin Erel |
| 87 | 2006 | İlhan Tekeli |
| 88 | 2022 | Teoman Duralı |

### Recipients of Special Award

| # | Year | Awardee | Field |
| 01 | 2009 | Taner Yıldırım | Basic Sciences |
| 02 | 2014 | Cagan H. Şekercioglu | Basic Sciences |
| 03 | 2016 | Kemal Kazan | Basic Sciences |
| 04 | 2018 | Mehmet Acet | Basic Sciences |
| 05 | 2007 | Tuncer B. Edil | Engineering Sciences |
| 06 | 2008 | M. Selim Unlu | Engineering Sciences |
| 07 | 2010 | Umran S. Inan | Engineering Sciences |
| 08 | 2011 | İlhan Fuat Akyıldız | Engineering Sciences |
| 09 | 2012 | A. Galip Ulsoy | Engineering Sciences |
| 10 | 2013 | Yusuf Altıntaş | Engineering Sciences |
| 11 | 2018 | Tanju Karnfil | Engineering Sciences |
| 12 | 2020 | Cengiz Sinan Ozkan | Engineering Sciences |
| 13 | 2007 | Cezmi Akdiş | Health Sciences |
| 14 | 2007 | Onur Gunturkun | Health Sciences |
| 15 | 2014 | Hayat Onyuksel | Health Sciences |
| 16 | 2015 | Hazire Oya Alpar | Health Sciences |
| 17 | 2018 | Omer Küçük | Health Sciences |
| 18 | 2010 | M. Sukru Hanioglu | Social Sciences |
| 19 | 2013 | M. Utku Unver | Social Sciences |

### Recipients of TWAS Science/Incentive Awards

| # | Year | Awardee | Field | Category |
| 01 | 1992 | Mehmet Ali Alpar | Physical | TWAS Science Award |
| 02 | 1995 | İvet Bahar | Chemical | TWAS Science Award |
| 03 | 1996 | Mehmet Ozturk | Biology | TWAS Science Award |
| 04 | 2002 | Halil Mete Soner | Maths | TWAS Science Award |
| 05 | 2003 | Oğuz Gülseren | Physical | TWAS Science Award |
| 06 | 2007 | Bahtiyar Ozgur Sarioglu | Physical | TWAS Science Award |
| 07 | 2011 | Kaan Güven | Physical | TWAS Science Award |
| 08 | 2004 | Vural Bütün | Chemical | TWAS Science Award |
| 09 | 2005 | Cevdet Uğuz | Biology | TWAS Science Award |
| 10 | 2009 | Z. Ozlem Keskin Ozkaya | Biology | TWAS Science Award |
| 11 | 2013 | Turgay Unver | Biology | TWAS Science Award |
| 12 | 2006 | Burak Ozbagci | Maths | TWAS Science Award |
| 13 | 2010 | A. Muhammed Uludağ | Maths | TWAS Science Award |