2020 Koç University Science Medals Awarded

The Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Science Medal, which recognizes successful scientists trained in Turkey and contributing to universal knowledge, was presented to two women scientists at an online ceremony for the 2019 and 2020 awards. The 2019 award went to Prof. Dr. Filiz Garip, Director of the Center for the Study of Economy and Society at Cornell University and Faculty Member of the Sociology Department at Cornell University, for groundbreaking work in economics, administration, social sciences, humanities and law. The 2020 award was given to Prof. Dr. Hatice Altuğ, Director of the Photonics Doctoral School and Faculty Member at the Bioengineering Institute at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, for work in science, engineering and medical sciences. Speaking at the ceremony, Koç University Board of Trustees Chairman Prof. Dr. Nur Yalman stated that they were proud to present the Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Science Medal to two world-renowned scientists for their work that inspires the global research community. Koç University Rector Prof. Dr. Umran İnan said, "Most of the new discoveries that will significantly impact humanity and societies over the next 10-20 years will emerge at the intersection of social and human sciences with fundamental sciences, engineering and medicine." The Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Science Medal, launched by Koç University to serve science by recognizing successful and pioneering scientists, found its recipients this year through an online ceremony. The 2019 and 2020 awards were given to Prof. Dr. Filiz Garip, Director of the Center for the Study of Economy and Society at Cornell University and Faculty Member of the Sociology Department at Cornell University, who has conducted groundbreaking work in economics, administration, social sciences, humanities and law, and Prof. Dr. Hatice Altuğ, Faculty Member at the Bioengineering Institute at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, whose work focuses on science, engineering and medical sciences. Prof. Dr. Garip was deemed worthy of the 2019 Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Science Medal for her research on migration, one of the 21st century's most important issues, conducted using advanced data collection methods. Prof. Dr. Hatice Altuğ received the 2020 Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Science Medal for her pioneering contributions in light-matter interactions at the nanoscale, manipulation of light on chip and innovative nano-bio-photonics applications.

Prof. Dr. Nur Yalman: "Our university is perhaps the most important of all charitable works"

Speaking at the ceremony, Koç University Board of Trustees Chairman Prof. Dr. Nur Yalman noted that they took great pride in awarding the Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Science Medal this year to two scientists for their globally inspiring work. Prof. Dr. Nur Yalman said, "I congratulate Prof. Dr. Filiz Garip, who has produced important work in administration, social sciences, humanities and law, and Prof. Dr. Hatice Altuğ, whose research is groundbreaking in science, engineering and medical sciences. I wish to express that we believe they will continue to make names for themselves with great achievements in the future." [caption id="attachment_116220" align="aligncenter"] Prof. Dr. Hatice Altuğ[/caption]

Prof. Dr. Yalman: "Our motto is the creative direction indicated by Atatürk"

Prof. Dr. Yalman continued his remarks as follows: "If our university has today earned a rightful place among the world's most respected academic institutions, if our name is mentioned alongside legendary universities like Caltech and École Normale Supérieure, then one of the most important architects of this success is our Honorary Chairman, the esteemed Rahmi Koç, who has never withheld his support. Our country's humanitarian philanthropy has been demonstrated throughout centuries by extraordinary charitable foundations. Rahmi Koç, Semahat Arsel and the entire Koç Family represent the goodwill and charity of the Turkish people in a living way. Koç University, with its highly valued faculty, magnificent campus, diverse and excellent research centers, Medical School and Hospital, is perhaps the most important of all these charitable works." [caption id="attachment_116221" align="aligncenter"] Prof. Dr. Filiz Garip[/caption] Noting that Koç University continues to strengthen its position among Turkey's and the world's finest educational institutions, Prof. Dr. Yalman stated, "This year, as our university completes its 27th year of establishment, it has become one of Turkey's most important education and research institutions with 7 faculties, 24 research centers, 5 research and education forums, 322 laboratories and the Koç University Research Hospital. We document this remarkable and truly extraordinary achievement quite concretely with the Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Science Medal being presented. Our objective is to bring our country and our people to the brightest, most advanced, most prosperous, freest and happiest level of civilization as soon as possible. On this grand path, our motto is naturally the creative direction indicated by our great leader, our guide, the founder of the modern Turkish Republic, Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Our country is filled with very brilliant young people looking toward the future with enthusiasm. It is our indispensable duty that they receive good education, that they can freely express themselves in equality and liberty, that they develop in an environment of freedom of thought and expression. On these matters, we will not lag behind any country; not America, not England, nor Japan. We will preserve and present to the entire world the humanitarian humanism represented by Mevlana and Yunus, which comes from our history and expresses the values of our deep culture."

Prof. Dr. İnan: "Prof. Dr. Garip and Prof. Dr. Altuğ are names opening new horizons"

Speaking at the ceremony, Koç University Rector Prof. Dr. Umran İnan noted that COVID-19 has highlighted the importance of scientific research even more and that the path for our world to emerge from this pandemic is through scientific research. Prof. Dr. Umran İnan stated, "At Koç University, approximately 40 research projects specific to COVID-19 are currently underway, and in our laboratories at both the Rumelihisarı Campus and Koç University Hospital, a low-cost and rapid diagnostic kit, tracing and follow-up system and vaccine studies are coming to the fore." Noting that most new discoveries that will significantly impact humanity and societies over the next 10-20 years will emerge at the intersection of social and human sciences with fundamental sciences, engineering and medicine, Prof. Dr. İnan drew attention to the fact that Koç University has focused on interdisciplinary work since its establishment. Prof. Dr. İnan continued his remarks as follows: "The pace of change in science is no longer measured in centuries or decades, but in years and even months. Almost every day a new discipline is born; old disciplines find new life through unexpected collaborations. As such a future awaits us, I firmly believe that societies that do not ensure women play the most active role in education, economics and business will be doomed to compete with one hand tied behind their back in their struggle for contemporary civilization and humanity at the global level. For this reason, I wish us to once again recognize, in the light of these two scientists of ours, the important place of women in our society, their descriptive contributions and potential. I would also like to add that the fact that 40 percent of our university's academic and administrative senior management consists of women is one of the most important factors in our success. The medalist of 2019 is a figure who opens new horizons by combining her social science research using the most advanced network analysis and advanced data collection methods and her work on migration, one of the 21st century's most important issues. We are extraordinarily proud to present the award to Prof. Dr. Filiz Garip from Cornell University for her groundbreaking modern methodologies she has developed, her work in demography and migration, and her multifaceted theoretical contributions extending beyond different disciplines such as computer science, statistics and political science. The scientist receiving the 2020 Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Science Medal is a figure who, by combining light and nanotechnology, develops next-generation health devices and continues work on early diagnosis of deadly diseases such as sepsis and serious conditions such as cancer, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's and dementia. We are extraordinarily proud to present the award to Prof. Dr. Hatice Altuğ from École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) for her pioneering contributions in light-matter interactions at the nanoscale, manipulation of light on chip and innovative nano-bio-photonics applications."

Prof. Dr. Filiz Garip: "I have lived as a migrant throughout my life"

Stating that she examines the reasons for migrations in depth in her research, Prof. Dr. Filiz Garip said in her speech at the ceremony that she has lived as a migrant throughout her life. Prof. Dr. Filiz Garip said that she did not consciously begin her research to "study migration," that when she began teaching at Harvard University she wanted to teach about migration, and that her doctoral thesis was in the field of migration. Prof. Dr. Filiz Garip continued as follows: "Millions of Mexican migrants live in the United States. Approximately 40 million people were born in Mexico and are now in the US. Although much has been written about Mexico, there was little research that would give us the bigger picture. That is, this 50-year migration movement appeared in what we read as if it had never changed. This became a matter of curiosity for me. Because Mexico is a country that has changed greatly over 50 years, as has the US. The idea that migrants would remain the same did not seem reasonable to me. I began researching how this migration movement could have changed over the last 50 years and how we could understand it. My most basic question was the difference between people who migrated and those who did not. There was a need for answers to whether there are different types of people among migrants, whether by looking only at migrants we could find people with different profiles. We used methods in the field of artificial intelligence, which was just beginning to advance and which I had studied before. By looking at this data and using computer programs, we revealed the general pattern in the data. When we did this, we saw that there were four different waves of migrants. Each of their situations was different from the others. Then I saw that each had different reasons for migrating. I have been working on migration for the last 15 years. A large part of the world's population consists of people affected by migration movements or migrants. We need to explain issues such as how many migrants there are and what their impact on the economy is." Noting that Koç University is an institution that she admires, Prof. Dr. Garip concluded her remarks as follows: "First of all, the most important thing being done is explaining the importance of science to society. I believe we have no better tool to advance humanity. For me, receiving this award is a great honor. But at the same time, I see it as a great responsibility. I am at the very beginning of my career, and from now on I want to be worthy of this award. I need to do extra work so that these scientific studies benefit society and humanity, to pass this responsibility given to me to my students, and to contribute to science and humanity."

Prof. Dr. Hatice Altuğ: "The most important thing in science is to be enthusiastic and motivated because that gives you the energy you need"

Noting that she has received many awards from Europe and the US but had never received an award from Turkey before, Prof. Dr. Altuğ said, "The Koç University Rahmi M. Koç Science Medal is the first and most important award I have received from Turkey. Looking at our work in Turkey and their valuing it, considering us worthy of this award, made me very happy." Drawing attention to gathering different scientists together when establishing her group at École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland, Prof. Dr. Altuğ shared the following information about her work: "The goal of our laboratory is to develop next-generation biosensors and biomedical devices by using light, photonics and nanotechnology. We look at the health applications of these devices we develop in different fields, from early diagnosis of diseases to personalized medicine. Our general goal is to contribute to saving human lives. We apply these devices we develop to blood, urine and cells or various biomedical samples." A project we received through a consortium under the EU framework was specifically about developing a device that could perform rapid diagnosis of sepsis. Sepsis is a very deadly disease. The timing is critical in its diagnosis. Therefore, the device we would develop had to provide results very quickly. We developed such a technology. We took it to a hospital in Barcelona and put it in the hands of doctors in the intensive care unit. Thus we tested the device on samples coming directly from patients. This device is very small, very inexpensive and portable. The result is not only very accurate but also very fast to return. The device we developed left the laboratory, went into a doctor's hands and as a result could later become a product that might even save a patient's life. So this is perhaps one of the happiest moments a researcher can experience." The 2019 selection committee, headed by Koç University Rector Prof. Dr. Umran İnan and consisting of members working at leading institutions worldwide, included Prof. Dr. Timur Kuran (Duke University), Prof. Dr. Yasemin Soysal (Essex University), Prof. Dr. Kemal Kirişçi (Brookings Institution), Prof. Dr. Zeynep Çelik (New Jersey Institute of Technology and Rutgers State University). The 2020 selection committee, headed by Koç University Rector Prof. Dr. Umran İnan and consisting of members working at leading institutions worldwide, included Prof. Dr. İvet Bahar (University of Pittsburgh), Prof. Dr. Ali Erdemir (Texas A&M University), Prof. Dr. Tamer Başar (University of Illinois – Urbana-Champaign), Prof. Dr. Miral Dizdaroğlu (NIST-US National Institute of Standards and Technology).