40. Prof. Erdal Inönü Remembrance

Prof. Erdal Inönü Remembrance

Born in Ankara, Erdal Inonu is the son of Mevhibe and Ismet Inonu, who was the President of Turkey (1939 - 1950). After his college work at Ankara University, he obtained his Ph.D. degree at CalTech (1951). His doctoral thesis was a phenomenological work based on the observations of high energy cosmic bursts. The celebrated group contraction concept is named after him and E. P. Wigner. He is also well recognized for his contributions to the development of neutron transport phenomena.

As a professor of theoretical physics, he held diverse administrative duties as University President (METU) and Faculty Dean (METU and BU). Starting in 1983, he was actively involved in politics. From 1991 to 1995, he served as the Minister of State, Vice-Prime Minister and the Minister of Foreign Affairs, consecutively. He wrote his memoirs in two volumes which then became a bestseller. He was awarded the 2004 Wigner Medal for his outstanding contributions to physics through group theory.

He was a member of the Feza Gursey Institute. He was conferred as one of the first three Honorary Members of TASSA in 2005. He was on the faculty of Sabanci University when he passed away in October 2007.