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TASSA 2013
INSTITUTIONAL MEMBERS
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CONTACT US
Please submit news and announcements that you would
like to be included in the future issues.
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ABOUT
Turkish American Scientists and Scholars Association
(TASSA) is an independent, non-profit and non-political
organization established in June 2004 in Washington, DC. READ
MORE
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Editorial
Team
M.Sena Sahin Editor
and Managing Director
Hasan Ayaz Vice
President,
Web Committee Chair
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Mark your calendars to attend the TASSA 2014
Conference (and a symposium on WISESS) at the University of
Maryland at College Park on March 22 - 23, 2014. Registration deadline:
March 1, 2014
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This year's conference theme will be centered on
"Global Opportunities", which will broadly cover the
emerging technical and social challenges as well as related
opportunities that are likely to transform our world in the coming
decades. Our conference will also focus on another very important
and timely theme, that is: "Women in Science, Engineering, and
Social Sciences".
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TASSA
Representatives Met with Kılıçdaroğlu and
Loğoğlu
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During his visit to Washington,
D.C. TASSA representatives met with Mr. Kemal
Kılıçdaroğlu, the leader of Turkey's main opposition
party, the Republican People's Party (CHP) on December 1st.
Mr. Kılıçdaroğlu was accompanied by party's deputy
chairs Umut Oran, Safak Pavey, Sezgin Tanrikulu, Faik Oztrak and
former Ambassador of Turkey to the U.S and TASSA Honorary Member,
Dr.Osman Faruk Loğoğlu. Full
Story
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President
Obama Honors Turkish Scientist Ahmet Yildiz with the Presidential
Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers
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 US President Barack Obama named Turkish
scientist Ahmet Yildiz, 34, as a recipient of
the Presidential Early Career Awards for Scientists and
Engineers (PECASE). Yildiz, a scientist working on physics and
molecular biology, was awarded for his "pursuit of
innovative research at the frontiers of science", together
with 101 other recipients. "We are grateful for their
commitment to generating the scientific and technical advancements
that will ensure America's global leadership for many years to
come," Obama said in a written statement congratulating the
recipients. Full
Story
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Hande Ozdinler
Has Been Awarded Three Grants Totaling More than $2.5 million in
ALS Disease Research
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 It's a complex, progressive and deadly disease. ALS
patients deteriorate quickly their bodies breakdown, but not their
minds. Now the brain power of a local research team has shed light
on a critical component of the disease.
The breakthrough may finally bring patients a glimmer
of light. Connie Becker's connection to ALS is overwhelming 18
family members have fought the incurable disease. Full
Story
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Dr. Murat
Gunel has cured the liver cancer of 18 month old baby Derin
Kırcıoğlu with a special technique he developed
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An incredible outcome for an 18-month-old girl
battling a rare form of liver cancer. Researchers used breakthrough
genetic technology to help save her life.
The toddler is from Turkey. Doctors there figured out she had a
tumor in her liver. But, they were not able to identify it. It
was not until Yale doctors got involved did she finally get the
right diagnosis and treatment.
When Derin Kircioglu was just 8-months-old in her native country of
Turkey, her family knew something was wrong. "Scratching,
itching, it was very, very bad. No sleeping, no eating, no
drinking, always crying," said Erol Goker, Derin's
Grandfather. Finally at 18-months-old, Turkish doctors determined
she had a tumor in her liver. Full
Story
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Breast
Surgical Oncologist Atilla Soran M.D., Conducted a Clinical Trial
to Test Survival Benefit of Surgery in Advanced Breast Cancer and a
Solitary Bone Metastasis
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 Patients newly diagnosed with advanced breast cancer
and a solitary bone metastasis could benefit from surgery prior to
other treatment, according to early results from a first-of-its
kind clinical trial presented at the 2013 San Antonio Breast Cancer
Symposium.
"In the U.S., approximately 5 percent of breast
cancer patients are diagnosed with advanced disease when they first
see their physician," said Atilla Soran, M.D., a breast
surgical oncologist with Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC and the
study's lead investigator. Full
Story
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AACAP Announces
"Ülkü Ülgür, M.D. International Scholar Award
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 Dr. Ülkü Ülgür, co-founder and first president of the
Assembly of Turkish American Associations (ATAA), is being honored
by the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP)
with a namesake award to recognize his lifelong work and leadership
in children's mental health. Full
Story
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Turkish
Researchers Receive Prestigious European Research Council
(ERC) Award
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 Four Turkish faculty members have recently received
grants from the European Research Council (ERC). Prof. Hakan Urey
from Koc University with ERC Advanced Grant and Assoc. Prof. Mehmet
Bayındır and Asst. Prof. Ömer İlday with ERC
Consolidator Grants, and Asst. Prof. Ebru Erbay received an ERC
Starting Grant.
The European Research Council aims to enhance the dynamic
character, creativity and excellence of European research. Since
the agency's launching in 2007, more than 3,860 projects have been
selected for funding from among more than 43,000 applications. The
ERC counts seven Nobel laureates and three Fields medalists among
its grant holders. Full
Story
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MIT Students
Mehmet Onbasli and Defne Gurel Won the DOE Sponsored "Better
Buildings Challenge" at the White House
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 The US Dept of Energy's Better Buildings Challenge is
an effort to reduce the energy use of commercial buildings by 20%
by 2020 by catalyzing private-sector investment and innovation.
DOE and its "Challenge Partners" are developing
replicable solutions to the barriers faced by building owners as
they adopt energy efficient practices in their commercial building
stocks. Full
Story
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Survey:
Willingness of Turkish Physician in USA to Relocate to Turkey
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TASSA announces a new platform for connecting TASSA
members and institutes. The new web portal TASSA - Connect provides
job search, interview scheduling, research news and many more
exciting features to connect its members. Become a member today at
TASSA - Connect to explore this new web site. Full
Story
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Message from
TASSA President
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 Haluk
Unal
Dear
Members and Friends of TASSA,
As we publish the
first issue of 2014 I wish everyone a successful and prosperous
year!
In
this issue there are many examples of success stories from the
Turkish Science Diaspora members. These stories and news are much
needed in the wake of depressing news we get from our motherland. I
am sure this is a small representation of all the good work Turkish
Scholars are doing. Please share with us your accomplishments so
that we can share them with the World. Full Story
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 By
Nilay Papila
THE SCIENCE
ACADEMY
The
Science Academy founded on November 25, 2011 in Istanbul, as an
independent non-governmental entity with a mission to sustain the
highest standards of academic excellence, academic freedom and
integrity in Turkey. The Science Academy was set up as a
Society-Dernek under Turkish Law. Its charter calls for membership
by invitation after careful evaluation of academic excellence and
vote by the general assembly of the Science Academy. Members sign
the Declaration of Academic Merit, Freedom and Integrity. Full Story
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A Defining Statue of Ataturk
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 By Bulent Atalay
On December 5, 2013 Nelson Mandela died, one of the most successful
fighters for social justice in history. Cut from the same cloth as Mahatma
Gandhi, he helped to liberate his nation from racial and colonial
oppression, and went on to unify his nation. Mandela had started
his decades of struggles as a militant, though not a military hero,
but embraced peace and healing in his mature years. It is that
transformation that has to be regarded as the miracle of Mandela. Full Story
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The Potential of Science Diasporas
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 By William J. Burns
Two powerful currents in today's international
landscape present important opportunities for American diplomacy:
the unrelenting advance of scientific knowledge and innovation and
the ever-thickening web of connections that brings diaspora
communities and their homelands closer together. By making the most
of these two trends, American diplomacy can accelerate innovation,
prove that one nation's benefit need not be another's loss, and
help our scientists come together to solve the health, environment,
and economic challenges no government can solve on its own. Full Story
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Young Scholar of the Month
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 Anil Agiral
My passion for chemistry began in my early
childhood and stemmed naturally from my interest in reading science
books and designing my own experiments at home. I was formulating
my own cleaning solutions, rocket fuels, insecticides and
entertaining my friends with "magical" chemistry tricks!
At fourth grade, I learned the full periodic table with elemental
properties. Full Story
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