Ergun: Scientists living abroad can be president in Turkey with their minds and opinions

Science, Industry and Technology Minister Nihat Ergun answered the questions from reporters on the occasion of the 2nd Congress for Turkish Scientists Living Abroad which was held by the Turkish Scientific and Technological Research Board of Turkey (TUBITAK). Ergun said that many people were sent abroad without knowing where they were going and what they were doing, which was called "brain-drain."  Touching on the huge amount of brain-drain from Turkey to abroad, Ergun said, "They do not necessarily have to be in Turkey physically, it is enough if their minds and opinions are here. There are hundreds of academics participating in the projects here; they are both abroad and here. Turkey does not only have people working in factories or in marginal jobs any more. We have important scientists." Ergun underlined that Turkey had established contact with several countries and communities of the world in the last decade, and had the chance to rediscover its own people thanks to information technologies. In reply to a question regarding reverse brain-drain figures, Ergun said, "Let's not get stuck on numbers. Even if one person comes; they come with such an important idea that what matters the most is the outcomes of that idea. Even one person can enable a task to be achieved, which otherwise would not be possible with millions of people here. So we can benefit from them not necessarily by bringing them here, but while they are still in their own university, their own environment"