Turkey tops Europe in rate of new scientists

The number of scientists in Turkey is rising faster than in any other country in Europe, Turkey's Secretariat General for European Union Affairs announced yesterday. The country increased its number of researchers 107 percent over the last eight years, becoming number one in Europe, it said. The secretariat said the figures show Turkey beginning to get results from its investments into science and technology, rising to fifth among 23 EU countries in the speed of allocating resources to research and development. The private sector's share of resources devoted to research and development has risen from 23 percent in 2004 to 41 percent in 2008. In related news, chemist Sefik Suzer of Ankara's Bilkent University has been named a fellow of the American Vacuum Society (AVS). Suzer was named a fellow – the highest level of membership in the group – for his work on vacuum systems making nano-scale material analysis. The professor will receive his title during a symposium this October in New Mexico. Established in 1953, the AVS, with 5,000 international members, is a nonprofit organization that encourages communication, education and networking in the application of vacuum and other controlled environments to develop new technologies. The AVS promotes communication through its major annual symposium and numerous topical conferences throughout the year.