US scientists urge Turkey to protect academic freedom of Istanbul geologist

The National Academy of Sciences (NAS) is urging Turkey to protect the rights of Istanbul Technical University's Celal Sengor, currently the subject of an inquiry by the Board of Higher Education (YOK). In a letter sent to President Abdullah Gul, Premier Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Education Minister Huseyin Celik, NAS head Ralph J. Cicerone said that Professor Sengor, a geologist, is one of the world's most prominent and distinguished scholars, and asked for assurances of his academic freedom. He added that academic freedom and freedom of speech are prerequisites of scholarship and science benefiting society.