Ali Nesin

Istanbul Bilgi University Mathematics Department chair Prof. Ali Nesin won the Leelavati Prize for his outstanding contributions toward increasing public awareness of mathematics in Turkey, particularly for his tireless work in creating the "Mathematics Village" as an exceptional, peaceful place for education, research and the exploration of mathematics for anyone. 

Professor Şebnem Korur Fincancı, the chair of the Turkish Human Rights Foundation (TİHV), received the Physicians for Human Rights' (PHR) Human Rights Award on April 18 at a ceremony in New York.

The PHR released a statement regarding Fincancı, hailing her as an anti-torture expert who has dedicated her career to defending human rights.    

An Istanbul court on Jan. 13 sentenced musician Şanar Yurdatapan to one year and three months in prison in a case for participating in the "Editor-in-Chief on Duty" solidarity campaign with the now closed daily Özgür Gündem, marking the first conviction in the case.

A Turkish scientist famous for his work on human brain has been awarded the 15th Vehbi Koç Award, a prestigious award that is granted to individuals and organizations annually by the Vehbi Koç Foundation in honor of the Koç Group's founder.

Some 400 academics and artists have expressed in a signed statement their support to daily Cumhuriyet and its editor-in-chief, Can Dündar, as both were subjected to an investigation after the daily picked up a story of trucks belonging to Turkey's top intelligence body which were stopped while allegedly attempting to carry weapons to Syria.

The founder of the Mathematics Village, an enclave in western Turkey that serves as a distraction-free environment for students to learn math, is this year?s winner of the annual Vehbi Koç Award.