’Darwin coexists with Brit church’
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by Fulya Özerkan
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 23, 2009 00:00
ANKARA - Amid debates over Turkey's prominent science and technology institution refusing to publish an article about the theory of evolution, British MP David Lammy says academic freedom should be above everything else.
Academic freedoms must be cherished, Britain's visiting higher education minister said amid the ongoing dispute about Turkey's prominent science and technology institution refusing to publish an article about British naturalist Darwin's theory of evolution.
"I don't want to comment on this particular case but we must cherish academic freedom above everything else," David Lammy told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in an interview. "This is hugely important. This is one of the key components that we learn from the enlightenment and the power of education itself."
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, or TÜBİTAK's, "Science and Technology" magazine canceled a 16-page story on Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, at the last minute this month, tarnishing the international image of Turkish science while fueling criticism that the country's top science agency is too politicized.
This latest move has put pressure on the governing Justice and Development Party, or AKP, and brought Turkey to the forefront with censorship claims at a time when the world's leading science institutions are celebrating this year as the "Darwin Year" with many science magazines placing Darwin and evolution-themed articles on their covers.
"Obviously Darwin is a hugely important figure in the life of Britain. Quite clearly, he is someone who has made a very important contribution to the progress of science and thought, alongside other British figures like Isaac Newton and Shakespeare," said Lammy.
He said there were many activities in Britain in commemoration of Darwin's birth and that his country was working with a number of countries that want to recognize the scientist's contribution to the world.
"I might say that those plans coexist alongside an established church within our constitutional settlement," Lammy said. The religious believers and Islamist environs are usually critical of Darwin's theory of evolution, which says life on Earth is based on natural laws, not religious laws.
Turkish-UK university plans
Lammy was in Ankara on Friday to discuss plans to establish a joint Turkish-United Kingdom university given a significant proportion of Turkish students studying in the United Kingdom.
"I cannot say exactly when the new university will be set up but my sincere hope is that it would be sooner rather than later because I think it is an exciting project. I think the demand clearly for a U.K.-Turkey university is there," he said.
The project is still in the planning stages and it is yet to be seen in which Turkish city the university, a symbolic venture of partnership between two countries, will be set up. Lammy said quality standards and British universities' world-renowned reputation made the foundation model more attractive rather than a state model but added the details would be further discussed.
"This global downturn demonstrates to Europe once again that our power in the years ahead is in our people, whether it is in the workplace, whether it is in the young people accessing further education," said Lammy. "There is much more that we need to do together or we will be left behind by other countries in this new age."
On the question of education rights of religious minorities in Turkey, the British minister said Turkey has made major progress in human rights over the last few years. "But EU accession does mean that Turkey will need to move forward on immigrant rights, which will a precondition of EU accession, so we look to see what progress Turkey will make on these issues over the coming months," he said.
"I don't want to comment on this particular case but we must cherish academic freedom above everything else," David Lammy told the Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review in an interview. "This is hugely important. This is one of the key components that we learn from the enlightenment and the power of education itself."
The Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey, or TÜBİTAK's, "Science and Technology" magazine canceled a 16-page story on Charles Darwin, the father of evolution, at the last minute this month, tarnishing the international image of Turkish science while fueling criticism that the country's top science agency is too politicized.
This latest move has put pressure on the governing Justice and Development Party, or AKP, and brought Turkey to the forefront with censorship claims at a time when the world's leading science institutions are celebrating this year as the "Darwin Year" with many science magazines placing Darwin and evolution-themed articles on their covers.
"Obviously Darwin is a hugely important figure in the life of Britain. Quite clearly, he is someone who has made a very important contribution to the progress of science and thought, alongside other British figures like Isaac Newton and Shakespeare," said Lammy.
He said there were many activities in Britain in commemoration of Darwin's birth and that his country was working with a number of countries that want to recognize the scientist's contribution to the world.
"I might say that those plans coexist alongside an established church within our constitutional settlement," Lammy said. The religious believers and Islamist environs are usually critical of Darwin's theory of evolution, which says life on Earth is based on natural laws, not religious laws.
Turkish-UK university plans
Lammy was in Ankara on Friday to discuss plans to establish a joint Turkish-United Kingdom university given a significant proportion of Turkish students studying in the United Kingdom.
"I cannot say exactly when the new university will be set up but my sincere hope is that it would be sooner rather than later because I think it is an exciting project. I think the demand clearly for a U.K.-Turkey university is there," he said.
The project is still in the planning stages and it is yet to be seen in which Turkish city the university, a symbolic venture of partnership between two countries, will be set up. Lammy said quality standards and British universities' world-renowned reputation made the foundation model more attractive rather than a state model but added the details would be further discussed.
"This global downturn demonstrates to Europe once again that our power in the years ahead is in our people, whether it is in the workplace, whether it is in the young people accessing further education," said Lammy. "There is much more that we need to do together or we will be left behind by other countries in this new age."
On the question of education rights of religious minorities in Turkey, the British minister said Turkey has made major progress in human rights over the last few years. "But EU accession does mean that Turkey will need to move forward on immigrant rights, which will a precondition of EU accession, so we look to see what progress Turkey will make on these issues over the coming months," he said.