Int'l history academy decorates Turkish diplomat

Ihsanoglu was awarded "The Koyre medal", named after French science historian and philosopher Alexander Koyre, for his research and publications, in a ceremony at the academy.

He joins Professor Aydin Sayili to become the second Turkish national to be admitted to the academy.

Established in 1927, the International Academy of the History of Science has been presenting the Koyre medal once every two years since 1968.

The Koyre medal is awarded for a scholar's career contributions, rather than for a particular achievement, and the candidate need not to be a member of the Academy.

Nomination for a Koyre medal must be made in writing by a member of the Academy. The recipient is selected by the Academy Council via a mail ballot repeated until an absolute majority is attained.

A Turkish science historian, Ihsanoglu received his B.S. in 1966 and master's degree in chemistry in 1970 at Ain Shams University, Cairo. After completing his Ph.D. studies at Ankara University, Turkey in 1974, he did his post-doctoral research from 1975 to 1977 as a research fellow at the University of Exeter, in the UK.

He served as a faculty member in faculties of science and then became the first professor and founding Head of the Department of History of Science at Istanbul University.

Ihsanoglu wrote numerous books, articles and papers in Turkish, English and Arabic on science, history of science, Islamic culture, Turkish culture, relations between the Muslim world and the Western world, and Turkish-Arab relations, some of which were translated into Russian, French, Japanese, Malay, Korean and Bosnian.

He was conferred with the "Medal of Glory" by the President of the Azerbaijan, the "Medal of Distinction of the First Order" by the President of Egypt, the "Independence Medal of the First Order" by the King of Jordan, the "Medal of Glory" by the President of the Russian Federation, the "Commandeur de l;Ordre National du Mérite" (National Commander of the Merit Order) and the "Commandeur de l;Ordre National du Lion" (Commander of the Lion National Order
Award) by the President of Senegal and the "Medal of Distinguished State Service" by the President of Turkey. He also received "The World Prize for the Book of the Year", from Mohammad Khatami, former president of Iran, in 2000.

The OIC is the second largest inter-governmental organization after the United Nations which has a membership of 57 states spread over four continents.