Torino, there is a special place for scientific activities’ about standardization of many issues in the coverage of the EU and, in a way, plans of taking them under control. In general, If it is spoken about a European science also, it could be thought that this science is not coordinated enough and not suitable for “union” spirit in itself. At least the idea of producing a science, which carries the identity of Europe, of course by reaching a level of fruitfulness, in different countries or numerous universities and research institutions made the Europeans minds engaged for quite a long time.
For this reason; the Euro Science Open Forum was founded in 1997 with the participation of the European Union countries to supply an open forum for the science and the technology discourses and research policies, to strengthen the ties between the science and the technology, to contribute for having space for the integration of the science and the technology in Europe and influence the science and the technology policies. The forum obtains an area for every age and level of scientists to share their savings with great chains of meetings which are held once in two years in a European city and the first meeting was held in Stockholm in 2004.
In the context of this years’ ESOF Scientific program in Torino in which seven Nobel prized scientists are taken place also, nearly 1000 presentations are being submitted in 200 sessions with the participation of new scientists who are accepted as new in their field.
One of the most important targets in evolution of ESOF is to close the gap between the society and the science thereby; to appropriate the science for the society and incorporate people to scientific activities as well. Perhaps the famous anti-science and the founder of the anarchic science theory, Paul Feyerabend’s criticisms about science, describing as being separated from life yet has a gloomy hegemony over it, are decisive elements for such quests. In the context of forum activities with the “science in the city” program, scientific experiments, plays and the sessions which are coordinated at several streets, the participation of the people and to make science popular are trying to be supplied. To provide the people’s participation is an arguable aspect of course. Because the actual work is not the people to contribute something into the science world but the science itself, tries to find more effective ways to spread its truths to the people.
Another proclaimed target of the formation is to supply a science which carries the Europe Identity. Confession of such identity possession of the science, actually, can lead to awareness about invalidity of science being universal that could be seen as a significant step. It shouldn’t be expected that it is not easy to give up this universality, which obviously carry the local identity claims, not for the science but for the science society. Because it is not the production of the logical brains any more but the reflection of the classes acting for their own interests at this stage.
The first meeting of ESOF took place in Stockholm, the second meeting was in Munich in 2006, the third meeting was in Barcelona in 2008 and this year the forth meeting is taking place in Torino. The next forum will be in Dubai in 2012. The place for the meeting of 2014 has not been decided yet but Turkey is willing to host the meeting with the participation of TUBITAK’s related departments. For this reason, national and international attempts have been officially started by the president of TUBITAK Prof. Dr. Nükhet Yetiş.
Meanwhile; we learn that TUBITAK practiced the utmost participation to ESOF among the other countries this year. The president Prof.Dr.Nükhet Yetiş is in the committee of 2010 program. She is in the organization committee in the next meeting which is going to be held in Dublin. TUBITAK is getting more familiar with the organized activities to make the contribution of the young science people in the science world efficiently, which is the most important target of ESOF, comparing with other countries.
ESOF is an important platform to display the scientific savings in the European level. It seems to be impossible especially for the industrialist and the universities which are somehow in seek of technology, to avoid having no attention to the forum henceforth. However; exempt from TUBITAK’s participation the most remarkable thing is that despite the participation of the Anatolian Chamber of Industry, there were no participation of major industrialists from Turkey. Mainly Konya Chamber of Industry, Adana, Kahramanmaraş and Eskişehir, both with the representatives of their chamber of industries and the universities, shows that Anatolian capital is further interested in scientific and technological developments in the world.
ESOF is in search of European science notion; it could be good if this drags it to a parallel core for the sake of science. As a matter of fact; one of the features of this forum is that it includes both social sciences and newly developed science branches. This would feed the level of philosophy in which the scientific activities see and criticize themselves; and in return it brings parallelism with sustainability. I hope I am not over optimistic in a world in which identity seeking becomes immediately extreme exclusionist.
(Published in Yeni Şafak Newspaper on 05.07.2010)