Aziz Sancar, who has been graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine and has been awarded Nobel prize in chemistry for his work on DNA repair donated his Nobel medal replica and certificate to Istanbul University.

Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar attended the ceremony that was held in IU Rectorate Mavi Salon (Blue Salon) for the donation of Nobel medal replica and certificate.

Firstly, a short music concert was made by IU State Conservatory Faculty Members in the ceremony. Then, a documentary movie about the life of Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar was watched.

“Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar will be a source of inspiration for our young scientists”

IU Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmut Ak said: “We are not only proud of our graduates’ achievements but also we maintain our institutional development with their and our members’ works. Our graduates like Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar will be models for our young scientists with their achievements and positions. The prize that was donated by Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar to our university will forever be displayed here and will be a source of inspiration for young scientists. I pay our respects and thanks as university to him for his ambition to work, being an idol, donation of the prize to our country and also participation to this ceremony.” by implying that the works of the members and graduates dominate the science of history.

After the speech of Rector Prof. Dr. Mahmut Ak, Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar gave his Nobel medal replica and certificate to IU Rector Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar. “An Honorary Degree” and a plaque were given to Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar for his contributions to world science.

“I am proud of being a graduate from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine”

Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar started his speech by saying that he is proud of being a graduate from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine. He said: “When my Turkish or American workmates that I work together in my university say they have graduated from Cambridge or Harvard, I say I have graduated from Istanbul University Faculty of Medicine. I am proud of this. My education that improves me is from my primary and secondary school in Mardin and my university in Istanbul. Therefore, I pay my duty of loyalty to a certain extend with this medal replica and certificate.”

Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar’s friends who have been graduated in the same year with him also attended to the ceremony. They, the friends that have shared the same class with Aziz Sancar, gave him a plaque as “69s generation”

The prize and certificate donated by Prof. Aziz Sancar to Istanbul University will forever be displayed and will be able to be visited.

Translated by: İrem YAŞAR

IU Press and Public Relations Department