Number 1, June 2009

• The Second Meeting of the World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research was held at the European Parliament in Brussels from the 5th to the 7th March 2009. Among the speakers there were Kary Mullis, Nobel Prize in Chemistry 1993; Martin L. Perl, Nobel Prize in Physics 1995; Bernat Soria, Spanish Minister of Health and Janez Potocnik, European Commissioner for Science and Research.The full video-broadcast version of the event is now available in English, French and Italian. Subscribe now the THE FINAL DECLARATION.

• “For a UN conference on science freedom and education” by Gilberto Corbellini, History of Medicine and Bioethics, University of Rome “Sapienza", Italy and co-president of Luca Coscioni Association. Abstract: “The current phase of global economic crisis should be taken as an opportunity for stimulating a cultural debate, at level of international intellectual élites, about the educational factors or variables that have been demonstrated to improve human individual and social capacities to ponder and decide wisely when confronted with challenges that can be addressed with different and culturally controversial approaches. More specifically, it would be desirable that the United Nations endorse a world conference on the role that scientific research and culture can play in enhancing human development and on the contribution of science education in prompting and spreading democratic ideals.”

• “The battle for science and secularism in the Islamic world” by Pervez Hoodbhoy, Professor of Physics, Quaid-e-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan (from the proceedings of the Second Meeting of the World Congress for Freedom of Scientific Research): Abstract: “Science in Pakistan, as well as in the Muslim world, barely exists today. Muslims have a rich history of contributing to global science and, to an extent, technology as well. But about seven centuries ago science and Islam parted ways. This reversal began in the last decades of the 20th century and appears to be gaining speed. The struggle to usher in science will have to go side-by-side with a much wider campaign to elbow out rigid orthodoxy and bring in modern thought, arts, philosophy, democracy, and pluralism. Science cannot prosper under authoritarianism. And authoritarianism runs deep everywhere. Without intellectual and personal freedoms, Muslim societies shall continue to suffocate.”

• Hard time for evolutionism in Turkey. In 2009, which has been declared Darwin’s year by UNESCO, the editors of the Turkey's respected science magazine Bilim ve Teknik were planning to carry a cover story celebrating the bicentenary of the scientist's birth, but the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) intervened to make them scrap the article and replace it with a story about global warming. The Responsible Editor-in-Chief Çiğdem Atakuman was also removed from her post. The renowned scientific magazine Nature also reported on this case. Prof. Atakuman has recently been reintegrated in a subordinated position, with none of her former directorial duties. Moreover, TUBITAK finally published the long awaited issue on “Darwin and Evolution” as cover story for June, including no Turkish researchers working on the subject. The then Members of the European Parliament Marco Cappato and Marco Pannella submitted a written question to the European Commission. Emma Bonino, the deputy head of the Italian Senate, also issued a stern statement on the subject expressing her hope that a clear warning will be issued by the EU on this subject. The Commission has recently answered to the MEPs’ question declaring to encourage Turkey to further support the development of science and research by ensuring full respect of academic freedom. TUBITAK is a beneficiary of funds from the European Commission through its participation in 27 Seventh Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (FP7) research projects.

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