Ahmet Mete Işıkara (22 October 1941 – 21 January 2013) was a Turkish

geophysicist Geophysics () is a subject of natural science concerned with the physical processes and properties of Earth and its surrounding space environment, and the use of quantitative methods for their analysis. Geophysicists conduct investigations acros ...

and earthquake scientist known for his efforts to create public awareness of the need for earthquake-related protection and safety.

Early years

Işıkara was born 1941 in

Mersin Mersin () is a large city and port on the Mediterranean Sea, Mediterranean coast of Mediterranean Region, Turkey, southern Turkey. It is the provincial capital of the Mersin Province (formerly İçel). It is made up of four district governorates ...

. In 1947 he went to primary school and in 1954 to junior high school in Mersin.Biography
After finishing high school in Mersin, he studied in

Istanbul University Istanbul University, also known as University of Istanbul (), is a Public university, public research university located in Istanbul, Turkey. Founded by Mehmed II on May 30, 1453, a day after Fall of Constantinople, the conquest of Constantinop ...

graduating in 1965. In the same year, he began his academic career as an geophysics assistant at the Faculty of Science. He continued his studies in

Imperial College London Imperial College London, also known as Imperial, is a Public university, public research university in London, England. Its history began with Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Prince Albert, husband of Queen Victoria, who envisioned a Al ...

and

University of Göttingen The University of Göttingen, officially the Georg August University of Göttingen (, commonly referred to as Georgia Augusta), is a Public university, public research university in the city of Göttingen, Lower Saxony, Germany. Founded in 1734 ...

. Işıkara married Aysel Ahıska, the daughter of singer Necmi Rıza Ahıska, in 1969. From this marriage were born a son, Cengiz, and a daughter, Yeşim.

Career

Up to 1976, Işıkara studied terrestrial magnetism. Between 1976 and 1983 he served as the chairman of the Turkish National

Geodesy Geodesy or geodetics is the science of measuring and representing the Figure of the Earth, geometry, Gravity of Earth, gravity, and Earth's rotation, spatial orientation of the Earth in Relative change, temporally varying Three-dimensional spac ...

and

Geophysics Geophysics () is a subject of natural science concerned with the physical processes and Physical property, properties of Earth and its surrounding space environment, and the use of quantitative methods for their analysis. Geophysicists conduct i ...

Association and he served on the

Aeronomy Aeronomy is the scientific study of the upper atmosphere of the Earth and corresponding regions of the atmospheres of other planets. It is a branch of both atmospheric chemistry and atmospheric physics. Scientists specializing in aeronomy, know ...

Commission between 1976 and 1983. From 1979 to 1982, he was the coordinator of the European Workgroup for

Earthquake Prediction Earthquake prediction is a branch of the science of geophysics, primarily seismology, concerned with the specification of the time, location, and magnitude of future earthquakes within stated limits, and particularly "the determination of par ...

, and in the years 1980-1983 he represented Turkey in the Earthquake Specialists Committee of the

Council of Europe The Council of Europe (CoE; , CdE) is an international organisation with the goal of upholding human rights, democracy and the Law in Europe, rule of law in Europe. Founded in 1949, it is Europe's oldest intergovernmental organisation, represe ...

. In 1985, he joined

Boğaziçi University Boğaziçi University (Turkish language, Turkish: ''Boğaziçi Üniversitesi''), also known as Bosphorus University, is a Public university, public research university in Istanbul, Turkey, historically tied to a former American educational insti ...

and was appointed assistant director of Earthquake Research Center of Kandilli Observatory. In 1991 he became director of the observatory, and he served at this post until 2002. Following the 1999 İzmit earthquake, he repeatedly addressed people on television to create awareness for protection and safety during earthquakes. In this period, he earned the nickname ''Deprem Dede'' (). His quote "Quakes don’t kill, buildings do." became famous. In 2003, Işıkara was appointed chairman of the newly established Disaster Preparedness and Earthquake Education Association ( (AHDER)). Işıkara served as the head consultant of the Turkish Red Crescent.

Politics

Işıkara tried to enter politics in the 2002 general elections, running for a seat in the parliament via the True Path Party (DYP). In Turkey's electoral system, parties that receive less than 10% of all votes are not qualified to gain seats in the parliament. In the 2002 elections, DYP received slightly less than 10% and so Işıkara was not able to enter parliament.

Death

Işıkara died on 21 January 2013 due to respiratory insufficiency in a hospital in Istanbul, where he had been treated for 44 days in the intensive care unit. He was laid to rest at the Feriköy Cemetery, Istanbul.

Legacy

A primary school in Mersin is named after Işıkara.School page
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Isikara, Ahmet Mete 1941 births Turkish scientists People from Mersin Earthquakes in Turkey Date of birth unknown Turkish geophysicists Istanbul University alumni Academic staff of Boğaziçi University Respiratory disease deaths in Turkey Deaths from respiratory failure Alumni of Imperial College London University of Göttingen alumni 2013 deaths Burials at Feriköy Cemetery