Ahmet Mete Işıkara (22 October 1941 – 21 January 2013) was a Turkishgeophysicist and earthquake scientist, well known for his efforts to create public awareness of the need for protection and safety during earthquakes.
Işıkara was born 1941 in Mersin. In 1947 he went to primary school and in 1954 to junior highschool in Mersin.[1] After finishing high school in Mersin, he studied in Istanbul University graduating in 1965. In the same year, he began his academic career as an geophysics assistant at the Faculty of Science.[2] He continued his studies in Imperial College London and University of Göttingen.[1]
Ahmet Mete Işıkara married in 1969 to Aysel Ahıska, the daughter of singer Necmi Rıza Ahıska. From this marriage, son Cengiz and daughter Yeşim were born.[1]
Career
Up to 1976 Işıkara studied on the terrestrial magnetism.[1] Between 1976-1983 he served as the chairman of the Turkish National Geodesy and Geophysics Association and as well as the Aeronomy Commission between 1976-1983.[2]
From 1979 to 1982, he was the coordinator of the European Workgroup for Earthquake Prediction, and in the years 1980-1983 he represented Turkey in the Earthquake Specialists Committee of the Council of Europe.[2]
In 1985, he entered Boğaziçi University, and was appointed assistant director of Earthquake Research Center of Kandilli Observatory. In 1991, he became director of the observatory, and served at this post until 2002.[2]
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 (English: Grandpa Earthquake).[2] His quote "Quakes don’t kill, buildings do." became famous.[3]
In 2003, he was appointed chairman of the newly established Association of Preparation for Disaster and Training for Earthquake (Turkish: Afete Hazırlık ve Deprem Eğitimi Derneği (AHDER)).[2][4] Işıkara was last serving as the head consultant of the Turkish Red Crescent.[3]
Politics
Işıkara tried to enter politics in the 2002 general elections, running for a seat in the parliament from the True Path Party (DYP).[5] According to election system of Turkey, parties which fail to receive less than 10% of all votes are not qualified to gain seats in the parliament.[6] In the 2002 elections, DYP received slightly less than 10% and Işıkara was not able to enter the parliament.[7]
Death
Ahmet Mete Işıkara died on 21 January 2013 due to respiratory insufficiency in a hospital in Istanbul, where he was treated since 44 days in the intensive care unit. He was laid to rest at the Feriköy Cemetery, Istanbul.
ahmet, mete, işıkara, october, 1941, january, 2013, turkish, geophysicist, earthquake, scientist, well, known, efforts, create, public, awareness, need, protection, safety, during, earthquakes, born22, october, 1941mersin, turkeydied21, january, 2013, 2013, ag. Ahmet Mete Isikara 22 October 1941 21 January 2013 was a Turkish geophysicist and earthquake scientist well known for his efforts to create public awareness of the need for protection and safety during earthquakes Ahmet Mete IsikaraBorn22 October 1941Mersin TurkeyDied21 January 2013 2013 01 22 aged 71 Istanbul TurkeyResting placeFerikoy Cemetery IstanbulNationalityTurkishAlma materIstanbul UniversityImperial College LondonUniversity of GottingenKnown forEfforts to create public awareness of the need for protection and safety during earthquakesScientific careerFieldsSeismology GeomagnetismInstitutionsBogazici University Contents 1 Early years 2 Career 3 Politics 4 Death 5 Legacy 6 ReferencesEarly years EditIsikara was born 1941 in Mersin In 1947 he went to primary school and in 1954 to junior highschool in Mersin 1 After finishing high school in Mersin he studied in Istanbul University graduating in 1965 In the same year he began his academic career as an geophysics assistant at the Faculty of Science 2 He continued his studies in Imperial College London and University of Gottingen 1 Ahmet Mete Isikara married in 1969 to Aysel Ahiska the daughter of singer Necmi Riza Ahiska From this marriage son Cengiz and daughter Yesim were born 1 Career EditUp to 1976 Isikara studied on the terrestrial magnetism 1 Between 1976 1983 he served as the chairman of the Turkish National Geodesy and Geophysics Association and as well as the Aeronomy Commission between 1976 1983 2 From 1979 to 1982 he was the coordinator of the European Workgroup for Earthquake Prediction and in the years 1980 1983 he represented Turkey in the Earthquake Specialists Committee of the Council of Europe 2 In 1985 he entered Bogazici University and was appointed assistant director of Earthquake Research Center of Kandilli Observatory In 1991 he became director of the observatory and served at this post until 2002 2 Following the 1999 Izmit 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 English Grandpa Earthquake 2 His quote Quakes don t kill buildings do became famous 3 In 2003 he was appointed chairman of the newly established Association of Preparation for Disaster and Training for Earthquake Turkish Afete Hazirlik ve Deprem Egitimi Dernegi AHDER 2 4 Isikara was last serving as the head consultant of the Turkish Red Crescent 3 Politics EditIsikara tried to enter politics in the 2002 general elections running for a seat in the parliament from the True Path Party DYP 5 According to election system of Turkey parties which fail to receive less than 10 of all votes are not qualified to gain seats in the parliament 6 In the 2002 elections DYP received slightly less than 10 and Isikara was not able to enter the parliament 7 Death EditAhmet Mete Isikara died on 21 January 2013 due to respiratory insufficiency in a hospital in Istanbul where he was treated since 44 days in the intensive care unit He was laid to rest at the Ferikoy Cemetery Istanbul Legacy EditIn Mersin a primary school is named after him 8 References Edit a b c d Biography in Turkish a b c d e f Almacayir Ramazan 2013 01 22 Deprem Dede hayatini kaybetti Hurriyet in Turkish Retrieved 2013 01 22 a b Turkey s leading seismologist Isikara dies Hurriyet Daily News Retrieved 2013 01 22 Haberturk news page in Turkish 10 bin 83 aday vekillik icin yarisacak Hurriyet in Turkish Archived from the original on 2007 07 08 Retrieved 2012 01 22 Terazi bulletin Archived 2013 04 18 at archive today A amp G Outcome of elections page Archived 2012 10 31 at the Wayback Machine School page in Turkish Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Ahmet Mete Isikara amp oldid 1125505836, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
