Eastern Mediterranean University (EMU), Faculty of Arts and Sciences, Department of Physics academic Prof. Dr. Ali Övgün has achieved a remarkable milestone, earning international recognition for his outstanding academic accomplishments. The “Türkiye Alumni Awards Program” and the “15th International Students Graduation Ceremony”, organized every three years by the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB) under the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye following a rigorous evaluation process, were held in Ankara with the participation of high-ranking state officials. During the event held with the participation of senior state officials, the event celebrated distinguished members of the global Türkiye Alumni network, which now comprises nearly 160,000 graduates, Prof. Dr. Ali Övgün was presented with the Scientific and Academic Studies Award, proudly representing both the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus and EMU.
Internationally recognized for his high-quality research in the field of theoretical physics, Prof. Dr. Ali Övgün received the award at a ceremony which was attended by Cevdet Yılmaz, Vice President of the Republic of Türkiye; Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye; Serdar Çam, Deputy Minister of Culture and Tourism of the Republic of Türkiye; Abdulkadir Mohamed Nur, Somalia’s Minister of Ports and Maritime Transport; Zafer Sırakaya; Abdulhadi Turus, President of the Presidency for Turks Abroad and Related Communities (YTB); and YTB Vice Presidents Murat Kazancı and Ahmet Alemdar.
In his congratulatory message to Prof. Dr. Ali Övgün, Abdulhadi Turus, President of the YTB, stated that the award represents not only recognition of his academic achievements to date but also confidence in the significant contributions he is expected to make to the international scientific community in the future.
Following the award presentation, Prof. Dr. Ali Övgün expressed his feelings, stating; “Coming from Northern Cyprus to my homeland, Türkiye, to pursue my education and being honored today with such a prestigious award is a tremendous source of pride for me. I hope this award will serve as a source of inspiration for all Turkish Cypriots who have continued to produce scientific knowledge and sustain their academic presence despite various challenges over the past five decades. Feeling the unwavering support of our homeland, Türkiye, beside us at all times, I firmly believe that the light of science will lead us toward a much brighter future”.
Congratulations from EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç
Upon his return to the island, Prof. Dr. Ali Övgün paid a courtesy visit to EMU Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç. EMU Vice Rector for Academic Affairs Prof. Dr. Osman M. Karatepe and Head of EMU Departments of Chemistry and Physics Prof. Dr. Huriye İcil were also present during the said visit.
Prof. Dr. Hasan Kılıç congratulated Prof. Dr. Ali Övgün on his outstanding achievement, describing the prestigious international award as a great source of pride for both EMU and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus. Prof. Dr. Kılıç emphasized that Prof. Dr. Övgün’s scholarly work has made a significant contribution to the University’s international visibility and expressed his confidence that his successes would continue to grow. In recognition of his outstanding accomplishments, Prof. Dr. Kılıç presented Prof. Dr. Övgün with a commemorative plaque. Prof. Dr. Övgün, in turn, thanked Prof. Dr. Kılıç and the University administration for their continued support, reaffirming his commitment to pursuing his scientific research with the same determination and dedication.
Who is Prof. Dr. Ali Övgün?
Widely renowned for his contributions to theoretical physics, Prof. Dr. Ali Övgün’s latest achievement is regarded as a powerful reflection of the strong academic foundation he built in Türkiye and the internationally recognized research career he has developed at EMU. After completing his undergraduate studies at İzmir Institute of Technology between 2005 and 2010, Prof. Dr. Övgün shaped his academic journey under the mentorship of distinguished scholars, including Prof. Dr. Durmuş Ali Demir, Prof. Dr. İsmail Hakkı Duru, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Bedrettin Subaşılar, and his mentor at EMU, Prof. Dr. Mustafa Halilsoy. Building on the strong academic foundation he acquired at İzmir Institute of Technology, Prof. Dr. Övgün has transformed this expertise into internationally acclaimed research within EMU Department of Physics. Today, his work continues to serve as a scientific bridge between Türkiye and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus.