31.10.2026 13:01
Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar said that he constantly wears the jacket with “KIZILELMA” written on its back, which Baykar Chairman of the Board Selçuk Bayraktar gifted him, while going to work. Sancar said, "All of Chapel Hill knows what KIZILELMA is." Speaking at the 12th Turkish Medical World Congress, Bayraktar emphasized diligence and ethics to young scientists.
The KIZILELMA dialogue between Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar and Selçuk Bayraktar, who came together at the Turkish Medical World Congress, drew attention. Addressing young scientists at the congress, Bayraktar also reacted to those trying to get somewhere the easy and unethical way.
A KIZILELMA MEMORY FROM AZIZ SANCAR
Nobel Prize in Chemistry laureate Prof. Dr. Aziz Sancar shared a memory about the Baykar jacket gifted to him by Selçuk Bayraktar. Recalling that Bayraktar gave him a jacket with “KIZILELMA” written on it, Sancar said, “Selçuk gave me a Baykar jacket. It says KIZILELMA on the back. I walk to work. Our house is close to the laboratory. I always wear it. All of Chapel Hill knows what KIZILELMA is.”
Chapel Hill is known as the town in the state of North Carolina where the University of North Carolina, where Sancar works, is located.
BAYRAKTAR: OUR PATH IS OPEN, OUR HORIZON IS KIZILELMA
Selçuk Bayraktar responded to Sancar’s words with the statement, “Our path is open, our horizon is KIZILELMA.”
In his speech at the congress, organized under the auspices of the Presidency in cooperation with the Ministry of Health and the Turkish Health Institutes Presidency (TÜSEB), Baykar Board Chairman and Technology Leader Selçuk Bayraktar made assessments regarding the contribution of scientific studies to humanity and the goals of young researchers.
“MEETING YOUNG PEOPLE IS A SOURCE OF PRIDE”
Expressing his satisfaction at being together with scientists who have achieved international success in their fields at the congress, Bayraktar said that meeting young people, especially those who will shape the scientific world of the future, was a great joy and source of pride for him.
Referring to the studies carried out in the world of science, Bayraktar pointed to developments in genetics and neuroscience. Noting that the vaccine developed by Prof. Dr. Uğur Şahin and Prof. Dr. Özlem Türeci during the COVID-19 pandemic contributed to the health of millions of people worldwide, Bayraktar stated that studies in this field are advancing toward the development of personalized medicines.
“HOW YOU DO IT IS MORE IMPORTANT THAN WHAT YOU DO”
Offering advice to young scientists in his speech, Bayraktar emphasized that success should not be measured solely by titles obtained, awards won, or positions reached. Bayraktar noted the following:
“As an older brother, I would like to say this to my younger siblings: you do not need to work to be the best in the world. That is not very important either. In fact, that is also a very vague concept. What matters is the intention and effort within you. I even received questions like, ‘In which field should I work?’ That is not very important either. How you do it is more important than what you do. It is more important with what morality and what principle you realize it.”
“THOSE TRYING TO GET SOMEWHERE THE EASY, UNETHICAL WAY”
Emphasizing that scientists carry out studies that will benefit humanity by laboring for many years, Bayraktar said that against labor and scientific effort there are pursuits of obtaining gain and status the easy way.
Bayraktar continued as follows:
“We look at our country’s agenda. On one side are the efforts of people like you who try to get somewhere through sheer hard work, the agony of thought, and burning the midnight oil, to bring people to healing; on the other side, we see people trying to get somewhere quickly, the easy way, unethically, and to become wealthy. It is not very important where you arrive, friends. Which status, which position. It is not very important which award you win either. The accolades people will give you are not very important either. What matters is your intention. It is important for what purpose, for what aim you make an effort, and with what principle, without departing from labor, sweat, the agony of thought, and the straight path, you make your efforts.”
“ONE MUST PREPARE FOR TOMORROW’S RACE, NOT TODAY’S”
Explaining that he also tried to observe the same principles in his own working life, Bayraktar pointed to the importance of acting by foreseeing the future in technological developments. Bayraktar said, “I always tried to do it this way. At the end of the day, at the end of the road, I tried to walk with an upright principle, with my head held high, in a way that I would never lose my self-respect, my self-esteem.”
Stating that he tried to go beyond today’s competitive conditions and focus on the needs of the future, Bayraktar continued his words as follows:
“I tried to work not for today’s race but for tomorrow’s race; not for a race that has finished or been set up today, but by foreseeing what tomorrow’s race will be. I also tried to be at the forefront in today’s race, but that was not very important either. What mattered was the purpose itself, the aim itself, the intention itself.”
“KEEP YOUR GOALS HIGH”
Calling on young people to keep their goals high, Bayraktar noted the following:
“As a brother to you, as an older brother, keep your goals high. Show maximum effort and never depart from the upright principle. I believe that your faith, your effort, and the Almighty God who sees this will be your helper.”
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