Aydın Sayılı

Aydın Sayılı (born May 2, 1913, Istanbul – died October 15, 1993, Ankara) was a Turkish historian of science. He is recognized as the first person in the world to receive a PhD in the history of science. Sayılı's academic journey began after a chance meeting with Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, who granted him a scholarship to study at Harvard University. There, he pursued the history of science under the guidance of George Sarton, earning his PhD in 1942 with a thesis on scientific institutions in the Islamic world. His career included professorships at Ankara University, where he became a distinguished professor, and leadership roles at the Atatürk Culture Centre. Sayılı's work focused on Ottoman astronomy and the scientific heritage of the Islamic world. He received numerous accolades, including the Copernicus Medal from the Polish government, the TÜBİTAK Service Award, and the UNESCO Award for his lifetime achievements. His portrait is featured on the Turkish 5 lira banknote.