Prof. Dr. Övgün Ahmet Ercan Faces Brain Hemorrhage Risk
Prominent Turkish Earthquake Scientist Dr. Övgün Ahmet Ercan Updates on Health Status
Dr. Övgün Ahmet Ercan, one of Türkiye’s leading earthquake scientists, recently provided an update regarding his health through a social media post. He shared that he is currently in good health, having been placed under observation at a hospital in Sarajevo.
In his statement, Dr. Ercan detailed his medical situation, noting, "I was admitted to Sarajevo Hospital after experiencing back pain and was transported by ambulance. Ten days ago, a cardiac issue arose, prompting significant medical intervention. After three hours of care, my condition improved to 13/7.5."
Background on Övgün Ahmet Ercan
Born in 1947 in the Nazilli district of Aydın, Dr. Ercan has a rich heritage traceable to Thessaloniki, making him a great-grandson of Mehmet Ali Pasha, the notable historical figure from Kavala.
He began his education at Nazilli Secondary School from 1960 to 1963 and graduated from Nazilli High School in 1966. His academic journey continued at Istanbul University, where he completed his studies in the Geophysics-Geology Department in 1970. Dr. Ercan then moved to the United States, earning a doctorate in 1975 from the Colorado School of Mines within Stanford University in California.
Since 1975, Dr. Ercan has held a faculty position at Istanbul Technical University, and he previously worked at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology until 1980. In 2011, he began teaching at the Civil Engineering Department of Maltepe University.
Dr. Ercan has an impressive oeuvre, with 17 books, 420 scientific publications, and 905 research designs addressing various geological challenges faced by Türkiye.
In 1983, he established the "Underground Search Research Organization." He also served as the founding chairman of the Turkish Geophysics Institution Association from 2002 to 2004 and acted as an oil consultant for the Iranian state between 2006 and 2007. In 2010, he was appointed as the President of Türkiye’s Earthquake Network and was a chief advisor to TMMOB from 2011 to 2012.
An active participant in politics, Dr. Ercan ran as an independent candidate in the 2002 general elections for the Anatolian Side of Istanbul but was not elected. He later joined the Democratic Left Party (DSP) in 2004 and became a candidate for the mayoralty of Bakırköy. He also ran in the 2007 general elections for Istanbul’s third regional seat and was a mayoral candidate in the 2014 local elections.
Dr. Ercan continues to be a significant voice in Turkey’s scientific and political landscapes, advocating for advancements in geophysics and public policy related to seismic safety.
