Prof. Ahmet AYHAN, PhD (1993-2002)

Prof. Ahmet Ayhan (PhD) was born in 1950 in Hüyük District, Konya, and graduated from Hacettepe University's Graduate School of Earth Sciences as a Mining Geology Engineer in 1973. He worked as a Geological Engineer at the Mineral Research and Exploration (MTA) Institute in Ankara, and in the beginning of 1974, he went to Germany to conduct his doctoral studies on behalf of the MTA Institute. After attending German courses at the Goethe Institute, he began his PhD studies at the Mineralogy-Petrography Institute of Heidelberg University (Germany), completing his PhD thesis in 1979 and returning to Turkey.

Between 1980 and 1983, Prof. Ayhan served as a Geologist-Project Supervisor at the MTA Institute in the Mining Research Department, and worked as a part-time lecturer at the Department of Geological Engineering, Fırat University. He was appointed as an assistant professor for the Mineral Deposits-Geochemistry Program under the Department of Geological Engineering at the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at Selçuk University in 1983; an associate professor in 1986, and a full professor in 1992. At this faculty, he held several administrative positions, including Vice Dean. He also worked as the Founding Head of Mining Engineering Department and the Editor of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture's academic journal. He also served in DPT's (State Planning Organization's) 9th Development Plan Committees.

Prof. Ayhan was a member of Heidelberger Mineralogischer Gesellschaft (Germany), Deutsches Akademisches Austauschdienst (Istanbul), Chamber of Geological Engineers of TMMOB, Turkey Informatics Foundation, Technology Development Foundation of Turkey (TTGV) Advisory Board, Science Center Foundation, Kocaeli Atılım Foundation, TSE General Assembly, KOSGEB Executive Committee and General Assembly, and GYTE-KOSGEB TEKMER Advisory Board. He was also a founding member of Konya Technology Development Association. In addition, he was awarded with Kocaeli Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association's Honorary Membership, and by Gebze Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (GESIAD).

Prof. Ayhan's areas of specialization included technology management, innovation, regional innovation systems, science and technology policies, and mineral deposits.

In 1993, Prof. Ayhan was appointed the Founding Rector of GTU, and in 1994 and 1998, he was elected the Rector of GTU. From 2002 until his passing in 2008, Prof. Ayhan continued to work as a faculty member for Selcuk University's Faculty of Engineering and Architecture. Ayhan could speak German and English, and was married with 3 children.