Prof. Hasan MANDAL was born in Eskişehir in 1965. He received his education at Yunusemre Primary School, Atatürk Secondary School and Vocational High School on Engines and Motors. Professor Mandal received his bachelor’s degree from the Department of Metallurgical Engineering at Middle East Technical University as an honour student in 1987, and his PhD degree from Newcastle University, United Kingdom in 1992. He completed his post-doctoral studies at Newcastle University, United Kingdom during 1992-1994, and at Karlsruhe University, Germany in 1997-1998.      

In 1994, he started his academic career as an Assistant Professor in the department of Ceramic Engineering at Anadolu University. He achieved Associate Professor status in 1996 and tenured Professor status in 2001. Prof. Hasan Mandal has more than 140 published studies, 70 of them are published in SCI journals, as well as 6 international patents. He has an H-index of 16 and has been cited approximately 1200 times. Prof. Hasan Mandal has been granted various national and international awards, including the TUBITAK Science Award. He is currently a member of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (TÜBA), World Academy of Ceramics (WAC) and Academia Europaea (AE).      

Prof. Hasan Mandal served as the Director of Research and Graduate Policies (RGP) between the years of 2011-2015 and, at the same time, was appointed as Vice Rector of Sabancı University in January 2012.               

He also served as the President of the Global Engineering Deans Council, the first Vice President of the International Federation of Engineering Education Societies, the President of European Ceramic Society, the Vice President of Anadolu University and the Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture of Anadolu University, the Chairperson of Turkish Engineering Deans Council, Board Member in both ATAP and GOSP Technoparks, Board Member in Inovent Innovative Ventures, Board Member in BOREN and Executive Board Member at TUBITAK’s Technology Transfer Mechanisms Support Group (TEMEG) and TUBITAK’s Engineering Research Group (MAG).  

Prof. Hasan Mandal was appointed as a member of YÖK (Council of Higher Education) on March 25, 2015. He was elected to the Executive Board of YÖK on April 1, 2015 and as the Deputy Chairman of YÖK on July 21, 2016. Prof. Hasan Mandal served in these positions until January 12, 2018 and as Deputy Rector of Sabancı University from January 12 to February 22, 2018.               

He was assigned as the President of TUBITAK on February 22, 2018.

Prof. Hasan MANDAL was appointed as a member of the Science, Technology and Innovation Policies Council on October 8, 2018 and he has assumed the duty of acting president on November 1, 2018. He was elected as the board member of the Council of Higher Education on April 27, 2019.

Prof. Dr. Yusuf Baran is a professor in Molecular Biology and Genetics. Dr. Baran has been serving as the President of İzmir Institute of Technology and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the İzmir Technology Development Zone since October 28th, 18.

After completing his bachelor’s degree in Biology at Dicle University from 1994 to 1998, he earned his M.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from Middle East Technical University in 2002 and 2006, respectively. During his Ph.D. studies, he worked at the Medical University of South Carolina for six months from 2005 to 2006. He has been working at the Izmir Institute of Technology since 2007. 

Dr. Yusuf Baran has been involved in more than 40 scientific research projects supported by national and international organizations. He has more than 500 published scientific articles and conference papers and has published one book. He also presented at over 400 national and international conferences, meetings and forums on science, technology and diplomacy (including in the U.S., Brazil, China, Pakistan, Sweden, Azerbaijan, Israel, Germany, Chili, the Sudan, Greece, Macedonia, Thailand, Bosnia, Sri Lanka, the Netherlands, Russia, Malaysia, and South Africa). He was invited to and presented at many important conferences of global institutions including the United Nations, the European Parliament, G20 Digital and Research Ministries Meeting, the World Science Forum, the Global Baku Forum, the World Economic Forum and, the World Life Sciences Forum.  

Dr. Baran’s scientific achievements have been recognized by national and international accredited institutions, and he has received more than 100 awards.  He was honored with the "2013 Young Scientist" award by the World Economic Forum (WEF), conferred annually to 40 scientists under the age of 40 who “actively play a transformational role in integrating scientific knowledge into society for public good.” International Young Leaders and Entrepreneurs awarded him the title of “Most Outstanding Young Scientific Leader of Turkey” in 2014.

He earned the “Young Member Honor” in 2015, given to 25 scientists under the age of 40 by the World Science Academy. He was selected as one of 30 people to participate in the “Science Diplomacy Workshop” in 2016 by The World Academy of Sciences. Dr. Baran also earned the “Outstanding Young Scientist Award” by the Turkish Pharmaceutical Academy in 2017, by the Experimental Hematology Association in 2016, by the Science Heroes Association in 2013, and by the Turkish Academy of Sciences in 2010. Dr. Baran’s doctoral thesis won the “Year’s Thesis” award in 2007. In 2018, he was one of the 28 people chosen by the American Science Advancement Organization to participate in the “Science Diplomacy and Leadership Workshop.” He was awarded with “Science Leader of the Year Award” by Turkey Innovation and Outstanding Success Awards, “Science Award” by Hacettepe University and “Innovative and Enterpreneur Academician Award” by Aegean Economic Development Association in 2021. Most recently, he was awarded with “Entrepreneur Award” by Association of Business Women in Izmir. In 2023, he was awared with “Science Diplomacy Award” by The World Academy of Sciences.

Prof. Dr. Yusuf Baran is a member of The Global Young Academy, an Executive Committee member of The World Academy of Sciences Young Affiliates Network (2016-Present), a founding member of the Developing World Academy of Engineering and Technology (2016-Present), a member of the World Association of Young Scientists (2015-Present), and a member of the World Economic Forum’s Young Scientists Program (2013-Present). He was also a member of the TÜBİTAK Advisory Board from 2010 to 2015. In addition, he has held various other appointments, including ambassador for the International Young Scientist Program and advisory board member of the Academic & Scientific Cooperation Project of Turkey. 

In his research, Dr. Baran focuses on the molecular biology of cancer, science policies and science diplomacy.

Mirat SATOĞLU is the Director of TÜBİTAK ULAKBİM Institute. Established in 1996 under the name of TÜBİTAK Ulakbim National Academic Network and Information Center, it provides information services such as Turkey Libraries Collective Catalog Service, EKUAL Collection Development Service, TR Index Index Service, Dergipark Magazine Hosting Service.

He played a leading role in many open science initiatives such as TÜBİTAK ULAKBİM, TÜBİTAK Open Science Policy, Aperta Open Archive, Harman Academic Archive under the management of SATOĞLU.

Mirat SATOĞLU is represented in the European Research Area and Innovation Committee Open Science and Innovation Working Group, SCOAP3 Executive Board, EOSC European Open Science Executive Board.

Mirat SATOĞLU has worked in many international areas to become a professional in the field of informatics. SATOĞLU has a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Engineering from Bilkent University, and a Master's Degree from Ege University and Pennsylvania University.

Born in 1981 in Aydın, he completed his primary and secondary education in Aydın. He graduated from Middle East Technical University, Department of History. She worked as a copywriter and bilingual periodical editor in various agencies. In 2006, he started working as an Assistant Culture and Tourism Specialist at the Ministry of Culture and Tourism and became a Culture and Tourism Specialist in 2010. She won the European Union Jean Monnet Scholarship. She graduated from the "Cultural Policy and Cultural Management" master's program at City University of London with the title "Digital Innovation in Not-for-Profit Arts Institutions and its Impact on the Arts and Culture Ecosystem and Policy Making Processes: A Case Study on the "National Theater Live" Application" and graduated with a "Distinction" degree. She then continued her academic studies at King's College London in the Cultural Policy and Cultural Industries PhD Program. He coordinated various cultural and literary promotion events abroad. He presented papers on literary tourism and cultural policies at various international academic meetings. He continues his academic studies on these subjects. He worked as the coordinator of literary activities at the Yunus Emre Turkish Cultural Center in London for a while. He served as the Counselor for Culture and Promotion in London. After working as the Head of the Publications Department and Deputy General Manager at the General Directorate of Libraries and Publications of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, he is currently working as the General Director.