Prof. Dr. HATİCE NÜZHET GÖKDOĞAN
1910
She was born in Istanbul. Her father, Major General Mehmet Zihni Toydemir was one of Atatürk's comrades-in-arms. She attended to Bezm-i Alem İnas Sultanisi (Istanbul All Girls' High School) and then went to the Erenköy All Girls' High School Science Department as a boarding student.
1928
When she graduated from high school, she won a state scholarship and was sent to France to study mathematics-physics in university.
1932
After completing her undergraduate degree in mathematics, she started to study physics at Sorbonne University in 1933. During his time at the university, she had to chance to work at Paris Observatory. After finishing school, she was offered a position at Paris Observatory however she declined this offer by saying "I owe to Atatürk and my country".
1934
She was the first Turkish person who was appointed as an associate professor to the Astronomy Institute of the Faculty of Science of Istanbul University. She worked to build a small but modern observatory in the garden of the university. She translated books since there was no astronomy book in Turkish at the time.
1936
She taught high level mathematics at Istanbul Technical University and became the first woman to teach in this university!
1937
She earned her doctorate in physics (PhD). Her dissertation paper was recorded as the dissertation no "1" in the faculty.
1940
She was made associate professor and in 1948 she was made full professor and became the first female board member in the university.
1954
She was a co-founder of the Turkish Astronomy Society and she served as the president of the society for 20 years. She was one of the founders of Turkish Mathematical Society and Turkish Women's Association. She served as the president of the Turkish Women's Association at different times.
1954
She was elected as the dean of the Faculty of Science of Istanbul University. She was the first female dean in Türkiye and worked in this position for 2 years. She held the role of chair of the Astronomy Department for 22 years starting from 1958.
1958
She held the role of chair of the Astronomy Department for 22 years starting from 1958.
1961
She became the first national representative of Turkey in the International Astronomical Union.
1980
Nüzhet Gökdoğan was retired in 1980; she had a very good command of French, English, German and Greek. She translated 6 textbooks, wrote 3 textbooks and published 13 scientific papers in the national and international magazines.
1997
She contributed a lot with her work to open TÜBİTAK National Observatory.
2003
Nüzhet Gökdoğan who was the founder of modern astronomy in Türkiye died leading the way for future female astronomers...
