 Asst. Prof. Hilmi Volkan Demir of the Physics, and Electrical and
Electronics Engineering Departments was honored at “The Outstanding Young Persons of the
World” (TOYP) ceremony, held at the Junior Chamber International (JCI) World Congress in
Antalya, November 6. Demir was recognized as the JCI-TOYP Honoree in “Academic
Leadership and Accomplishment” during their World Congress. JCI, established in 1910 in
the USA, is a worldwide federation of young entrepreneurs and leaders, and is a prominent
network with about 120 countries being represented. Demir was selected by an independent
science jury from the JCI Turkish Chapter in 2006, and nominated in the 2007 world
selections for the research group and programs he developed at Bilkent, in the field of
nanotechnology, as an example of reversed brain drain. The Devices and Sensors Research
Group, led by Demir, is working to invent and develop innovative optoelectronic
nanodevices and bio-implant sensors to solve important problems of solid state lighting,
alternative energy generation, environmental decontamination, and in-body remote sensing.
According to JCI, the TOYP program serves to recognize young people who excel in their
chosen fields and exemplify the best attributes of the worlds youth. By recognizing these
remarkable individuals, JCI encourages them and others to seek excellence and serve their
societies.
With TOYP, JCI aims to prepare better leaders, who will create better societies. Every
year, a distinguished committee of international judges is formed by TOYP, including world
leaders from the United Nations; the International Chamber of Commerce; business and
community representatives; university professors; and the JCI Board of Directors. The JCI
President explained that past TOYP Honorees include Orson Welles; Howard Hughes; Nelson
Rockefeller; John F. Kennedy; Henry Kissinger; Gerald Ford; Benigno Aquino; Elvis Presley;
Jackie Chan, and many more.
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