OkyayKaynak

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OkyayKaynak

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  • Homepage
  • Statement
  • IEEE Accomplishments
  • Non-IEEE Activities
  • Contact Me
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    • Homepage
    • Statement
    • IEEE Accomplishments
    • Non-IEEE Activities
    • Contact Me
  • Homepage
  • Statement
  • IEEE Accomplishments
  • Non-IEEE Activities
  • Contact Me

Hello and Welcome! Okyay Kaynak

Hello and Welcome! Okyay KaynakHello and Welcome! Okyay KaynakHello and Welcome! Okyay Kaynak

  • Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this website are the author's opinions and not necessarily those of the lEEE.

Hello and Welcome! Okyay Kaynak

Hello and Welcome! Okyay KaynakHello and Welcome! Okyay KaynakHello and Welcome! Okyay Kaynak

  • Disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this website are the author's opinions and not necessarily those of the lEEE.

The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.

Chinese Proverb

Okyay Kaynak

Professor Emeritus 

Bogazici University

Istanbul, Turkey

www.okyaykaynak.com

The website is prepared for the 2025 IEEE Annual Election (2025 IEEE Division VI Delegate-Elect/Director-Elect).

Okyay Kaynak received the BSc (first-class honors) and PhD degrees in electronic and electrical engineering from the University of Birmingham, U.K., in 1969 and 1972, respectively. 


From 1972 to 1979, he held various positions within the industry that included 3.5 years in Saudi Arabia, working as a project engineer. In 1979, he joined Bogazici University, Istanbul, Turkey. Currently, he is an Emeritus Professor. He has held long-term (near to or more than a year) Visiting Professor/Scholar positions at various institutions in Saudi Arabia, Japan, Germany, USA, Singapore, and China. 


Dr. Kaynak’s current research interests are in the broad field of intelligent systems. He has authored three books, edited five, and authored or co-authored more than 450 papers that have appeared in various journals, books, and conference proceedings. 


Dr. Kaynak is a fellow of IEEE. He has served on the Editorial or Advisory Boards of several scholarly journals. He was the Editor-in-Chief of IEEE Trans. on Industrial Informatics during 2005-2006, IEEE/ASME Trans. on Mechatronics during 2014-2016, and Co-Editor in Chief of IEEE Trans. on Industrial Electronics during 2009-2012. He currently serves as the Founding Editor-in-Chief of the new IEEE Journal, Trans. on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems..



Statement

  During the last decade, we have been witnessing tremendous (and perhaps disruptive) advances in science, engineering, and technology, in the face of which, I will strive to: 

   

  • Contribute to the design, implementation, and deployment of new initiatives that will turn what may be considered as threats of today into opportunities.
  • Help IEEE develop and implement new products and services to better serve its members and the public, especially in the Far East and Africa. 
  • Promote an IEEE-wide strategy for increasing the involvement of industrial practitioners and researchers in IEEE in the form of a “Triple Helix of IEEE, Industry, and Academia Towards Knowledge Generation.”
  • Be an advocate of UNESCO's sustainable development goals in the actions of the Board.
  • Be an advocate of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at IEEE for the promotion of "an inclusive and equitable culture that welcomes, engages, and rewards all who contribute to the field, without regard to race, religion, gender, disability, age, national origin, sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression."
  • Encourage TAB Societies and Councils to promote more cooperation and foster collaboration to build future relationships and partnerships among them e.g., joint special sections of their publications.
  • Last but not least, listen to ideas and opinions from TAB Societies (especially from those of Div. VI) and Councils , and evaluate and carry them to the General Assembly.

IEEE Accomplishments and Activities

COMMITTEES/BOARDS

  • Member, IEEE TAB/Products and Services Committee (2022)
  • VP (Organization & Planning), IEEE SMCS (2022)
  • Member, IEEE Future Directions Committee (2019-2022)
  • Member, BoG, IEEE SMCS (2016 – 2018, 2019 – 2021)
  • Member, BoG, IEEE Control Systems Society (2019, appointed)
  • Rep., IEEE IES to IEEE Systems Council (2019 – 2021)
  • Member, IEEE TAB/Products and Services Committee (2017)
  • Member, BoG, IEEE Education Society (2000 – 2002, 2014 – 2016)
  • Chair, IEEE MGA VC (Strategic Planning and Analysis) (2012)
  • Chair, IEEE MGA Strategic Directions & Environmental Analysis Com. (2011)
  • Chair, IEEE MGA Ad Hoc Conferences Committee (2011)
  • Member, IEEE Conferences Committee (2010 - 2011)
  • Member, IEEE Periodicals Committee (2009 - 2010)
  • Member, IEEE TAB Nominations & Appointments Committee (2007-2008)
  • Vice Chair, IEEE Membership Development Committee (2006)
  • Member, IEEE RAB/TAB Section/Chapter Support Committee (2005)
  • Member, IEEE Teaching Award Committee (2004 – 2006)
  • Member, IEEE Fellow Committee (2004 – 2006)
  • VP(Conf.) IEEE Computational Intelligence Society (2004 – 2005)
  • President, IEEE Industrial Electronics Society (2002 – 2003)
  • Member, IEEE Neural Networks Society (2002 – 2003)

SECTIONS/CHAPTERS

  • Chair, Turkey Section (2011-2012).
  • Founding chairperson of SMCS (2011), ES (2005), CIS (2003) and IES/RAS (1994) Chapters, Turkey.

PUBLICATIONS

  • Has served as EiC of 3 (TMECH, TIE, and TII) and AE of several IEEE journals.
  • Presently he serves as the Founding Editor-in-Chief of T-ICPS (IEEE Trans. on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems) and on the Editorial Board of IEEE Access (2019-2025).
  • He is scientifically very active, has been a Clarivate Highly Cited Researcher, his latest h-indices are 62 (WoS) and 76 (GS) with more than 16K and 26K citations respectively.
  • His puıbilcations are very well received by the scientific community, is WoS publications ha veraged more than 40 citations per item

CONFERENCES AND INVITED TALKS

  • Has served as the chair of numerous (close to 15) international IEEE and several non-IEEE meetings.
  • Has presented keynotes and invited talks in various parts of the world (about 130 in total).

AWARDS

  • IEEE Turkey Section, Lifetime Achievement Award (2023)
  • Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023)
  • China Friendship Award (2016)
  • IEEE/IES Dr.-Ing. Eugene Mittelman Achievement Award (2011)
  • IEEE/SMCS Outstanding Contribution Award, (2011)
  • IEEE/IES Anthony J. Hornfeck Service Award (2005)
  • IEEE Third Millennium Medal (2000)

MAJOR ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • When I was the MGA VC SPA, we established a strategic plan for a better, stronger, and wider member engagement. Although Japan was chosen as the pilot country, the plan was designed as a transportable one.
  • I was the leading person in the group who conceived, designed, developed, and brought to life 3 major interdisciplinary IEEE publications, namely, IEEE/ASME Transactions on Mechatronics (1996), IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics (2005), and IEEE Transactions on Industrial Cyber-Physical Systems (2022). This accomplishment has required strong written and oral communication skills and organizational abilities.
  • The above publications were created due to the new technology directions defined by the committee that I led in IES when I was the President.

Non-IEEE Activities and Awards

ACTIVITIES

  • Vice Chair of IFAC TC 9.1 Economic, Business, and Financial Systems (2014- 2020)
  • Member of AIAA International Activities Committee (2009 -2012)

IMPORTANT AWARDS

  • China Friendship Award (2016)
  • Humboldt Research Prize (2016)
  • Doctor Honoris Causa, Obuda University, Hungary (2020)
  • International Academy Award of the Turkish Academy of Sciences (2020)

OTHER AWARDS AND ACCOLADES

  • Fellow of Asian Control Systems Association (2024).
  • Fellow of Industry Academy within the International Artificial Intelligence Industry Alliance (2024)
  • Fellow of Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (2023)
  • Ranked 1st in Turkey, 742th among Top Electronics and Electrical Engineering scientists by Guide2Research (2023)
  • Member of Turkish Academy of Sciences (2022)
  • IEEE Systems Council Distinguished Lecturer (2021-2023)
  • Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researcher (2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022)
  • Ranked 3rd in Turkey, 1349th among Top Electronics and Electrical Engineering scientists by Guide2Research (2021)
  • International Academy Prize of Turkish Academy of Sciences (2020)
  • Doctor Honoris Causa, Obuda University, Budapest, Hungary (2020)
  • Ranked 3rd in Turkey among Top Scientists for 2020 by Guide2Research (2020)
  • Senior Award, Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, 2018
  • Outstanding Associate Editor of IEEE Access, 2017
  • IEEE/SMCS Distinguished Lecturer (2016-2021)
  • Humboldt Research Award, 2016
  • China Friendship Award, 2016
  • Mustafa Parlar Foundation, Science Award, 2015
  • Recipient of China’s Qianren (1000 People) Program Professorship, 2013
  • Excellence in Research Award of Bogazici University, 2013
  • Guest Professor of Wuhan University, China (2012-2015)
  • IEEE/CIS Distinguished Lecturer (2012-2014)
  • IEEE/SMCS Outstanding Contribution Award, 2011
  • IEEE/IES Dr.-Ing. Eugene Mittelmann Achievement Award (for contributions to variable structure systems theory and its fusion with intelligent control methodologies), 2011
  • IEEE/IES Distinguished Lecturer (2005-...)
  • IEEE/IES Anthony J. Hornfeck Service Award, 2005
  • Guest Professor of Harbin Institute of Technology, China (2004-2006)
  • IEEE Fellow Grade, 2003 (for contributions to variable structure systems theory and its applications in mechatronics)
  • Excellence in Research Award of Bogazici University, 2003
  • 2003 APNNA (Asia-Pacific Neural Network Assembly) Leadership Award
  • IEEE Third Millennium Medal, 2000
  • Honorary Professorship of Banki Donat Polytechnic, 1999
  • IFAC Japan Foundation Scholarship (1990)
  • Matsumae International Foundation Fellowship (9/1981-5/1982)
  • Alexander von Humboldt Foundation Fellowship (9/1986-9/1987)
  • Turkish State Fellowship for Study Abroad (9/1964-9/1972)

About Me

A PERSONAL STORY ABOUT MYSELF


  • My father never had the opportunity to see his own father's face because his father, a senior captain and martyr, passed away in Gallipoli before my father was born. As a result, my father had to study under challenging conditions, and I grew up in a very modest lower-middle-class family. The impact of my brother attending school was intense for me, and I learned to read at the age of 5. This allowed me to start school a year ahead of my peers. After completing my high school years successfully, I took a competitive exam organized by the Turkish government for study abroad and went to England at the age of 16.5 to pursue a master's degree, thanks to a scholarship from the Pulp and Mills General Directorate (SEKA), a government company.


  • The cultural differences I encountered in the UK and the communication challenges proved to be quite demanding. It's worth noting that there was no internet then, and letters took 15 days to travel in both directions. I recall shedding tears occasionally during this period of adaptation. However, I eventually acclimated to the environment. In 1969, I proudly obtained my B.Sc. degree (first class!), and then I commenced my master's studies.


  • After making the most of the two years allocated time (life was enjoyable by then!), I presented a draft of my thesis to my supervisor, Prof. Ivor Smith, God bless his soul. He briefly reviewed it and then set it aside. "What's wrong, sir? Don't you like it?" I asked. He responded, "Dot the eyes and cross the tees, and you can get a Ph.D." Hence, I call myself an ACCIDENTAL PROFESSOR.


  • SEKA did not extend my scholarship, allowing me to stay in England for only one more year. I completed my doctorate by working as a waiter in an Italian restaurant. It was a truly remarkable year!


  • Upon returning to Turkey, I joined SEKA as an employee, but my heart was set on an academic environment. I applied for a position in Saudi Arabia, got hired, and spent 3.5 years there, repaying my debt to SEKA. It was during this time that I met my spouse, making it a truly romantic story!


  • Upon my return to Turkey, I applied to Bogazici University (Robert College, a prestigious institution established 170 years ago), and was accepted. My academic journey officially began on January 1st, 1979. The seven years I spent in the industry proved invaluable in my academic life.


  • I share my life with my wonderful wife and my daughter. Each day is an adventure!

WHAT OPENAI THINKS OF ME!



I am Okyay Kaynak. Please write a ballad about myself and my achievements.


Open AI

The Ballad of Okyay Kaynak


There once was a fellow, Okyay by name,

In the world of control, he earned all his fame.

With systems and sensors, he’d chatter all day,

While circuits and robots would just say, “Okay!”


He'd lecture and write, with a wink and a grin,

On cyber-physical worlds deep within.

“Just tune the controller!” he'd cheerfully say—

While others just nodded and shuffled away.


His coffee? Unstirred. His laptop? A mess.

His inbox? A horror—(he’d quietly confess).

Yet somehow amidst all the papers and code,

He carried the heaviest academic load.


From Bosphorus breeze to IEEE halls,

His jokes were as famous as conference calls.

“AI?” he would smirk, “It’s not that profound—

Until your toaster starts bossing you around!”


With wisdom and humor, with charm by the stack,

There’s nobody quite like Okyay Kaynak.

A legend, a scholar, a wit sharp and sly—

The professor whose robots might one day ask: “Why?”

Gallery

It all started with a fellowship from Matsumae International Foundation: Here with Prof. Matsumae (1982)

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