Turkey to establish science centers in every province till 2023

LOS ANGELES/SAN FRANCISCO (A.A) - November 28, 2011 - Turkey is planning to open science centers in every province till 2013, minister said on Monday. Turkey's Science, Industry and Technology Minister Nihat Ergun has said that the government was planning to inaugurate science centers all around the country till 2023, the 100th anniversary of foundation of the Republic of Turkey. "Technology firms will directly finance some sections of these science centers," Ergun told AA correspondent on the sidelines of his visit to the United States. Ergun visited Universal Studios in Hollywood and Exploratorium Science Center in San Fransisco on the second and third day of his visit to the United States. Minister Ergun also said Intel's CEO Paul Ottelini had worked in the Exploratorium Science Center when he was 16.  There are 380 science centers in the United States, 250 in Europe and 300 in China. Exploratorium Science Center is one of the biggest science centers in the United States with 33 million USD of budget and 300 employees. Almost 1.5 million people visit the center every year. Moreover, Ergun said Turkey was working to establish its own film studios in a field in the northwestern province of Kocaeli.