Engin Arik


Engin Arik, was the head of the ATLAS group of Bogazici University in Istanbul. But Engin was much more than that.

After finishing her undergraduate studies in Istanbul, together with her classmate and husband, theoretical physicist Metin Arik, went to the US for graduate studies. She graduated from Pittsburgh University and in parallel worked at BNL. This photo , taken from her personal webpage, shows how Engin liked to picture herself: having next to her a logbook and a NIM crate.

Indeed she pioneered the modern experimental physics, the so called “counter physics” development, upon her return at the beloved homeland. Turkey had a long tradition in experimental HEP but that was mostly in the bubble chamber area. Engin started her very successful group and basically the Turkish involvement at CERN. She at the same time raised her family and trained her students. She participated in a number of experiments: CHARM II, CHORUS, SMC and more recently ATLAS and CAST.

She was a very kind, friendly, generous and pleasant person but at the same time an excellent, determined and efficient leader. She was a source of inspiration and motivation for the young people of her group. She always did her best to find funding to send them at CERN in order to get working experience. She was also an example of a woman top physicist successful in with both carrier and family; together with Metin, they had two grown-up well educated children and two grandchildren.

She had great interest for the International and Balkan Collaboration: since two decades ago, she organized a large number of physics schools and conferences where she tried hard to get participation from the less developed Balkan countries. Her husband is presently the President of the Balkan Physical union.

She led a large Turkish representation at the 1st IUPAP Conference on the “Women in Physics” in Paris 2002 and was a founding member of the ATLAS-women network. Unfortunately she will not be able to see the fruits of her long hard work and involvement in ATLAS and LHC physics. The word end was written with this photo.

We in ATLAS lost both a friend and a colleague while she was on her way to her duty: help in the design of a Turkish accelerator.

 

Christine Kourkoumelis

University of Athens

OTHER TESTIMONIES

Engin Arik pioneered the modern experimental physics, the so called “counter physics” development.

I was always impressed with Engin Abat's enthusiasm to help and his genuine interest to learn as much as he could.

Engin Arik was the first Turkish physicist that I ever met and over the years she was great collaborator to work with.

Berkol Dogan was almost famous for the warmth of his smile and personality.

Engin Arik believed in science. She believed in particle physics and performed it with enthusiasm.

We owe a great deal to Engin Arik, and we miss her friendship.

Engin Arik's enthusiasm for teaching and her friendliness to her students captured me immediately.

From the first day I met her, I was struck by Engin Arik's cheerfulness and her enthusiasm.