Professor Uğur Ersoy, prominent civil engineering academic, passes away

Prominent civil engineering academic Prof. Dr. Uğur Ersoy has passed away. The Chamber of Civil Engineers (İMO) announced his death on September 18, 2026, describing him as a ‘dean of our profession’ and the ‘teacher of teachers.’

Born in Mersin in 1932, Ersoy graduated from Robert College School of Engineering in 1955 before completing his master's and doctoral studies at the University of Texas at Austin. He spent much of his career at Middle East Technical University (METU), serving as head of the Civil Engineering department, vice rector, and dean of the Institute of Earth Sciences until 2006. He also served as a visiting professor at Boğaziçi University between 1992 and 1994.

Colleagues, including Boğaziçi University professor Cem Say, noted his significant impact on engineering education and his long-standing contributions to scientific congresses, symposia, and professional reports.