Earthquake prediction statement from Prof. Dr. Övgün Ahmet Ercan: “A scientist who says ‘I know’ is not a scientist”
Prof. Dr. Övgün Ahmet Ercan stated that claims suggesting earthquakes can be predicted with certainty have no scientific basis.
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Geophysicist Prof. Dr. Övgün Ahmet Ercan responded to the debates regarding whether earthquakes can be predicted with certainty in a post on his social media account.
Ercan stated that for it to be said that an earthquake is “known,” three elements must be presented completely. Listing these as the exact time, exact focal location, and exact magnitude of the earthquake, Ercan expressed that this cannot be achieved with current scientific capabilities.
In his post, Ercan said, “To know an earthquake means: to know the exact time, the exact focal location, and the exact magnitude of the earthquake that will occur,” and emphasized that advanced technology and the science of geophysics cannot determine these three criteria with certainty today.
"THAT PERSON IS NOT A SCIENTIST"
Reacting to those who claim to know earthquakes in advance with certainty, Ercan used the expression, “If someone says I know, that person is not a scientist.”
Arguing that such claims are unscientific, Ercan assessed, “They are either a soothsayer, an astrologer, or a person chasing fame. There is no such thing in science.”
In his post, which serves as a warning regarding the frequently discussed topic of earthquake predictions in Turkey, Ercan conveyed the message that the public should be cautious against statements that claim certainty.