The future of science in Turkey is being undermined by recent government actions (Nature 477, 131; 2011). Academic autonomy is crucial if Turkish scientists are to flourish at home and abroad. A partisan approach will not advance Turkey's society or stop the brain drain.

The government should take advantage of the Turkish economy's latest positive indications and increase the country's modernization assets. At present, just 0.6% of gross domestic product is invested in research and development.

To improve research morale, Turkey's government needs to reverse the centralization of science policy-making and give more power to scientific committees. These should be made up of competent researchers, who understand their own needs better than officials. It should reform scientific councils to allow them to operate democratically and with transparency, and abandon partisan legislation.

These measures would improve the credibility of science in society and help to educate a fatalistic and irrational public. Albert Einstein pointed out that imagination is more important than knowledge: the Turkish scientific community is simply seeking the prerogative and freedom to imagine.