Kansu was born in Edirne. He studied medicine at Istanbul University, graduating in 1923. In 1927, after completing compulsory government service and working as a medical doctor for two years in Bala, Ankara, he went to Paris to study anthropology. He received a diploma in anthropological sciences from the Sorbonne in 1929.[2]
Returning to Turkey, Kansu worked both as a physician and an associate professor of anthropology at Istanbul University. He was appointed a full professor in 1934.[3] In 1935 he moved from Istanbul to Ankara at the request of Atatürk, taking up a position at the newly established School of Language and History - Geography (Turkish: Dil ve Tarih Coğrafya Fakültesi). He served as the dean of that institution between 1942 and 1944, and when Ankara University was established in 1946, Kansu was elected as its first rector. He held this position between 22 June 1946 and 26 April 1948.[2]
Other posts
Although primarily a physician, Kansu was active in other areas of interest, such as archaeology. He took part in excavations in Etiyokuşu, Tuzla, and Yarımburgaz.[3]
