Sustainability and Well-being
The Sustainability and Wellbeing cluster extends from IPC’s Urbanization and Local Governance program, broadening IPC’s focus on urban transformation to include the environmental, social, cultural, and economic aspects of sustainable development.
Based on nearly a decade of research on Turkey’s urban dynamics, local governance, migration, socioeconomic inequality, and the effects of globalization, IPC’s research now takes a wider, future-focused approach to the challenges and opportunities of sustainable living in an age marked by rapid urbanization and planetary pressures.
Within this cluster, IPC explores the changing relationship between people, cities, and the environment, with a special focus on climate resilience, sustainable food systems, cultural heritage, urban governance, demographic shifts, and social inclusion. It examines how local and regional contexts—particularly in Anatolian cities—are influenced by global trends, and how these contexts, in turn, shape policy decisions, community experiences, and quality of life.
Through public programs like Minerva Talks, Reading Istanbul in Literature, and From Farm to Table: Food, Culture and Politics, along with collaborative events such as The Urban Future of Humanity, IPC views sustainability not just as a technical or policy issue but as a cultural, social, and ecological experience. These activities showcase the connection between urban history, current urban life, food and agriculture, migration, cultural production, and environmental change.
Additionally, IPC contributes to the public discourse in this area through publications such as Zappa Zamanlar: IPC Special Series, published monthly in Aposto and on our website, which links sustainability themes with broader political, economic, and global developments. By combining research, public engagement, and interdisciplinary dialogue, IPC’s work on Sustainability aims to provide actionable insights for policymakers, local governments, civil society, and communities, helping create a more livable, resilient, and just future.
#Sustainability | #SustainableDevelopment | #Well-being | #SocialPolicies | #JustTransition
Reading Istanbul in Literature - 5: Transcending Space: Istanbul, Contemplation, and Women Roaming the Streets in Fatma Aliye's Novels
IPC organized a conference titled ''Reading Istanbul in Literature: Transcending Space: Istanbul, Contemplation, and Women Roaming the Streets in Fatma Aliye's Novels'' which was delivered by Başak Deniz Özdoğan and moderated by Seval Şahin at IPC on September 18.
Workshop on the Cities
“Workshop on the Cities” was organized in collaboration with Sabancı University Gender Studies and Women’s Studies Center of Excellence on September 14, 2023 at Sabancı University Altunizade campus. The program included three sessions titled “The Structure of Today’s Cities,” “Cities, Inequality and Differences” and “Studying Cities: Collaborations, Projects, Publications.
Minerva Talks: Istanbul in History - The Political Geography of Istanbul from the Empire to the Republic
IPC and Tarih Vakfı continue to organize the monthly "Minerva Talks: Istanbul in History" series. The seventh discussion in the series and the last meeting of the season, "The Political Geography of Istanbul from the Empire to the Republic," was delivered by Erol Ülker and moderated by Ayşe Köse Badur and Ayşe Ozil at IPC on May 24.
Minerva Talks: Istanbul in History - Writing the History of Galata While Demolishing Its Walls
IPC and Tarih Vakfı continue to organize the monthly "Minerva Talks: Istanbul in History" series. The seventh discussion in the series, "Writing the History of Galata While Demolishing Its Walls," was delivered by Mehmet Kentel and moderated by Ayşe Köse Badur and Ayşe Ozil at IPC on April 27.
Reading Istanbul in Literature - 4: Bilge Karasu's Beyoğlu Narratives - Spatiality as a Record of the Past
IPC organized a conference titled ''Reading Istanbul in Literature: Bilge Karasu's Beyoğlu Narratives - Spatiality as a Record of the Past'' which was delivered by Ülker Gökberk and moderated by Seval Şahin at IPC on April 17.
Reading Istanbul in Literature - 3: Taking a Look at the 19th Century "Mysterious" Istanbul Novels from Karamanli Language
IPC organized a conference titled ''Reading Istanbul in Literature: Taking a Look at the 19th Century "Mysterious" Istanbul Novels from Karamanli Language'' which was delivered by Şehnaz Şişmanoğlu Şimşek and moderated by Seval Şahin at IPC on March 20.