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 18: Encompassing the World: Portraits of Halide Edib in the Archives, Şerif Eskin
From Farm to Table: Food, Culture and Politics Talks
In this series, moderated by Zafer Yenal, we explore the complex relationships between agriculture, food, culture, and politics through a range of topics and expert guests. Together, we delve into the social, cultural, and political dynamics behind the food that reaches our tables.
Reading Istanbul in Literature
In this monthly talk series, we explore how Istanbul is constructed as a city in literary texts through the works of authors from different periods. The series is moderated by Seval Şahin.
Minerva Talks
Various aspects of Istanbul’s history are explored in the monthly “Minerva Talks” series, organized in collaboration between IPC and Tarih Vakfı. The series is moderated by Ayşe Köse Badur and Ayşe Özil.
Minerva Talks: Istanbul in History - Education in Istanbul, Robert College History
IPC and Tarih Vakfı continue to organize the monthly "Minerva Talks: Istanbul in History" series. The discussion titled "Education in Istanbul, The History of Robert College," moderated by Ayşe Ozil and Ayşe Köse Badur, was delivered by Önder Kaya on October 16 at IPC Karaköy.