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
From Farm to Table: Food, Culture and Politics Talks – Labor, Design and Technology in the Kitchen, Defne Karaosmanoğlu, Leyla Bektaş Ata, and Bahar Emgin
IPC organized the event "From Farm to Table: Food, Culture and Politics Talks - Labour, Design and Technology in the Kitchen" which was held on October 6 at IPC Karaköy with the participation of Defne Karaosmanoğlu, Leyla Bektaş Ata and Bahar Emgin and moderated by Zafer Yenal.
Reading Istanbul in Literature Book Launch
IPC organized the book launch for the edited volume "Reading Istanbul in Literature," which featured Alara Çakmakçı, Hasan Turgut, Nedret Öztokat Kılıçeri, Seda Yücekurt Ünlü, Selin Gürses Şenbay, Stefo Benlisoy, Şehnaz Şişmanoğlu Şimşek as speakers and was moderated by Seval Şahin, on October 2 at IPC Karaköy.
The Urban Future of Humanity: Imagining, Knowing, Doing
The panel titled “The Urban Future of Humanity: Imagining, Knowing, Doing,” organized by IPC in cooperation with Columbia Global Centers Istanbul, took place on September 26, 2025, at IPC Karaköy.
ActHuman VII: Empowering Vulnerable Groups with Artificial Intelligence: Risks, Opportunities and Policy Recommendations
In the seventh year of the ActHuman Social Inclusion Initiative, carried out in collaboration between IPC and İNGEV, the program focused on “Empowering Vulnerable Groups with Artificial Intelligence: Risks, Opportunities, and Policy Recommendations,” with Emrehan Aktuğ, Assistant Professor at Sabancı University, serving as rapporteur. The ActHuman VII Advisory Board meeting and workshop were held online on September 11, 2025.
Minerva Talks: Istanbul in History - Migration and Belonging in 17th Century Galata
IPC and Tarih Vakfı continue to organize the monthly ''Minerva Talks: Istanbul in History'' series. The discussion titled ''Migration and Belonging in 17th Century Galata," moderated by Ayşe Özil and Ayşe Köse Badur was delivered by Tommaso Stefini May 21 at IPC Karaköy.
