Sakıp Sabancı Remembered with the “Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards” in the 12th Year of His Passing 

2016 Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards given for “New Centers in Turkey: Economy, Education, Art and Peace in Cities" 

Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı: "If there is technology and talent in a tolerant environment where different ideas and opinions are respected, creativity may emerge."

This year's Jury Prize in the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards was given to Middle East Technical University Faculty Member İlhan Tekeli. The two equally-weighted Essay Awards were given to Azat Zana Gündoğan from Cornell University and Emrah Şahin from the University of Florida. 

In honor of the late Sakıp Sabancı, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Sabancı University, the “Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards” were presented at a ceremony hosted by the Sakıp Sabancı Family, Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı, and President A. Nihat Berker on Monday, April 11, 2016 at the Sabancı Center.  

The subject for this year's awards was “New Centers in Turkey: Economy, Education, Art and Peace in Cities".

Introductory remarks to the ceremony were delivered by Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı. Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences member Ayşe Parla, the president of this year's jury panel, explained the reasoning behind the jury's selection.

The Special Jury Prize was given to İlhan Tekeli from the Middle East Technical University. Tekeli was given the Special Jury Prize for his work on urban and regional planning, planning theory, macro-geography, migration geography and political behavior, history and theory of local administrations in Turkey, urbanization and urban policy, economic policy, the economic history of Turkey, and urban and community studies.

The two equally-weighted Essay Awards were given to:  

Azat Zana Gündoğan from Cornell University with “Rethinking the Notion of New Centers"

Emrah Şahin from the University of Florida with "Dogs and Caravan"

İlhan Tekeli received his prize from Governor of Istanbul Vasip Şahin, Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı and Sabancı University President Professor A. Nihat Berker. Essay Award winners received their prizes from Mayor of Istanbul Dr. Kadir Topbaş, Sabancı University Board of Trustees Member Sevil Sabancı, and Sabancı University President Professor A. Nihat Berker.

“Sakıp Sabancı was a firm believer that a better future for Turkey lay in a well-educated and well-trained youth"

Introductory remarks to the ceremony were delivered by Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı. Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı began by talking about the late Sakıp Sabancı's personality. Güler Sabancı said, “Whether or not you personally knew Sakıp Sabancı, the first thing that comes to mind about him is his genuine, candid, positive, constructive and worldly personality that endeared him to the Turkish people." Güler Sabancı emphasized Sakıp Sabancı’s love for his country and his firm belief that Turkey was always going to make progress, achieve a brighter future, and that a better future for Turkey lay in a well-educated and well-trained youth.

"He gave the courage to do something different"

Güler Sabancı said that Sakıp Sabancı had always been in full and unwavering support of education knowing its importance in Turkey's development and advancement, continuing, "He gave us direction to build an exemplary institution that would provide the best in education. We followed his dream to build a global university. Our search conference and design committees came up with a university that was unique and different, which would in turn make a difference in Turkish higher education."  Saying that Sakıp Sabancı stood by them in their journey towards making Sabancı University a reality, Güler Sabancı continued, “He gave us the courage to do something different. That is what brought Sabancı University to the present day. We are delighted that our university both made a difference in Turkish higher education, and gained important ground towards becoming a global university. Some of our graduates as young as 20 are now pursuing doctorate levels in world-class universities."

“Sabancı University raises bright young adults who are devoted to universal values, accept the leadership of science, and are open to the world."

Speaking of Sabancı University's achievements, Güler Sabancı pointed out that graduates were now advancing to directorship positions in multinational companies. Sabancı also mentioned entrepreneurial graduates who embraced the example set by Sakıp Sabancı to think outside boundaries and contributed to the national and global economy.

Güler Sabancı said that the university topped the entrepreneurship and innovation rankings prepared by Ministry of Science, Industry and Technology for four years, adding that Sabancı University was also recognized by international rankings. Güler Sabancı mentioned the position of Sabancı University on some of these lists.

Sabancı added that Sabancı University raised bright young adults who were devoted to universal values, accepted the leadership of science, and were open to the world.

"There can be no creativity without technology, talent and tolerance"

Explaining that Sakıp Sabancı was an immensely tolerant person, Güler Sabancı mentioned the side of him that admired and encouraged creativity. Güler Sabancı argued that tolerance removed boundaries to human capabilities and vision when success was at stake. Güler Sabancı continued, “While Sabancı University walks on the path to become a global university, a recent worldwide study suggests that creativity depends on three Ts: Technology, Talent and Tolerance. This is our belief as well. Sabancı University's position on international rankings and the Ministry index shows that the 3T's are getting along quite well here.

If there is technology and talent in a tolerant environment where different ideas and opinions are respected, creativity may emerge."

Güler Sabancı said that Sakıp Sabancı had an excellent grasp of interdisciplinary studies, which was why he was equally supportive of medical, natural and social sciences at once, believing that they would go the furthest if they ran abreast. She said that it was this vision which made Sakıp Sabancı put something in his will that was a first for Turkey.

Güler Sabancı also told the story of how the Award became a part of Sakıp Sabancı’s will: “We were together with our Founding President, the late Tosun Terzioğlu, when Sakıp Bey was writing his will. Sakıp Bey asked Tosun Bey: 'This award I am going to write in my will - which subject should it be on?' Although Tosun Bey was a mathematician, he said that the award should be in social sciences, and explained his reasoning. 'Whatever you say, professor' was Sakıp Bey's reply. Then, Tosun Bey and Hüsnü Bey wrote that section of the will together. We are here today as a result of that discussion."

“Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards is a first for Turkey and sheds light on Turkish studies in social sciences.”

Güler Sabancı said that the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards focused on a variety of subjects from Turkish economy to foreign policy, history and social dynamics, continuing, “Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards is a first for Turkey and sheds light on Turkish studies in social sciences including sociology, economics, history and political science."

Güler Sabancı briefly mentioned the subjects of previous Awards and said that it took a full year's work to prepare for every edition of the Awards. Sabancı explained that the process was handled by the Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Istanbul Policy Center in partnership, and that the submissions were assessed by an international jury panel. Güler Sabancı revealed the subject for the 2017 Awards to be “Europeans of Turkish Origin in Everyday Life.”

Güler Sabancı also said that they would support young social scientists working on significant and relevant issues for Turkey.

"Urbanization is the greatest transformation that a society can experience"

Special Jury Prize winner İlhan Tekeli began his speech by expressing his delight in winning an award given in honor of Sakıp Sabancı.

Tekeli said that his own life had a lot in common with the urbanization of Turkey, continuing, "The Turkish experience has been parallel with mine both as a citizen and an urban planner." Tekeli explained that as an urban planner, his job was to experience, observe, study and develop strategies.

Tekeli said that urbanization was the greatest transformation that a society could experience, and that Turkey underwent this entire process within a single generation's lifetime, which had never been seen in any other nation.

İlhan Tekeli then explained that pace was not the only differentiating factor of transformation in Turkey and pointed out the fact that urbanization in Turkey was concurrent with the multiparty regime, emphasizing that it was a difficult feat to achieve in a country with little capital. 

Tekeli said that while urbanization was essentially a difficult process, the large picture became clearer when the dust settled and the end result was viewed from afar, which also revealed success stories.  Tekeli argued that the transformation in Turkey was free of large-scale clashes contrary to the process in other countries.

"From the 1980s onwards, cities became self-organizing systems"

İlhan Tekeli said that cities and his own profession experienced great changes over his 70-year lifetime. According to Tekeli, there used to be distinct lines separating urban and rural areas, as a result of which urban growth reached its natural limits in the 1980s. This led to a new way of urbanization in the form of housing projects.  İlhan Tekeli continued, "Great resources were mobilized for urbanization. Previously, urban growth occurred by adding new buildings and resembled an oil spill, while the new mode of growth consisted of new additions to the peripheries of the old cities. City centers became multi-focal; the city transformed the country, and the line between city and country became blurred."

Pointing out the change in planning activity, İlhan Tekeli said, "As external influences shaped the city, urban plans today are anonymous. From the 1980s onwards, cities became self-organizing systems. Examples of participatory planning began to emerge. The idea of administration was replaced by governance. We began to realize the importance of implementing a culture of democracy. We must first think of democracy, and then a new city parallel to that idea."

Almost 350 submissions from 31 countries over 11 years

Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards were established 11 years ago to honor the will of the late Sakıp Sabancı, and are given by Sabancı University in fields including Turkish and Islamic art, and the history, economy and sociology of Turkey.  The award program is led by the Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and the Istanbul Policy Center. Submissions are reviewed by an international panel of independent jury members. In the last 11 years, Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards have been given in subjects ranging from Turkey's economy to foreign policy, history, and social dynamics. Almost 350 submissions were received from 31 countries for the 11 Awards given so far.

Starting in 2015, the Board of Trustees and Sakıp Sabancı Family resolved to give the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards as part of the Remembrance Ceremony.  Award themes in previous years were other pressing issues such as “Checks and Balances in Democracy: the Turkish Case from a Comparative Perspective,” “Gender Equality in Turkey” and "Coexisting in Turkey: Diversity, Dialog and Cooperation." The 2016 awards were given in "New Centers in Turkey: Economy, Education, Art and Peace in Cities".

The subject for the 2017 Awards was revealed to be “Europeans of Turkish Origin in Everyday Life”. In the tradition of the previous awards, the 2017 Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards will seek to support scholars, particularly young social scientists, discussing a current issue on an academic level.

Jury Panel

The president of this year's Jury Panel was Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences member Ayşe Parla. Other members were Ardahan University President Ramazan Korkmaz, Harvard University Faculty Member Neil Brenner, Open University Faculty Member Engin Işın, Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Dean Ayşe Kadıoğlu and Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center Director Fuat Keyman.

Depending on the subject of the awards, up to six internationally-recognized scholars are chosen by the President, the Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Dean and the Istanbul Policy Center Director to be invited as jury panel members. The President of the Jury Panel is chosen among its members. 

FASS Dean and IPC Director are also members of the jury panel.  Jury members may be disclosed to the media after the awardees are chosen and notified. Members are kept confidential from the public and the applicants prior to selection.

About İlhan Tekeli

Urban planner and sociologist İlhan Tekeli was born in Izmir on November 6, 1937.  After his primary and secondary education in Izmir, he graduated from the Civil Engineering Department of Istanbul Technical University. He completed his graduate studies in Urban Planning in the Middle East Technical University in 1964 and his postgraduate studies in the University of Pennsylvania in 1966.

He obtained his PhD in Urban Planning from Istanbul Technical University in 1968. He has been a professor in the Urban Planning Department of METU since 1970. Tekeli has given lectures as a visiting professor in numerous universities abroad and acted as an advisor to a number of municipalities and companies in Turkey.

In addition to being the founder and president of the History Foundation, he acted as the Chairman for 10 years. He was a founding member of the Executive Board of the World Academy for Local Government and Democracy. He was a member of the Council for Higher Education between 2004 and 2008. He has published over fifty books and four hundred articles and conference papers in various languages.

Tekeli holds a number of awards in Social Sciences. In 1989, Tekeli and Selim İlkin won the Sedat Simavi Social Sciences Award. Tekeli won the 1994 Mustafa Parlar Science Award. He was chosen to Turkish Academy of Sciences membership in 1996. He won the 1999 Mustafa Parlar Outstanding Achievement in Education Award and the 2006 TÜBİTAK Excellent Service Award.

İlhan Tekeli has published a number of books on urban and regional planning, planning theory, macro-geography, migration geography and political behavior, history and theory of local administrations in Turkey, urbanization and urban policy, economic policy, the economic history of Turkey, and urban and community studies. His scientific writings were published by the History Foundation in 25 volumes. His writings on history coauthored with Selim İlkin were published by Istanbul Bilgi University. 

Sabancı University ranked 52nd on Times Higher Education's (THE) "150 Under 50" list of top universities under 50 years old.

Sabancı University President Professor Nihat Berker: "These achievements by Sabancı University make us proud and happy, and we believe that we will continue to improve in the future. 

The success of our university depends on the climate we have fostered since establishment, the philosophy of research-led education, and investments for this purpose.

 As Sabancı University, our goal is to be a global university that always tops international rankings. 

We are also glad to see other Turkish universities advance in the rankings, and are confident that collaboration will take us even further. 

Sabancı University owes this success to the hard work and dedication of its undergraduate and graduate students, faculty members, employees, supporters and friends.  It is due to the human-focused, performance- and merit-based approach to our students, faculty and employees that encourages a questioning and free spirit, and provides leading services in education and research."  

Methodology

 The performance indicators used in the rankings are: 

• Research: volume, income and reputation (worth 30%)
• Citations: research influence (worth 30%)
• Teaching: the learning environment (worth 30%)
• International Outlook: staff, students and research (worth 7.5%)
• Industry Income: innovation (worth 2.5%)

Global "150 Under 50" Rankings 

Three Turkish universities were included on THE's "150 Under 50" list.

The other Turkish universities were Bilkent University and Koç University.  

 https://www.timeshighereducation.com/150-under-50-rankings-2016

The 11th Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards, endowed by Sabancı University in memory of Honorary Chairman Sakıp Sabancı, will be given at a ceremony to be held at the Sabancı Center on Monday, April 11, 2016. 

The Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards Ceremony to be held as part of the Sakıp Sabancı Remembrance Ceremony will be hosted by  Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı and Sabancı University President Professor A. Nihat Berker as well as the Sabancı Family.

Covering fields such as Turkish and Islamic art and history, economics and sociology in Turkey, the Awards will be given to papers on “New Centers in Turkey: Economy, Education, Arts and Peace in Cities” this year. 

Introductory remarks will be delivered by Sabancı University Founding Board of Trustees Chair Güler Sabancı, and also speaking will be Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences member Ayşe Parla on behalf of the jury panel consisting of internationally recognized Turkish and foreign professors.

Two researchers under 45 years of age will receive awards in the article category of the Sakıp Sabancı International Research Awards. The fifth Jury Prize will also be handed. Almost 350 submissions were received from 31 countries for the 11th Awards. Winners of the Article Awards and Jury Prize were selected by an international panel of independent jurists.

Subject of the 2016 Awards:
Cities have always been associated with human liberation. In Europe in the Middle Ages, the belief was that "the city environment liberated people." Modern cities too are defined as areas of high freedom potential for people leaving behind extended family ties and hierarchical agrarian relationships. However, attractive as the potential for human freedom may be, cities are also spheres where economic inequalities, income disparities, cultural differences and ghettoization trends become most visible.
 
Turkey is a country that is going through rapid urbanization. The percentage of urban population rose from 25% in the 1950s to 75% today. We are now living in an urbanized Turkey with all its risks and potential, and anatolian provinces prove to be the most dynamic ones in terms of rapid urbanization. Change and transformation since the 1980s gave rise to the emergence of new city centers in Anatolia. Provinces like Kayseri, Konya, Gaziantep, Eskisehir, Denizli, Çorum and others have become new nodes of economic and political power over the last three decades.

It is possible to argue that these new city centers challenge historical Republican cities of Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir as alternatives.  These cities draw attention not only by their recent entrepreneurial ventures, but also their wealth of initiatives in education and artistic activities. What is new about the emergence of these cities? What are the drivers of entrepreneurship observed in these cities? How compatible are these new urban areas with the fundamental freedoms of citizens?  Is the atmosphere (social and political environment) in these cities conducive to liberation - the historical function of cities? How can new urban spaces contribute to development, democratization and peace in Turkey?

This topic was chosen for this year's Sakıp Sabancı Research Awards in line with the interdisciplinary nature of Sabancı University. Submissions that made general and specific contributions to this subject from a wide and interdisciplinary academic perspective were assessed.

Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum Director Dr. Melsa Ararat spoke at the "Roundtable Meeting on Supporting and Sustaining Women's Participation in Reputable Jobs in Turkey" held by the French Development Agency.

On Tuesday, March 15, 2016, Melsa Ararat delivered a presentation on "Violence against Women and Workplaces" in the panel discussion titled "Violence against Women: What Are the Reactions of Turkish Businesses?" at the Palais de France. The moderator of the session on gender equality in the workplace, workplace harassment, domestic violence and the role of businesses was Zeynep Jale KANDUR, External Relations Manager of the Human Development and Social Education Foundation (İGETEV). Feyza Altun Meriç, attorney-at-law, was also a panelist.

Melsa Ararat discussed the results of the Impact of Domestic Violence on White-Collar Workers and Businesses Survey and explained the content of the Business Against Domestic Violence Policy Development and Implementation Guide, saying "By providing organizational support to the sufferers of domestic violence, creating an organizational culture that is intolerant of violence, and making this culture a part of official company policies, businesses may help to change gender perceptions. The main benefit of these policies will be higher effectiveness, a more peaceful working environment, less downtime and fewer accidents. Policies include measures that prevent the workplace from becoming a target of violence as well. The guide was prepared to help businesses on this matter." The guide containing policy examples was prepared with the support of the UN Population Fund and the participation of TÜSİAD member companies. Sections of the guide include:

•    Steps for creating company policies
•    Expanding external communication and interaction networks
•    Organizations to consult regarding domestic violence
•    Project steps and checklist
•    Example policy
•    Platforms
•    Best business practices in domestic violence
•    Social responsibility projects directed at domestic violence
•    Legal framework

The roundtable focused on two priority areas of ensuring women's participation in and sustainability of reputable jobs and outlined possible roles, opportunities, and the strategic participation of the French Development Agency in Turkey.

Secondary objectives of the roundtable meetings were:

•    Identifying critical obstacles that prevent women's participation in reputable jobs and ensuring the sustainability of their participation, and determining priorities that will contribute further to women's presence in high-quality employment;
•    Emphasizing learnings and best practices regarding women's participation in reputable jobs and ensuring the sustainability of their participation;
•    Discover and define the measures and approaches required for women's participation in reputable jobs and ensuring the sustainability of their participation

From 2005 to 2014, Sabancı University proposed 674 projects to the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey (TÜBİTAK) as reflected in the institution's General Academic Support Statistics. TÜBİTAK approved 308 of these projects and provided TL 65,885,000 in support.

TÜBİTAK disclosed the amounts of support provided to universities from 2005 to 2014. According to the institution's statistics, TÜBİTAK received 54,219 project submissions from 157 universities, accepted 13,426 submissions and provided an aggregate support of TL 2,312,603,228. Sabancı University received TL 65,885,000 in support, which accounts for 3% of the total support received by 157 universities. 

10 universities received approximately 50% of the total support with 5,217 accepted submissions. 

The top 10 universities that received the most support, including Sabancı University, were entitled to TL 1,165,592,00 of support from TÜBİTAK with 5,217 out of 16,852 submissions accepted. These 10 universities received approximately 50% of the total support provided by TÜBİTAK.

As of December 2015, Sabancı University has an active research fund of TL 80 million with 210 projects, of which 120 are supported by TÜBİTAK for a total of TL 51 million.

The fifth Akkök Executive Development Program held by Sabancı University Executive Development Unit - EDU begins. 

The opening of the fifth Akkök Executive Development Program held by Sabancı University Executive Development Unit - EDU in association with Akkök Holding took place at Sabancı University.

Attending the opening ceremony were Akkök Holding Human Resources Coordinator Özlem Özbatır and Sabancı University Executive Development Unit – EDU Director Dr. Cüneyt Evirgen. So far, 80 Akkök employees have been certified by the Akkök Executive Development Program, and the fifth edition will provide training to 21 mid-level managers.

Speaking at the ceremony, Akkök Holding Human Resources Coordinator Özlem Özbatır said that they were delighted to hold the fifth Akkök Executive Development Program aimed to improve the competencies of mid-level managers. “We are confident that the program with the Sabancı University Executive Development Unit will make a tremendous contribution to the development of our people" said Özbatır.

Sabancı University School of Management will host a lecture by Hans Peter Bech, one of the bestselling authors on Amazon.com and a writer of an influential blog on the leadership of information technologies in the global market, as part of the M407 Sales Management course on Monday, April 4, 2016.

In his lecture at the Cinema Hall, Hans Peter Bech will discuss the benefits of the ever-shrinking barriers to market entry as well as the challenges posed by progressively narrower windows of opportunity that have an influence on the information technologies industry. Bech will talk about competitive products and services that emerge in the information technologies market almost daily, and the difficulty of maintaining leadership in the market.

Hans Peter Bech will also discuss the Moors Law, explaining why the same laws are not applied to ratings of software-based products and services, and the common cost of sales and marketing.

The challenges Bech will address in his lecture will include cash flow, finding and retaining talent, and talent management. Bech will explain why the requirement of competence and experience for marketing and sales operations on a global level pose challenges to information technology companies.

About Hans Peter Bech:
Hans Peter Bech is an Amazon bestselling author, and a blogger on issues related to growing software driven companies to global market leadership. Bech is the author of several books and numerous whitepapers on international business development in the software industry, and facilitates workshops for software executives in the TBK Academy®. Bech holds an M.Sc. in macroeconomics and political science from the University of Copenhagen, and provides consultancy services to public agencies and companies.

Program:
Date: Monday, April 4, 2016
Time: 13:30 – 14:30
Place: Cinema Hall

Science and art had been courses in two distinct Faculties so far. They were completely separate: you either studied natural sciences or fine arts. Come to think of it, isn't nature or even the universe itself a form of science, which in turn creates a flawless form of art? 

Helen Donis-Keller is a professor of biology and art in Olin College.She is a scientist and artist who has taken part in cancer and treatment research on the one hand, and managed to blend her research with art on the other.Last week, she began her lecture at the Minerva Palas titled “Molecular Biology and Visual Arts: My Journey" by saying that biology and art had a lot in common, assuming that we are already aware of this.

She spoke about Leonardo da Vinci, one of the first persons to focus on both science and art, and Ernst Haeckel, explaining their work. She also discussed Theo Jansen's Strandbeest. She said that there had always been and would always be people who, like her, had dedicated themselves equally to science and the arts. That is because, unbeknownst to us, art and science have a lot in common. 

They are like the two faces of a coin. Science can appear wherever there is art, and art is in everything called science. The problem was that a person only interested in art was an "artist" but not a "scientist" at the same time.

What are the similarities between a scientist and an artist whose material is "nature"?

According to Donis-Keller, both view the world through their own lens and help us make sense of events and beings; the only difference is one has to do this by performing experiments and using objective data –because a scientist always has to be true and accurate– while the other presents their subjective, personal interpretation. Both publish and display their work and want us to view them, because their work is the fruit of a long and arduous effort. 

What is Helen Donis-Keller's work in biology?

Donis-Keller was part of a research group working on the MEN2A tumor, which is known to appear and cause cancer in the endocrine system, and the mutations of the RET gene. It was observed that the tumor could undergo genetic mutations that made it permanent in individuals and carried it across generations. Although there is no known effective drug at the moment, a test was developed to predict the occurrence of the MEN2A tumor in individuals and to make early detection possible. This test analyzes genes in the endocrine system to determine whether there is a mutation that could occur in the future. If present, it is removed by thyroid surgery. 

How does this connect to art?

Donis-Keller had quite a different approach to this. Her work on genetic sequences and their effect on phenotype, or outer appearance, fascinated her from an artistic perspective and she decided to create "art" based on this.  Her series called "Genotype: Phenotype" compared the possible genotypes that may emerge from her own DNA sequence and the phenotypes that these genotypes may create, came up with 176 different phenotypes based on 6 genotype sequences, and attempted to recreate these phenotypes using Photoshop on her own Sam's Club Card picture.

The results are astonishing.

Genotype: Phenotype Wall Piece, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, 2002

Donis-Keller's work was first exhibited in 2001 at Tufts University, and a selection from the series was then exhibited in many different exhibition areas around the world.  

Donis-Keller says that many elements in nature have different phenotypes that we may observe, explaining how she was partly inspired by nature and the elements in it. Donis-Keller explains that these elements were formed by the massively powerful force of nature which she admired, and concluded the lecture with a slideshow of nature photographs she took in Iceland, titled "Encounter with Icelandic Elements." 

Photos: helendonis-keller.com

Article: Neslihan Kandolu / Sabancı University

Publications on Gender

Numerous publications and dissertations have been on gender have been written in Sabancı University so far. Among these are “Türkiye’de Kadına Yönelik Şiddet Araştırması - Study on Violence against Women in Turkey” by Sabancı University Faculty Member Associate Professor Ayşe Gül Altınay and Boğaziçi University Faculty Member Professor Yeşim Arat, which has been recognized as Turkey's most comprehensive study on the subject and won a Duygu Asena Award; the book “İşte Böyle Güzelim” by Sabancı University Associate Professors Hülya Adak and Ayşe Gül Altınay and Sabancı University alumni Esin Düzel and Nilgün Bayraktar; and “Vatan Millet Kadınlar” edited by Sabancı University Associate Professor Ayşe Gül Altınay.

Dicle Koğacıoğlu Essay Awards

The Sabancı University Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences and Gender and Women’s Studies Forum established the Dicle Koğacıoğlu Essay Awards in honor of academic and activist Dicle Koğacıoğlu, who passed away in 2010. The awards are given annually to encourage the work of young researchers on the society and culture of Turkey from a perspective of gender.

Gendered Steps: Gender and Memory Tours

Gender and Memory Tours invites young individuals to revisit the historical, social and political relationships that shape the city we live in through alternative perspectives focusing on gender. Which locations in the city bear traces of social memories tied to persons or events - or don't? How does tracing memories that are not publicly visible change our relationship with the city we live in and its places? How does gender shape our perception of the city, our relationship to it, and social memory? Gender-focused memory tours seek to better understand these relationships and open new windows overlooking the city.

The pilot tour was held by Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Forum in association with Karakutu Derneği in September 2014 and covered a section of Beyoğlu from the Tünel Plaza to Gezi Park. Discussion topics included the Kohen Brothers Bookstore and its founders, artist Aliye Berger, Armenian feminist writer Zabel Yesayan, Turkey's first Jewish woman playwright Beki L. Bahar, narrator of legends Ayşe Şan, first professional Armenian woman photographer Maryam Sahinyan, founders of the ‘Bureau of Legal Assistance against Sexual Harassment and Violation under Custody' Eren Keskin and Leman Yurtsever, and the world's first woman military pilot Sabiha Gökçen, and the tour concluded in Gezi Park - a public area heavily associated with feminist and LGBTI movements.

Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Forum plans to expand Gender and Memory Tours to include other historical districts of Istanbul such as Üsküdar, Kadıköy and Balat.

Discussions, Conferences, Film Screenings and Plays

Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Forum conducts academic and research activities in a number of topics and fields. These include a variety of discussions, conferences and workshops on Sabancı University campus and the Karaköy Communication Center.

The forum also organizes film screenings and drama performances on Sabancı University campus that are open to all. These events are usually accompanied by question and answer sessions with the cast and crew.

The Forum also hosts international events. Among these are the “Young Researchers Conference” held in association with the Central European University; the “Semiha Es-International Woman Photographers Symposium” held in association with Women's Museum Istanbul and Koç University Gender and Women's Studies Research and Application Center, and the “Gender Equality in Academia - International Best Practices Symposium” and “International Gender and Esthetics: Art, Film and Literature Symposium” held in association with Women's Museum Istanbul.

Correctional officers and inmates receive training with the Purple Dove project

Trainings were held for the female inmates and correctional officers of the Adana Karataş Women's Penitentiary, Ankara Sincan Women's Penitentiary, Denizli Bozkurt Women's Penitentiary and Izmir Aliağa Women's Penitentiary and meetings were organized between local organizations, women and penitentiary personnel as part of the “Mor Güvercin - Purple Dove” project implemented by the Sabancı University Gender and Women’s Studies Forum in association with the Youth Re-autonomy Foundation of Turkey and the KAMER Foundation with the approval and cooperation of the Ministry of Justice General Directorate of Penitentiaries, the financial support of the European Union Central Finance and Contracts Unit and the consultancy of the Ministry of Family and Social Policy.

The Mor Güvercin-Purple Dove Project was based on the idea that women’s shelter homes planned to be commissioned in 24 provinces around Turkey may be a viable alternative for women who have been imprisoned and seek to rejoin social life in a disadvantaged position.

The project aimed to improve the visibility of female inmates and provide them with alternatives that will generate value in post-release life while seeking to develop relationships among local NGOs, women’s shelters and penitentiaries. Other objectives of the project were to reveal the vulnerability of prison inmates to violence against women, help inmates gain a sense of women’s rights, and inform them about women’s shelter homes.

Human Rights Trainings for Businesses

In 2013 and 2014, the Forum implemented the "Human Rights Capacity Development Program for Businesses" in association with Mikado Sustainable Development Consultancy.

Sabancı University and Mikado aimed to help businesses better understand and manage their impact on human rights for internal and external stakeholders in order to help them fulfill their responsibility of respect for human rights.

Training subjects included "Human Rights and Development Process: Fundamental Concepts, Historical and Legal Framework, Protection Mechanisms," "Sustainability and Human Rights," "Gender Equality in the Workplace," "Employee Rights," "Worker Health and Work Safety," "Mobbing," "External Stakeholders and Human Rights: Supply Chain, Customers, Society" and "Development of an Internal Human Rights Strategy."

Trainings for Adults

The Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Forum has been organizing training sessions for adults since 2011. Held on Saturdays at the Karaköy Minerva Palas, the sessions cover a wide range of topics from creative writing to women in politics and queer in literature. Trainings are given by Sabancı University faculty members and subject matter experts.

The sessions deal with cinema, drama, literature and politics from a gender perspective.

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Gender equality has been a priority for Sabancı University in all academic and administrative processes since established, and the university considers this issue to be of vital importance for Turkey.

Sabancı University was the first in Turkey to adopt a Sexual Harassment Policy Statement, and the activities of the Gender Club, the Civic Involvement Projects implemented in the subject of gender, the Non-Discrimination Statement, the Purple Certificate Program, and the efforts of the Education Reform Initiative show the sensitivity of Sabancı University when it comes to gender and women's rights.

Sabancı University offers 7 courses that focus directly on the issue of gender: Gender Myths: Cultural Theories on Women and Men; Gender in War and Peace; Gender and Sexuality in Turkey; Family, Children and Gender: Fundamental Approaches to European History; Gender Issues in the Ottoman and Modern Turkish States; Gender and Nationalism; and Gender and Sexuality in the Middle East. There are 36 additional courses that bring gender into the mainstream curriculum. The Corporate Governance Forum undertakes initiatives to ensure the representation of women on company boards and to encourage businesses to implement policies against domestic violence.

Gender and Women's Studies unite under the umbrella of the Forum

Sabancı University merged all initiatives in gender, women's rights and women's studies made since the establishment of the University under the umbrella of the “Gender and Women's Studies Forum.”

The purpose of the Gender and Women's Studies Forum is to gather all the Sabancı University members who are interested in gender and women’s studies in a common platform, encourage and support academic studies, develop curricula on the issue, implement policies and institutional mechanisms against discrimination based on gender and sexual preference, and cooperate with academic and non-academic institutions.

The Gender and Women's Studies Forum reaches out to wide audience from academia to businesses, educators and correctional officers with trainings and projects to create awareness.  The Forum's goals include:


•    Gathering all activities, projects and studies on gender and women conducted in Sabancı University to make them more visible, encourage interaction that leads to greater influence and outreach, start and support academic studies, all of which will serve to make Sabancı University prominent in national and international platforms with regard to gender studies.

•    Providing encouragement and academic support to undergraduate, graduate and PhD dissertations of Sabancı University students on gender and women's studies; cooperating with student clubs active on the subject; consulting with all faculty working on the subject for developing and recommending courses and preparing minor or PhD programs; contributing to the capacity of the University to fulfill its education purpose and the improvement of education quality; enhancing cooperation in gender and women's studies among Sabancı University faculty, employees and students; facilitating experience sharing; and helping to develop an awareness of themselves, their lives and their surroundings.

•    Spearheading the development of gender equality sensitivities in the University and the society; improving the socio-economical status of women in the society and cooperating with various institutions to promote gender equality in public institutions; undertaking scientific research; championing anti-gender discrimination policies inside and outside the campus and leading other institutions in this matter, thereby serving the Sabancı University purpose of "involvement with the society."

•    Organizing national and international joint efforts and initiatives within Sabancı University and among other universities in partnership with women's centers of universiries as well as public institutions and nongovernmental organizations working on women's studies to hold conferences, seminars, symposia, certification trainings and empowerment sessions to promote gender sensitivity in the society and inform wider audiences of women's issues; issuing education materials; publishing bulletins, journals and books on gender and women's studies; keeping track of worldwide efforts on women's issues to promote these within Turkey; and collaborating with national and international organizations to build communication and collaboration networks on gender and women's studies.

The bricks of the Forum were laid with the Purple Certificate Program

The roots of the Forum were established long before the Forum became an entity. The most noteworthy part of the Forum's history is the Purple Certificate Program that dates back a decade. The Purple Certificate Program is being implemented by the Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Center of Excellence with the support of the Sabancı Foundation as part of the UN Joint Program to Promote and Protect Human Rights of Women and Girls ("UNJP") since 2007 to educate teachers in gender equality.  The activities reached out to nearly 3000 teachers nationwide, and 345 teachers completed a one-week gender equality training.

This year, the Purple Certificate Program will expand its scope to include students of teaching faculties in Istanbul universities. The Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Forum and Istanbul Bilgi University Sociology and Teaching Studies Center (SEÇBİR) start a Certificate Program to promote gender equality. Supported by the Sabancı Foundation, the program will be delivered by academics and experts on a variety of subjects including sociology, psychology, law, social policy, literature and media.