25 August 2026
Res. Asst. Merve Karadaban Served as a Jury Member at the “Rethinking Urban Justice” Symposium
Res. Asst. Merve Karadaban from Istanbul Gelişim University (IGU), Faculty of Fine Arts (FFA), Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design, served as a jury member in the Student Utopia Competition organized as part of the “Rethinking Urban Justice: Hope, Utopia and Co-existence Symposium III”. Projects developed by students from different disciplines for more just, inclusive, and sustainable cities were evaluated within the scope of the competition.
Organized by the Faculty of Health Sciences at Istanbul Gelişim University (IGU), the “Rethinking Urban Justice: Hope, Utopia and Co-existence Symposium III” was held on May 15, 2026, at the Istanbul Gelişim University Mehmet Akif Ersoy Conference Hall. The event brought together academics, students, experts, and local government representatives to address the concepts of city, justice, hope, utopia, and co-existence through an interdisciplinary approach.
Res. Asst. Merve Karadaban from the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at IGU Faculty of Fine Arts served on the evaluation jury of the Student Utopia Competition held within the framework of the symposium. Drawing on her academic background in urban and spatial studies, Karadaban evaluated the student projects across the axes of urban justice, spatial inclusiveness, co-existence, sustainability, and social benefit.
Students presented their utopias for the cities of the future
The preparation phase of the competition process began on April 7, 2026, with the Student Utopia Workshop held at the Avcılar Municipality Applied Solution and Innovation Center in collaboration with Istanbul Gelişim University and Avcılar Municipality. During the workshop, students developed project ideas by discussing topics such as right to the city, justice, health, accessibility, and co-existence from the perspectives of various disciplines.
In the competition segment of the symposium, students from the Faculty of Health Sciences—representing the departments of Nutrition and Dietetics, Child Development, Speech and Language Therapy, Ergotherapy, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nursing, Audiology, Perfusion, Health Management, and Social Work—presented their utopia designs to the jury and attendees. The presentations highlighted creative and solution-driven approaches to building more just, healthy, accessible, and sustainable cities.
Res. Asst. Merve Karadaban from the Department of Interior Architecture and Environmental Design at IGU Faculty of Fine Arts served on the evaluation jury of the Student Utopia Competition held within the framework of the symposium. Drawing on her academic background in urban and spatial studies, Karadaban evaluated the student projects across the axes of urban justice, spatial inclusiveness, co-existence, sustainability, and social benefit.
Students presented their utopias for the cities of the future
The preparation phase of the competition process began on April 7, 2026, with the Student Utopia Workshop held at the Avcılar Municipality Applied Solution and Innovation Center in collaboration with Istanbul Gelişim University and Avcılar Municipality. During the workshop, students developed project ideas by discussing topics such as right to the city, justice, health, accessibility, and co-existence from the perspectives of various disciplines.
In the competition segment of the symposium, students from the Faculty of Health Sciences—representing the departments of Nutrition and Dietetics, Child Development, Speech and Language Therapy, Ergotherapy, Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Nursing, Audiology, Perfusion, Health Management, and Social Work—presented their utopia designs to the jury and attendees. The presentations highlighted creative and solution-driven approaches to building more just, healthy, accessible, and sustainable cities.