Team
Dr. Ayse Ozbil Torun
Associate Professor
Architecture and Built Environment, Northumbria University
Email: ayse.torun@northumbria.ac.uk
Ayse’s research interests mainly lie in the fields of spatial modeling and urban form analysis using space syntax techniques. Her work is directed towards pedestrian-friendly neighborhood and street design strategies enhancing active transportation in cities. Her recent studies have focused on walkability, obesity and children’s physical activity, transit-oriented planning, and design of sustainable cities. She has been a member of the editorial board of Urban Design International since 2012, and her work has been published nationally and internationally.
Dr. Yucel Can Severcan
Associate Professor
City and Regional Planning, Middle East Technical University
Email: yucelcan@metu.edu.tr
Yucel’s research focuses on various topics including sustainable urban design and urban regeneration, healthy community development, and participatory planning and design. His most recent articles were published in Children's Geographies, Urban Studies, and Journal of Architectural and Planning Journal. He has been the PI and coordinator of five participatory planning and design projects, four of which were about children's perception and use of their environment and three of which were funded by the EU.
Prof. Greta Defeyter
Professor
Architecture and Built Environment, Northumbria University
Email: greta.defeyter@northumbria.ac.uk
Greta is Professor of Developmental Psychology at Northumbria University, UK, and is the Director of the ‘Healthy Living’ Lab at Northumbria University. She has published numerous papers on children and young people’s wellbeing. In 2015, she was made a Fellow of the British Psychological Society in recognition of her co-produced research with children living in areas of social and economic deprivation. More recently, she joined a prestigious line up of award winners, including Jamie Oliver, by winning a Food Heroes Award from Sustain for her co-produced research with young people. In 2020 she was recognised, by the Big Issue, as one of the top 100 change makers for her research and policy impact on food poverty in the UK.
Ilayda Zelal Akin
Master’s Student, Research Assistant
City and Regional Planning, Middle East Technical University
Email: zelal.akin@metu.edu.tr
Zelal holds a Bachelor’s degree in City and Regional Planning from METU, and she is currently studying towards an MSc degree program in Urban Design in the Department of City and Regional Planning, METU.
Heval Bingol
Master’s Student, Research Assistant
City and Regional Planning, Middle East Technical University
Email: heval.bingol@metu.edu.tr
Heval holds a Bachelor’s degree in City and Regional Planning from METU, and she is currently studying towards an MSc degree program in Urban Design in the Department of City and Regional Planning, METU.
Derya Karadak
Bachelor's Student, Research Assistant
City and Regional Planning, Middle East Technical University
Email: derya.karadak@metu.edu.tr
Derya is a senior at the Department of City and Regional Planning, METU, with an interest in urban design. She is a member of “Active Children by Design” research group working as a research staff.
Ezgi Turgut
Bachelor's Student, Research Staff
City and Regional Planning, Middle East Technical University
Email: ezgi.turgut@metu.edu.tr
Ezgi is a senior student at the department of City and Regional Planning, METU and she graduated from minor program in Geographical Information Systems and Remote Sensing at METU. She is a member of “Active Children by Design” research group as a research staff and works as a volunteer GIS Assistant at the Nature Conservation Center.
Berk Gok
Bachelor's Student, Research Staff
City and Regional Planning, Middle East Technical University
Email: berk.gok@metu.edu.tr
Berk graduated from Department of City and Regional Planning, METU in 2020, and he is currently a Master student in the City Planning Master Program, METU. He is a member of “Active Children by Design” research group as a research staff and works as a volunteer GIS Assistant at the Nature Conservation Center.
