Podcasts about middle east technical university

Send us a textDr. Ilke Demir, Ph.D ( https://ilkedemir.weebly.com/ ) works at the intersection of computer vision and machine learning and her research focuses on generative models for digitizing the real world, deep fake detection and generation techniques, analysis and synthesis approaches in geospatial machine learning, and computational geometry for synthesis and fabrication ( https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=6837MdMAAAAJ&hl=en ).Most recently Dr. Demir served as a Senior Staff Research Scientist at Intel Corporation, leading Intel's Trusted Media team.  She established the research foundations of the world's largest volumetric capture studio at Intel, bridging the gap between the creative process and AI approaches.Prior to joining Intel, Dr. Demir had startup experience at DeepScale, working on perception for autonomous vehicles (with a successful acquisition by Tesla), and she was also a visiting scholar at UCLA.Dr. Demir earned her Ph.D. and M.S. in Computer Science from Purdue University advised by Prof. Daniel Aliaga, and her B.S. in Computer Engineering from Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Türkiye with a minor in Electrical Engineering. Afterwards, Dr. Demir joined Facebook as a Postdoctoral Research Scientist working with Prof. Ramesh Raskar from MIT, where their team developed the breakthrough innovation on generative street addresses. Her research further included deep learning approaches for human behavior understanding in next generation virtual reality headsets, geospatial machine learning for map creation, and 3D reconstruction at scale.At the intersection of art and science, Dr. Demir also contributed to several animated feature and VR/AR short films in Pixar Animation Studios and Intel Studios, respectively.In addition to her publications in top-tier venues, Dr. Demir has organized workshops, competitions, and courses in deep learning, computer vision, and graphics such as DeepGlobe, SkelNetOn, WiCV, SUMO, DLGC, EarthVision, and OpenEDS, to name a few. Dr. Demir received numerous awards and honors such as Jack Dangermond Award, Bilsland Dissertation Fellowship, and IEEE Industry Distinguished Lecturer, in addition to her best paper/poster/reviewer awards. Her scientific articles received significant attention from researchers and media outlets around the world, such as The Independent, VentureBeat, MIT Tech Review, and Liberation. She has been invited to present over 120 talks and panels worldwide, on the wide range of topics that her work spans. Dr. Demir has been actively involved in women in science organisms, always being an advocate for women and underrepresented minorities. #IlkeDemir #ComputerVision #MachineLearning #DeepFakes #ComputerScience #ComputerEngineering #Intel #Meta #Facebook #3DVision #ComputationalGeometry #GenerativeModels #RemoteSensing #DeepLearning #PixarAnimationStudios #Purdue #MiddleEastTechnicalUniversity #Türkiye #GazeTracking #SyntheticFaceDetection #PatternRecognition #MyBodyMyChoice #ProgressPotentialAndPossibilities #IraPastor #Podcast #Podcaster #ViralPodcast #STEM #Innovation #Technology #Science #ResearchSupport the show

Syria's interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa visited Ankara on Tuesday, on the heels of a visit to Saudi Arabia – a move that is being interpreted as a balancing act by Sharaa between the two regional powers, amidst growing competition for influence over Syria. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan did not hold back on the hospitality when hosting Sharaa, sending one of his presidential jets to fly the new Syrian leader and his large delegation to Ankara.The Turkish president was keen too to underline the significance of the meeting. "I see today's historic visit as the beginning of a period of permanent friendship and cooperation between our countries," he declared in a joint press statement with the Syrian leader.Erdogan also announced that Turkey's institutions and ministries are coordinating efforts to help with Syria's reconstruction.Sharaa was quick to praise this assistance, saying: "The significant support is still tangible through Turkey's ongoing efforts to ensure the success of the current leadership in Syria politically and economically, ensuring the independence, unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Syria."Macron calls Syrian leader to discuss transition, terrorism, sanctionsTies with TurkeyThe new Syrian leader developed close ties with Ankara during the years of fighting the Assad regime. The Turkish military protected the Idlib enclave where Sharaa was based, while Turkey offered refuge to many Syrians fleeing the fighting. "Ankara will definitely be viewed as a positive outside contributor by these new Syrian rulers because of the fact that we here in Turkey are hosting over 5 million Syrians and that, also, Turkey helped protect Idlib," said Aydin Selcen, a former senior Turkish diplomat who served in the region, now an analyst for the independent Turkish news outlet Medyascope.However, Selcen cautions that Ankara should not overestimate its influence when it comes to dictating policy for its Syrian neighbour. "The centre of this Syrian endeavour, of this restructuring or this fresh beginning, will be Damascus. It will not be Doha, it will not be Ankara, it will not be Geneva," he said.Erdogan hails Syria leader's 'strong commitment' to fighting terror'Islamic background'While the Syrian and Turkish leaders meeting in Ankara lasted more than three hours and was followed by an exchange of warm words, no concrete announcements came out of it – only vague commitments to cooperation in security and development.And despite Ankara's strong support for the Syrian rebels, Syria's new leader chose to make his first overseas visit as president to Saudi Arabia, one of Turkey's main rivals in the region.International relations professor Huseyin Bagci of Ankara's Middle East Technical University says the Syrian president is sending a message to Ankara."He [Sharaa] is an Arab nationalist with an Islamic background, not a Turkish one," said Bagci. "And that's why many people expect that in the long run, there will be different opinions on certain regional issues [with Turkey]."For several years, Saudi and Turkish leaders have been engaged in a competition for influence among Sunni Arab countries. But Ankara is at a disadvantage, with its economy in crisis. Unlike oil-rich Saudi Arabia and the Gulf States, it has little cash to offer to pay for Syria's rebuilding.'Realpolitik'Sharaa also appears ready to broaden his horizons further as he seeks to rebuild his country. "He has turned out to be such a realpolitik buff. He's turning and negotiating with almost everyone, including the Russians," observed Sezin Oney, an international relations commentator for Turkey's Politikyol news outlet."They [Syria] will also be approaching Turkey with their own interests, and whether they're aligned with Turkey's interests is another question," she added.Turkey's ongoing military presence in Syria as part of its war against a Kurdish insurgency by the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) could become a point of tension between Ankara and Syria's new rulers, experts predict.Iran too – like Russia, also a key backer of the ousted Assad regime – is now seeking to reposition itself to reach out to the new Syrian regime.Russia's interest in Syria"There are some pragmatic approaches," said professor of international relations Bilgehan Alagoz, an Iran expert at Istanbul's Marmara University. "The Iranian authorities have already started to label Assad as a person who didn't act in accordance with Iran in order to have some new approach towards the new system in Syria."Ankara still has cards to play with Syria, being well positioned to offer support in helping to rebuild the country with its expertise in construction, energy and security. But experts warn Turkey faces a battle for influence in Damascus, as Syria seeks to widen its opportunities.

With Iran suffering setbacks in Syria and Lebanon, regional rivals Azerbaijan and Turkey are stepping up efforts to secure a strategic goal through the Zangezur corridor project that Tehran had been blocking.  Turkish and Azerbaijani foreign ministers met in January in both Baku and Istanbul as part of efforts to deepen economic and trade cooperation.Key to those goals is the plan to create a route dubbed the Zangezur corridor that would link Azerbaijan to the autonomous region of Nakhchivan bordering Turkey.The corridor, which would go through Armenian territory, is part of a Turkish-Azerbaijani vision to develop a trade route between China and Europe.Iran strongly opposes the proposed 40-km corridor because, observers say, it fears it would cut a vital route it uses to circumvent sanctions.Iran's ally Armenia also opposes the corridor as an imposition on its territory. But with Iran weakened by setbacks in Syria and Lebanon, Baku and Ankara see an opportunity to push ahead."A weaker Iran is a huge opportunity for Turkey in the Caucasus," said Atilla Yesilada, a Turkey analyst for GlobalSource Partners."The only reason why Armenia resists the establishment of the Zangezur corridor is because of promises by Iran to defend it militarily."But with Iran coming under pressure from the administration of US President Donald Trump, Azerbaijan or Turkey might be less likely to take Iran's threats seriously, argues Yesilada.Iran softens its stanceHowever, given Iran's regional setbacks and the threat of increased pressure from Washington, Tehran needs friends in the region."It would be good for Iran if the Zangezur corridor is opened. It then has much better and closer relations with Turkey and Azerbaijan," argues Huseyin Bagci, a professor of international relations at Ankara's Middle East Technical University.It will depends on "whether they want two countries which are not friendly or two friendly countries," Bagci adds.In January, Iran appeared to soften its opposition, with one senior Iranian diplomat declaring opposition to the Zangezor corridor no longer a priority. Tehran's apparent softening coincides with its deepening ties with Moscow. Since Turkey and Azerbaijan don't enforce many sanctions against Russia, Moscow supports the Zangezor corridor as a way to bypass international sanctions by creating new trade routes through countries that don't impose them.US position unclear "Russia is basically rebuilding its whole logistical network and this corridor is a potentially important part of this new network from north to south," says Tatiana Mitrova, a research fellow at the Center on Global Energy Policy at New York's Columbia University. "Therefore, Russia is saying: 'It matters. It's part of a new plan of diversification of our export and import routes.'"US and Armenia launched joint military exercises last year in a sign of their closer ties. Analysts suggest that Washington has, until now, contained Turkey and Azerbaijan's intentions.However, the new Trump administration has not yet positioned itself on the corridor project. Armenian political consultant Eric Hacopian warns Baku and Ankara could try to exploit the uncertainty.   "Trump creates chaos, and chaos is an opportunity for bad actors to do things that they normally wouldn't do when there's no one on the watch," said Hacopian.Turkey's Erdogan sees new Trump presidency as opportunityIn 2023, Azerbaijan's army, supported by Turkey, defeated Armenian-backed forces over the disputed Nagorno Karabakh enclave.A final peace agreement has yet to be secured. But if Ankara focuses its efforts on reviving the stalled Azerbaijani-Armenian peace talks, then diplomatic gains could outweigh the economic benefits of the Zangezur corridor, says Asli Aydintasbas of the Washington-based Brookings Institution says . "Turkey can actually make itself a very significant partner (with Trump)," Aydintasbas argued, citing the Armenian-Azerbaijan peace deal.If Turkey positions itself on that issue "it would be very interesting to President Trump, who wants to position himself as an international peacemaker," said Aydintasbas. Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan is seeking to foster close ties with Trump. At the same time, the Turkish leader is committed to supporting his Azerbaijani counterpart Ilham Aliyev in their shared goal of turning their countries into a bridge between Europe and China.

① Meeting with India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called on China and India to work in the same direction and commit to mutual understanding. Why are relations between the two countries warming? (00:53)② US President Donald Trump had threatened tariffs and sanctions to punish Colombia for earlier refusing to accept US military aircraft carrying deported migrants. What could be the implications of Trump's threat? (13:44)③ Why has China's DeepSeek AI app surpassed ChatGPT and topped the Apple App Store's free downloads in the US and China? (25:28)④ We take a look at a three-way partnership between a Chinese private aerospace company, Zhejiang University and Turkiye's Middle East Technical University in preparing to launch two AI-controlled lunar exploration robots alongside the Chang'e-8 mission in 2028. (35:07)⑤ Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has won another term in office. What challenges might he face in his next term? (44:38)

With Donald Trump returning to the White House on Monday, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan sees a chance to rekindle what he calls his "close working relationship" with the incoming US leader. But a Trump presidency could bring risks as well as opportunities for Erdogan. Erdogan was quick to congratulate Trump on his election victory, making clear his desire to work with him again."Donald Trump is a man who acts with his instincts, and Erdogan is too," explains Huseyin Bagci, a professor of international relations with Ankara's Middle East Technical University. "They are not intellectuals as we used to have, big political leaders after World War II. They are tradespeople. They are very pragmatic ones, and they are political animals. In this sense, they like transactional policies, not value-based policies."Syria a key focusErdogan's top priority is expected to be securing the withdrawal of US forces from Syria, where they support the Kurdish militia YPG in the fight against the Islamic State.Ankara views the YPG as a terrorist group linked to the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has waged an insurgency in Turkey for decades.During his first presidency, Trump promised to pull US forces out of Syria, though this move faced strong resistance from American officials.Sezin Oney, a commentator with Turkey's independent Politikyol news portal, said new challenges in Syria make an early withdrawal unlikely."Not to have the ISIS resurgence again or this HTS presenting a threat to the United States, the Trump administration would be interested in protecting the YPG and the Kurds, their alliance with the Kurds," said Oney."We already have the (US) vice president, JD Vance, pointing out the ISIS resurgence."Turkey steps up military action against Kurds in Syria as power shiftsIsrael and IranThe ceasefire between Hamas and Israel could ease another potential point of tension between Erdogan and Trump, as Erdogan has been a strong supporter of Hamas.Meanwhile, both Ankara and Washington share concerns over Iran's regional influence, which could encourage cooperation between the two leaders."Trump administration is coming in with a desire to stabilise relations with Turkey," said Asli Aydintasbas, an analyst with the Brookings Institution."We are likely to see more and more of a personal rapport, personal relationship, which had been missing during the Biden administration," she added. "President Erdogan and President Trump will get along famously. But it does not mean Turkey gets all of its policy options."Success of rebel groups in Syria advances Turkish agendaFighter jets and UkraineErdogan is also hoping the Trump administration will lift a Congressional embargo on advanced fighter jet sales. Experts suggest Turkey could play a key role in any Trump-led efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in the Ukraine war, given Erdogan's ties with both Russia and Ukraine."If Trump is pushing for a ceasefire in Ukraine between Russia and Ukraine, in this case Turkey could be very helpful as a potential mediator," said Ozgur Unluhisarcikli, head of the German Marshall Fund's Ankara office.But Unluhisarcikli warned of potential challenges."What happens in Syria could be a test for the US-Turkey relationship very early on. Turkey is actually preparing for a new intervention in northeast Syria against what Turkey sees as a terrorist organisation, and what the United States sees as a partner on the ground."Economic risksTrump's previous presidency saw tensions with Erdogan peak after Trump threatened to destroy Turkey's economy over its plans to attack US-backed Syrian Kurdish forces. This move triggered a sharp drop in the Turkish lira.With Turkey's economy now weaker than before, analysts say Erdogan will need to proceed cautiously in his dealings with the new Trump administration.

The capture of Syria's major cities by rebel groups Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and the Syrian National Army, fighting against the forces of President Bashar al-Assad, offers Turkey the opportunity to achieve its strategic goals in the country. The lightning offensive of Islamist militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and the Turkish-backed Syrian National Army, which has seen the rebels capture several major Syrian cities in less than two weeks, gives Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan leverage over his Syrian counterpart President Bashar al-Assad."Turkey can easily stop both [rebel] entities and start a process. Turkey does have this strength, and Assad is well aware of it," said Murat Aslan of the SETA Foundation for Political, Economic and Social Research, a Turkish pro-government think tank. Until now, Assad has rejected Erdogan's overtures for dialogue to end the civil war peacefully. "The Turkish intention politically is not to escalate in Syria [but to] start a political, diplomatic engagement with the Assad regime, and come to the terms of a normal state, and that all Syrians safely return to their homes," Aslan noted.Syrian rebels surround Hama 'from three sides', monitor saysSyrian refugees an issueErdogan is seeking to return many of the estimated 4 million Syrian refugees living in Turkey, amid growing public unease over their presence in the country."According to the opinion polls here, yes, the Syrian refugees [are] an issue. For any government, it would be a wonderful win to see these Syrians going back to Syria of their own will," explained Aydin Selcen, a former senior Turkish diplomat who served in the region and is now a foreign policy analyst for Turkey's Medyascope news outlet.However, Moscow has a lot to lose in Syria, as a key military backer of Assad, who in turn has granted Russia use of a key Syrian naval base. "For Moscow, it's of crucial importance that the personality of Assad remains in power," said Zaur Gasimov, a professor of history and a Russia specialist at the University of Bonn.Syria rebel leader says goal is to overthrow AssadGasimov warns that Turkey could be facing another humanitarian crisis. "Russia would definitely use the military force of its aerospace forces, that can cause a huge number of casualties among civilians. Which means a new wave of migrants towards Turkish eastern Anatolia."With more than a million Syrian refugees camped just across the Turkish border in the rebel-controlled Syrian Idlib province, analysts warn a new exodus into Turkey is a red line for Ankara."If they refresh their attacks on the captured areas by indiscriminate targeting... well [we can] expect further escalations in the region," warned Aslan of the pro-government SETA think tank. "And for sure there is a line that Turkey will not remain as it is, and if there is a development directly threatening the interests or security of Turkey, then Turkey will intervene."Pushing back the YPGWith the Syrian rebel offensive also making territorial gains against the US-backed Kurdish militant group, the YPG, Ankara is poised to secure another strategic goal in Syria. Ankara accuses the YPG of having ties to the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), which is fighting the Turkish state.France joins Germany, US and Britain in call for de-escalation in Syria"Without putting up a fight, and without getting directly involved, they [Ankara] have achieved one of their goals – for YPG to pull back from the Turkish frontier towards the south," explained Selcen. "I think Ankara now is closer to that goal."With Syrian rebel successes appearing to advance Ankara's goals in Syria, some analysts are urging caution, given the rebels' links to radical Islamist groups. "The crashing down of the Assad regime is not in the interest of Turkey, because there will be chaos," warned international relations professor Huseyin Bagci, of Ankara's Middle East Technical University."Who is going to rule? What type of [governing] structure are we going to have?" he asked. "They are radicals, and another Daesh-style territory would not be in the interest of Turkey – in Turkish prisons, there are thousands of Daesh people."

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has used the United Nations General Assembly to criticise Israel and its Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. But as Erdogan tries to lead opposition to Israel, Turkey is finding itself increasingly sidelined in the region. At the UN, Erdogan again compared Israel to Hitler, calling for an "international alliance of humanity" to stop Israel as it did Hitler 70 years ago. However, such fiery rhetoric is finding a shrinking audience."It's more conveying a message to their own base", said Sezin Oney of the Turkish news portal Politikyol. "There isn't an audience that really sees Turkey or Erdogan as the vanguard of Palestine rights anymore. On the contrary, that ship sailed long ago."Erdogan attempted to boost his image as a powerful regional player by meeting with the Lebanese and Iraqi Prime Ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. But Ankara is increasingly finding itself sidelined as a regional diplomatic player."Ankara's pro-Hamas approach has only marginalised Turkey in the international arena," said international relations expert Selin Nasi of the London School of Economics. "So we see Egypt and Qatar receiving credits for their roles as mediators. And Turkey is locked out of international diplomatic efforts."Since Hamas's 7 October attack on Israel and Israel's subsequent Gaza campaign, Ankara has tried to position itself among international mediating efforts to end the fighting, given its close contacts with Hamas.Turkish youth finds common cause in protests against trade with IsraelMediation efforts"Turkey was asked by the United States to speak with Hamas people", said international relations expert Soli Ozel at Vienna's Institute for Human Studies.However, Ozel says the assassination of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh in Iran denied Erdogan his diplomatic trump card."One big blow to Turkey has been the murder of Haniyeh, with which Turkey did have very close relations. For all I know, he may even have had a Turkish passport", said Ozel."And I really don't think Turkey has any relations or contacts with Yahya Sinwar, who is officially and effectively the leader of Hamas".With Israel already alienated by Erdogan's fiery rhetoric along with Turkey imposing an Israeli trade embargo, Gallia Lindenstrauss of Tel Aviv's National Security Studies says Turkey has nothing to offer.Turkey flexes naval muscles as neighbours fear escalating arms race"There are two main mediators in this conflict: Egypt and Qatar. They're the two actors that have leverage over Hamas. Turkey, despite its very open support of Hamas, has very little leverage on Hamas's decisions," said Lindenstrauss."So Turkey is not effective – it doesn't have the money to push Hamas in a certain direction, it doesn't have the political leverage over Hamas to push it in the right direction. In practice ...Turkey is not very efficient."So I don't think it's a mistake that Turkey is not part of this [mediation] process."Ankara has been quick to point out that existing mediation efforts between Hamas and Israel have achieved little, with the conflict now spreading to Lebanon.However, some experts claim Ankara's diplomatic sidelining has a broader message of Arab countries pushing back against Turkey's involvement in the region."None of the Arab countries would like to get Turkey involved in this process," said international relations expert Huseyin Bagci, of Ankara's Middle East Technical University."Turkey could be considered by their views as the enemy of Israel, but it is artificial. The Middle East Arab-Israeli conflict since 1948 has been an Arab-Israeli conflict, not a Turkish-Israeli conflict."Turkey and Egypt bury the hatchet with a dozen new bilateral dealsRegional ambitionsFor more than a decade, Erdogan has sought to project Turkey's influence across the Middle East, often referring to the years of Ottoman rule as the halcyon days of peace and tranquillity.But the latest Middle East war has ended such dreams, analyst Ozel said."The Turkish government thought that they could dominate the Middle East. They played the game of hegemony seeking, and they lost it," Ozel explained."When they lost it, Turkey found itself way behind [the position] it had prior to 2011 when their grandiose scheme of creating a region which would be dominated by Turkey began."As the Israel-Hamas war threatens to escalate across the region, Erdogan's rhetoric against Israel will likely continue. But analysts warn that outside of the leader's conservative base at home, few others in the region will be receptive.

Fears are rising that Azerbaijan and Armenia are entering an arms race, which could undermine US-backed peace talks and trigger a new conflict. Azerbaijan showcased its military might in a grand parade in Baku last year to celebrate its victory in recapturing the Nagorno-Karabakh enclave from Armenian-backed forces.Azerbaijan, buoyed by its oil wealth, is continuing its aggressive rearmament programme, heavily relying on Turkey for military support.“The Turkish defence industry and Turkish military equipment will be providing further arms to protect Azerbaijan," predicts Huseyin Bagci, a professor of international relations at Ankara's Middle East Technical University.”However, Bagci noted that Azerbaijan is also turning to another ally for advanced weaponry.“Israel is much better in this respect. Azerbaijan buys the highest technology from Israel, and Israel is providing it.”Turkish and Israeli arms played a crucial role in Azerbaijan's recent military successes, overwhelming Armenian-backed forces that relied on outdated Russian equipment.Armenia's responseIn response to its loss of Nagorno-Karabakh, Armenia is also ramping up its military capabilities, with France leading the supply of new, sophisticated weaponry.Paris argues that this support helps Armenia shift its focus away from Russian reliance and towards Western alliances.Yerevan maintains that its rearmament is purely for self-defence.“Right now, there is no military parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan," says Eric Hacopian, a political consultant in Armenia."The goal is to create deterrents to make any aggression against Armenia more costly. In the medium term, we aim for equality, and in the long term, superiority.”Stalled peace talksThe rearmament comes amid stalled peace talks, with Baku concerned that Yerevan's military buildup might indicate ambitions to retake Nagorno Karabakh.“The truth is our territory was under occupation, so we worry that in five, 10 years, Armenia will rearm its military, strengthen military capacities, and will come back,” warned Farid Shafiyev, chairman of the Baku-based Centre of Analysis of International Relations.Yerevan maintains that its rearmament is purely for self-defence.“Right now, there is no military parity between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The goal is to create deterrents in the short run to make any aggression against Armenia far more costly than it has been in the past,” says Eric Hacopian, a political consultant in Armenia.“Two is to create equality in the middle term and in the long term superiority. You can't have any other goal when your country is constantly under threat, or attack is the only way to respond to it."Hacopian also notes: “The moment Armenia can defend itself, then the game is up because Ilham Aliyev is not going to risk a war that he is not guaranteed to win; Armenia rearming means he is not guaranteed to win a war which he means he won't launch one.”However, Hacopian acknowledges that the coming year will be dangerous for the region as Yerevan seeks to close the military gap with Azerbaijan."Next year is the year of living dangerously because next year is the last year that they can do a major aggression against Armenia without having to face the consequences because the gap is closing. Once it closes, the game will be up,” he says.Ongoing tensionsEarlier this month, Armenian and Azerbaijani forces exchanged fire in a border skirmish, underscoring the ongoing tensions between the two nations.Both Baku and Yerevan insist their military enhancements are for defensive purposes.However, Bagci warns that the arms race is turning the region into a potential flashpoint.“Armenia and Azerbaijan are like two children; they play with fire, and the house is burning, and everybody is asking the big powers why the house is burning and who has done it. They have done it together,” he says.Despite their rearmament, both Armenia and Azerbaijan claim to remain committed to the US-backed peace process.Analysts, however, warn that the escalating arms race could deepen mutual suspicions and further complicate efforts to achieve lasting peace.

Aylin Uysal shares her story of leading enterprise design, the reality of being an exec and a parent, and how patience and perseverance have served her well. Highlights include: Why is it important to have a good grasp of the details as a senior design leader? How do you know when you haven't got the work-parent balance quite right? What changed at Oracle to enable the culture to significantly support design? How do you work across Oracle to ensure that users' experience great design? Why can't business apps be as simple and delightful as consumer apps? ====== Who is Aylin Uysal? Currently the VP of User Experience for Cloud Applications at Oracle, Aylin is at the forefront of design at one of the tech industry's most established companies, helping its customers to see data in new ways, discover insights and unlock endless possibilities. During over two decades at Oracle Aylin has held several senior leadership roles, serving previously as a Senior Director of User Experience, a Director of Applications User Experience, and as a Senior Manager of HCM User Experience. Before her long-standing tenure at Oracle, Aylin was a valued member of the design team at SAP, where she was a lead designer. She also made her mark as a senior designer at Silicon Graphics, a legendary Silicon Valley icon. Originally from Turkey, Aylin graduated from Middle East Technical University with a Bachelor's in Industrial Design. She further honed her craft, obtaining a Master of Fine Arts from San Francisco's Academy of Art University. Aylin's influence is not just corporate; she's been celebrated as one of the top thirty influential Turkish-American women by Turk of Amerika, she is a board member of the TUSIAD Silicon Valley Network, and is credited on 8 US patents.  ====== Find Aylin here: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aylinuysal/ X: https://twitter.com/aylinuysal ====== Liked what you heard and want to hear more? Subscribe and support the show by leaving a review on Apple Podcasts (or wherever you listen). Follow us on our other social channels for more great Brave UX content! YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TheSpaceInBetween/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-space-in-between/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thespaceinbetw__n/ ====== Hosted by Brendan Jarvis: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brendanjarvis/ Website: https://thespaceinbetween.co.nz/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/brendanjarvis/

Iranian president Ebrahim Raisi was laid to rest on Thursday, concluding days of funeral rites attended by thousands of mourners after his death in a helicopter crash last week. Experts say the tragedy may well increase tensions between Iran and Turkey, both vying for influence in the Middle East. Hundreds of thousands marched in Raisi's home town Mashhad to bid farewell ahead of his burial following processions in the cities of Tabriz, Qom, Tehran and Birjand.The 63-year-old died on Sunday alongside his Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian and six others after their helicopter went down in the country's mountainous northwest while returning from a dam inauguration on the border with Azerbaijan.A huge search and rescue operation was launched, involving help from the European Union, Russia and Turkey before the crash site was located early on Monday. Iran's President Raisi killed in helicopter crash, EU sends condolencesThe Iranian military said that a drone dispatched by Turkey had failed to locate the crash site "despite having night-vison equipment"."Finally, in the early hours of Monday morning, the exact spot of the helicopter crash was discovered by the ground rescue forces and Iranian drones of the armed forces," the military said in a statement carried by the official IRNA news agency.Meanwhile, on Thursday Iran's army said it has so far found no evidence of criminal activity related to the crash.Simmering tensionsThe high profile deaths come as rivalry continues to intensify between Iran and Turkey.  "For Turkey, the future of South Caucasia, Iraq and Syria are critical for its national security. And here in these areas of Turkey, all face Iranian opposition against Turkey's interests," explained Bilgehan Alagoz, a professor of international relations at Istanbul's Marmara University. For example, the Turkish military is poised to launch a major offensive in Iraq and Syria against the bases of the Kurdish rebel group PKK, which is fighting the Turkish state.Ankara has repeatedly criticised Tehran for failing to support its efforts, while  Iran is concerned about Turkey encroaching in areas it considers to be in its sphere of influence.  Turkey's Erdogan targets support against Kurdish rebels during Iraq tripThe death of Raisi has brought to the fore bitter memories of the killing by the United States four years ago of Qasim Soleimani, the veteran head of the international operations of Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corp."These two important personalities had been increasing Iranian influence in the Middle East very strongly," observed Professor of International Relations Huseyin Bagci at Ankara's Middle East Technical University. Bagci says Turkey's diplomatic advantage will no doubt be stronger as Iran heads into presidential elections on 28 June."I don't know if the new foreign minister and President will somehow get the same level of this influence because they will be mostly inexperienced people," he says.Internal fight for powerBagci suggests that a real internal fight for power will be problematic for the country because "Iranian society is much more dynamic and progressive than the regime."There is a partnership between the clerics and the military. But these two institutions are also fighting amongst each other."However, if Iran's Revolutionary Guard increases its power, experts warn that it could also result in a more assertive use of Iranian proxies controlled by the IRGC in Iraq and Syria, which are often as odds with Turkish interests.Alagoz says that the IRGC's view of the region is very problematic because the Iran proxies are a problem for the future of the Middle East."The overconfidence of the IRGC combined with political power will be a destabilising factor in the Middle East, and so Turkey will always be concerned by this issue."With Ankara and Tehran competing for power from Syria and Iraq to Sudan, analysts say the outcome of Iran's transition of power could have significant implications across the region and for Turkish-Iranian relations.

Fulden İbrahimhakkıoğlu, a passionate academic and punk musician, is our final guest on this first album of the show! Fulden, an associate professor of philosophy and gender and women's studies at Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, traces her musical voyage from Britney Spears' "Baby One More Time" and connecting with Courtney Love to finding her voice with Babes in Toyland while an undergrad in Istanbul and being inspired by Bratmobile while doing her PhD in Eugene, Oregon. We finish with Fulden's own voice in her bands, Literally Anything Before Bros and Emaskülatör. It's a riot grrrl, punk rock trip! Pull up a folding chair, grab a drink, find a spot in the mosh pit, and enjoy the conversation and community. Listen to Fulden's bands Literally Anything Before Bros and Emaskülatör Check out her academic work Connect with her at fuldenshedemon@gmail.comFollow your hosts David, Raza, and Carolina every week as they embark on an epic adventure to find the songs that are stuck to us like audible tattoos to tell the story of who we are and where we've been. It's a life story told through 6 songs.Liked songs from this life story? Check out A Life in Six Songs playlist on Apple Music and SpotifyFollow A Life in Six Songs on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and YouTubeSubscribe to our YouTube channel Are you a veteran who is struggling? I know it is tough and that you feel like you are the only who feels like this and no one will understand, but what you are experiencing is not unique and treatment can make a difference. Get help here:Call the Veterans Crisis Line: Dial 988, then press 1.Text the Veterans Crisis Line: Send your message to 838255 Visit the Veterans Crisis Line website to chat virtuallyPTSD Online QuestionnaireNational Center for PTSDSupport the showCopyright Disclaimer: Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, commentary, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit or educational use tips the balance in favor of fair use. The original work played in this video has been significantly transformed for the purpose of commentary, criticism, and education.

As the war in Israel and Gaza rages on with civilians caught in the violent crossfire, those watching from across the globe are asking what it must be like to live in such a conflict-ridden space. What does it mean to face possible violence every day? Sahar Qumsiyeh can offer a firsthand description of how routine activities were affected by such a fraught environment. Qumsiyeh is a Palestinian born in Jerusalem and raised Orthodox Christian outside of Bethlehem. She converted to The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints while receiving a master's degree from Brigham Young University in statistics. She earned a doctorate from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey in the same subject, taught at various universities in the West Bank and worked for four years as a data analyst with the United Nations Relief and Works Agency in Jerusalem. She currently teaches in the mathematics department at BYU-Idaho. She is also the author of “Peace for a Palestinian: One Woman's Story of Faith Amidst War in the Holy Land.” On this week's show, Qumsiyeh talks about the current crisis, the tensions that led to it, and what Americans, and particularly Latter-day Saints, should know when discussing it.

This episode of the JOINT podcast explores the obstacles faced by the European Union in achieving a cohesive foreign and security policy.Focusing on case studies from Syria, Libya, and the Horn of Africa (with a focus on Ethiopia and the Tigray War), Jesutimilehin O. Akamo (Research Coordinator at the Africa Peace and Security Programme of the Institute for Peace and Security Studies - IPSS at Addis Ababa University), Francesca Caruso (Research Fellow at the Istituto Affari Internazionali - IAI) and Özlem Tür (Professor of International Relations at the Middle East Technical University, Ankara), moderated by Caterina Bedin (Research Fellow at the Foundation for Strategic Research - FRS), discuss the impact of regional fragmentation, as to say when regional rules of engagement erode or collapse altogether.In these contexts, where the central authority is challenged and the competition between multiplying actors creates instability, what can be done to improve the EU's strategy in navigating the complexities?Join us as we delve into the intricate impact of regional fragmentation and discuss potential solutions for a more effective EU foreign and security policy.

Listen to a blog summary of an editorial perspective that was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14, entitled, “EGFR endocytosis: more than meets the eye.” _________________________________ EGFR (epidermal growth factor receptor) is a crucial protein that plays a significant role in various biological processes such as cell growth, proliferation, differentiation, and survival. Dysregulation of EGFR signaling has been implicated in the development and progression of numerous human cancers, including lung, breast and colon cancer. Therefore, EGFR has emerged as an attractive target for cancer therapy, and several drugs that target EGFR are in clinical use or under investigation. In recent years, endocytosis, the process by which cells internalize molecules and transport them into intracellular compartments, has emerged as a critical modulator of EGFR signaling. Endocytosis of EGFR not only regulates the duration and intensity of EGFR signaling but also modulates the signaling output. Dysregulation of EGFR endocytosis has been implicated in the development of drug resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies, highlighting the importance of understanding the mechanisms that regulate EGFR endocytosis. In a new editorial perspective, researchers Aysegul Sapmaz and Ayse Elif Erson-Bensan from Middle East Technical University provide an overview of the recent advances in our understanding of EGFR endocytosis and its role in EGFR signaling and cancer. The authors highlight the importance of the dynamic interplay between EGFR endocytosis and downstream signaling pathways and discuss how aberrant EGFR endocytosis contributes to drug resistance to EGFR-targeted therapies. On April 10, 2023, their editorial perspective was published in Oncotarget's Volume 14, entitled, “EGFR endocytosis: more than meets the eye.” “Here we review the role of the EGF-SNX3-EGFR axis in breast cancers with an extended discussion on deregulated EGFR endocytosis in cancer.” Full blog - https://www.oncotarget.org/2023/04/27/defining-the-complexity-of-egfr-endocytosis-in-cancer/ Paper DOI - https://doi.org/10.18632/oncotarget.28400 Correspondence to - Ayse Elif Erson-Bensan - erson@metu.edu.tr Sign up for free Altmetric alerts about this article - https://oncotarget.altmetric.com/details/email_updates?id=10.18632%2Foncotarget.28400 Subscribe for free publication alerts from Oncotarget - https://www.oncotarget.com/subscribe/ Keywords - EGFR, SNX3, USP32, endocytosis, cancer, breast cancer About Oncotarget Oncotarget is a primarily oncology-focused, peer-reviewed, open access journal. Papers are published continuously within yearly volumes in their final and complete form, and then quickly released to Pubmed. On September 15, 2022, Oncotarget was accepted again for indexing by MEDLINE. Oncotarget is now indexed by Medline/PubMed and PMC/PubMed. To learn more about Oncotarget, please visit https://www.oncotarget.com and connect with us: SoundCloud - https://soundcloud.com/oncotarget Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/Oncotarget/ Twitter - https://twitter.com/oncotarget Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/oncotargetjrnl/ YouTube - https://www.youtube.com/@OncotargetJournal LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/company/oncotarget Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/oncotarget/ Reddit - https://www.reddit.com/user/Oncotarget/ Media Contact MEDIA@IMPACTJOURNALS.COM 18009220957

This month we are delighted to be joined by Barış Can Sever who is Ph.D. candidate at the Department of Sociology at Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey. He is currently doing a 9-month research period at Global Development Studies at the University of Helsinki. Barış gives us an exciting insight into the agricultural geography in Turkey, including pressure from changing socio/ecological systems and the increasing dependency on imports. There have been dramatic changes in the country's rural areas over the last 40 years, including the entrance of transnational corporations into the rural spaces and significant rural out migration. When analyzing the migration patterns, Barış is looking at more than just linear stories, but rather he looks at the relationality and overarching forces that reproduce injustices and inequality, which channels people into certain patterns. He gives us insight into the extractivist logics at play and what human scale agriculture could look like in the context of building a functioning and sustainable Anatolian countryside. Interested to check out more of Barış' work? https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Baris-Can-Sever --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/exalt-initiative/message

Mustafa Bartın is a ‘first-generation Online Grocery Veteran' having spent more than 25 years in Retail and IT industries. He graduated from the Middle East Technical University, Department of Industrial Engineering. He started his professional life in Migros. He was the project manager of MİGROS Sanal Market (MİGROS online), the very first online grocery operation in Europe by October 1997. He left Migros in 2000 to move to the other side of the table, as a sales Professional in Hewlett-Packard. Between 2000 and 2009 he worked for Hewlett-Packard holding various different roles in Sales/Business Development/Consulting. He served as Country Manager of HP Consulting Business Unit before leaving HP. ‘Having never lost the passion for Retail', He rejoined Migros family in 2009 as the Chief Digital Officer of the company, ( responsible for IT, CRM and Migros Online ). Small note: Official title was never CDO. He was officially named as CIO by then. But years after, CDO position became very popular in enterprise World and he and his CEO recognised the fact that the role was literally a CDO role. He can be classified as a ‘professional convert from technology to business' triggered by his appointment to Chief ‘Alternative Sales Channels' Officer role in charge of MİGROS Online, Migros International and MİGROS Wholesale Operations. This role enabled his transition to business for his future assignments. From mid - 2018 till mid 2020, Bartın worked as Chief ‘Large Format & Online Retail' Officer ( another CXO role which nobody have heard anywhere else ) to realize company's Online-Offline Integration ( O2O ) mission. He has been Chief Retail Operations Officer since July 2020 in charge of 2700 stores and Online operations, which is one of the rare ‘reverse organisational takeovers' in the industry.He is married and has two children, having lost all of his hobbies after being a very late father at his 40's. He avoids using Instagram and the other social media tools ( other than LinkedIn ) even though he is a digital-native person and he is proud of this.He tries to divide his time between his family, business and his mountain-house near Istanbul. His magic Word in his everyday-life dictionary is ‘CANDOR' at all cost and at all frontiers. He always advices himself and his mentees ‘to listen other people just to understand' and to go into a ‘silent' mode whenever possible, even in very ‘noisy' environments. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Kamuoyu araştırmaları nedir? Kamuoyu araştırmaları hangi alanlarda kullanılır? İsmail Çağlar kamuoyu araştırmaları konusunda kavramsal bir çerçeve çizerken değerli Stratcom Talks dinleyicilerine kamuoyu araştırmalarının güvenilir olabilmesi hususunda görüşlerini aktarıyor. *1982 yılında dünyaya gelen Çağlar, Orta Doğu Teknik Üniversitesi Sosyoloji Bölümünden mezun oldu. Yüksek lisans ve doktora eğitimini Hollanda Leiden Üniversitesinde tamamladı. İstanbul Medeniyet Üniversitesi Siyaset Bilimi ve Kamu Yönetimi Bölümünde öğretim üyesi olarak görev yapmaktadır. What exactly are public opinion polls? Which fields make use of public opinion polls? While İsmail Çağlar provides a conceptual framework for public opinion polls, he also shares his thoughts with the Stratcom Talks audience on the credibility of public opinion polls. *Born in 1982, Çağlar graduated from Middle East Technical University's Department of Sociology. He earned his master's and PhD degrees from Leiden University in the Netherlands. He serves as a faculty member at Istanbul Medeniyet University's Department of Political Science and Public Administration.

"There is no bending your principles and values, you either stick by them or you don't.” Qaisar Shareef spent a 30 year career at Procter & Gamble - where he led the company's operations in Pakistan & Ukraine. As April marks the Holy Month of Ramadan in the Islamic world this year, we decided to revisit some past conversations with past Muslim guests that you may have missed — and even if you've already heard, are worth a fresh listen. Qaisar is the author of “When Tribesmen Came Calling: Building an Enduring American Business in Pakistan.” For Qaisar, Pakistan was actually an organization he helped build for the company many years prior when P&G was first starting business in the region. Qaisar is based in the Washington DC area where he is an advisory partner to Ward Howell International. He also teaches at George Washington University's Department of International Business. Qaisar serves on the board of HOPE USA, OPEN DC, and Transparent Hands, a crowdfunding platform helping cover the underprivileged's health care costs. He's also on the Executive Committee of US Pakistan Foundation, and is president of Montgomery County Muslim Council. Qaisar has a Bachelor of Science degree from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati. You'll enjoy this candid conversation from a Muslim American leader, about living and working out of your comfort zone. Qaisar shares not just his perspective of establishing a viable business in an emerging market, but also about returning home - multiple times - to make an impact on both sides of the world.

Ahmet Acar, Team Leader/Assistant Professor, CEO & Founder HistoCan Precision Medicine and Drug Resistance Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Middle East Technical University, Ankara, TURKEY speaks on "Developing quantitative experimental model systems to study drug resistance".

In accordance with the protocol signed between the Middle East Technical University and the Information Technologies and Communications Authority on 21 December 2018, all authorizations regarding the management and allocation of ".tr" domain names have been transferred from Nic.tr to the Authority. Nic.tr recently informed users that the transfer of management of ".tr" domain names to the Authority is expected to be completed by January 2022. Once the transfer is completed, the Nic.tr platform will be shut down completely and the ".tr" Network Information System will become operational shortly after. The activation of the System will bring about radical changes to several procedures, such as the allocation, transfer and renewal of ".tr" domain names. 

In accordance with the protocol signed by the Middle East Technical University and the Information Technologies and Communications Authority on 21 December 2018, all authorizations regarding the management and allocation of ".tr" domain names have been transferred from Nic.tr to the Authority. Nic.tr recently announced to its users that the transfer of management of ".tr" domain names to the Authority is expected to be completed by January 2022. Following the completion of the said transfer, the Nic.tr platform will be closed completely and the ".tr" Network Information System will become operational in the near future. Once the System period begins, there will be significant amendments to the currently used concepts, definitions and abbreviations related to ".tr" domain names. 

Ayse Asatekin is an associate professor and the Steve and Kristen Remondi Faculty Fellow in the Chemical and Biological Engineering Department at Tufts University. She is an entrepreneurial academic that keeps her home base in academia, but has been a founding scientist and inventor on two university spinouts in the water sector, the most recent of which, ZwitterCo, just raised $6M to continue commercializing their technology to use zwitterions to coat membranes that are resistant to fouling and can treat waste streams with fats, oils, grease and more. Ayse provided a ton of insight into conducting research with an eye towards scale and commercialization, including the importance of de-risking inventions at an early stage in anticipation of what investors and industry might ask. She spoke very candidly about her past experiences in spinning out technologies, what she has learned, what she would advise young inventors considering doing the same, the importance of the team, and much more. It's an encouraging episode for any listeners that want to invent for commercialization but still remain in academia, dedicated to research. Enjoy! More about Ayse Ayse Asatekin received her bachelor's degrees in chemical engineering and chemistry from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. She went on to receive her Ph.D. in chemical engineering through the Program in Polymer Science and Technology (PPST) at MIT. She pursued her post-doctoral work with Prof. Karen K. Gleason, also at MIT. She co-founded Clean Membranes, Inc., a start-up company that commercialized the polyacrylonitrile-based membrane technology that she began developing during her doctoral research, and worked as its Principal Scientist before joining the Tufts faculty in 2012. Novel membrane technologies developed in her lab are currently being commercialized at ZwitterCo, Inc., where she serves as the Senior Scientific Advisor. She is the recipient of the NSF CAREER Award, Massachusetts Clean Energy Council's Catalyst Award, and the Turkish American Scientists and Scholars Young Scholar Award. Her research interests are in developing novel membranes for clean water and energy-efficient separations. She is also interested in multi-functional membranes, controlling surface chemistry for biomedical applications, polymer science, and energy storage. To connect with Ayse, visit https://engineering.tufts.edu/chbe/people/faculty/ayse-asatekin More about ZwitterCo ZwitterCo is a national industrial membrane provider, delivering patented filtration technologies that are durable and fouling resistant. The company recently closed a $5.9m fundraising round led by Mann+Hummel Corporate Ventures, and has been recognized by the Department of Energy, the National Science Foundation, and the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center as a leader among clean water technologies. ZwitterCo's cutting-edge membrane chemistry, paired with the company's deep domain expertise, gives industrial processing facilities and their partners a pathway into the next generation of water treatment, precision separation, and resource recapture. For more information, visit https://www.zwitterco.com/. Join the Bountiful community today and realize your power to save the world. Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn if you haven't already.

Operations for the allocation of ".tr" domain names in Turkey have been managed by the Middle East Technical University since 1991, through the platform called Nic.tr. Pursuant to Article 35 of the Electronic Communication Law No. 5809, the Ministry of Communication and Substructure decided that the management and allocation of ".tr" domain names will be undertaken by the Information Technologies and Communication Authority.

This episode examines how Turkey, long viewed as a stalwart of NATO , has moved outside its previous focus on European security to play a wider regional role in its immediate neighbourhood and beyond, including across the Middle East and Africa. How will Turkey's broadening security horizon affect its position in NATO, its relations with the Transatlantic community and in particular the US? And how can the UK – long a close partner of Turkey – best develop its security and defence links with Ankara? Turkey has long been seen as a key part of an expanding European security space, both as a member of NATO and as an EU membership candidate. The souring of ties between Turkey and the EU, and growing instability in Turkey's southern and eastern neighbourhood has, however, seen Turkey moving beyond the European security framework, and even developing closer ties with Russia. In this episode, Professor Hüseyin Bağcı, President of the Foreign Policy Institute in Ankara and Professor of International Relations at the Middle East Technical University, and Dr. Ziya Meral, RUSI Senior Associate Fellow, discuss with Dr Neil Melvin, Director RUSI International Security Studies, the drivers behind Turkey's evolving approach to security and defence and look ahead to Turkey's future role within European security.

Earthquakes and volcanoes are among the various disasters dealt with on The Multi-Hazards Podcast. Here we revisit earlier interviews with Dr. Burçak Başbuğ Erkan and Dr. Gio Roberti. What should we all know about earthquakes and volcanoes, and, most of all, what is the human element? How have we mitigated, prepared for, responded to and recovered from these disasters? Join us for this exciting podcast! Study Guide here, click where it says "PDF" on the middle left: https://multi-hazards.libsyn.com/-earthquakes-and-volcanoes-disasters-and-human-response Topics include: * What's happening in Turkey now in terms of disaster management? * How does the nation prepare their structures for earthquakes? * How often does Turkey get earthquakes? How does this affect the level of preparedness? * What are the practices and training required to be prepared for earthquakes? * Should we worry about earthquakes? * What are some lessons learned from the 2011 Van earthquakes in Turkey? * How is Disaster Management interdisciplinary? * What's so significant about Mount Meager, a volcano with glacial ice covering it, outside of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada? * What happened to Mount Meager in 2010? * What kind of gases can injure or kill researchers who go to the top of these glaciated volcanoes? * How is climate change affecting glaciated volcanoes like Mount Meager? * Big volcanic eruptions can put ash in the atmosphere. How does this affect the skies and weather in nearby regions of the entire world? * What are the clusters of volcanoes along the West Coast of North America? * What is the "ring" with "plates" underneath around the Pacific Ocean and why is it important? * Which mountain poses a threat to Seattle, Washington State, United States? * Which famous volcano erupted on the US West Coast in May 1980? What happened? * How do landslides resulting from volcanoes pose a risk to communities? * Which famous volcanic eruption occurred in Italy during the Roman Empire and destroyed the city of Pompeii? * Why would it be more dangerous if this volcano erupted today? Dr. Burçak Başbuğ Erkan is Associate Professor in the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey. Source: https://stat.metu.edu.tr/en/burcak-basbug-erkan Dr. Gio Roberti is Section Head, Minerva Intelligence in Vancouver, Canada. Source: https://minervaintelligence.com/about-us/ Earthquakes: S01 E13 Earthquakes, Disaster Management Education & Protecting Communities: Interview with Dr. Burçak Başbuğ Erkan Link to original episode: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/multi-hazards/id/14935682 From original's 12:35 - 23:45 minutes mark (TOTAL 10:50) and original's 27:57 - 33:41 minutes mark (TOTAL 4:44) Volcanoes: S01 E02 Volcanoes, Landslides & Artificial Intelligence: Interview with Dr. Gio Roberti Link to original episode: https://directory.libsyn.com/episode/index/show/multi-hazards/id/14536736 From original's 11:20 to 28:39 minutes (TOTAL 17:19) Intro: "Ten Inch Spikes" by Jeremy Korpas on Youtube Audio Library Outro: "Nine Lives" by Unicorn Heads Episode Photos by Richter Scale Image by Tumisu from Pixabay and the rest are from Befunky Collages

Carlos, Scott, and Jenn are joined by Çınla Akdere, Assistant Professor of Economics at Middle East Technical University in Ankara (and soon-to-be co-host of Smith and Marx Walk into a Bar). Topics discussed include the relationship between economics and literature, the use of literature as a tool for teaching economics, and the economic significance of various of the works of Charles Dickens and Stephen King. Smith and Marx Walk into a Bar is supported by a grant from the History of Economics Society: http://historyofeconomics.org

Amazing topic and conversation! In this episode, Fatma Kocer talks with Justin Grammens about the fascinating work she and the team at Altair are by using Data Science and modeling to improve product design using structural optimization. Her quote that just being a Data Scientist, but needing to "know the domain" today, is spot on and very insightful. There are many other great quotes and insights from Fatma in this episode!Fatma has received a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, and an MSc and Ph.D. degrees from the University of Iowa in Structural Optimization. Currently, she works as the Vice President for Engineering Data Science at Altair. In this role, she and her team work on engineering data science strategy, development, and execution which includes investigating and applying the latest technologies in the field, providing feedback into Altair's software, and supporting customer projects. Fatma is also a huge source of inspiration for women in the areas of STEM and education. as she is one of the recipients of Crain’s 2019 Notable Women in STEM recognition.If you are interested in learning about how AI is being applied across multiple industries, be sure to join us at a future Applied AI Monthly meetup and help support us so we can make future Emerging Technologies North non-profit events! Emerging Technologies NorthAppliedAI MeetupResources and Topics Mentioned in this EpisodeAppliedAI Meetup in July 2020Structural OptimizationLoss FunctionComputer SimulationCrash SimulationsA Whole New Mind by Daniel PinkDifferential EquationCADCourseraEnjoy!Your host,Justin Grammen

https://westminster-institute.org/events/the-armenian-azerbaijani-crisis/ Svante E. Cornell is Director of the American Foreign Policy Council’s Central Asia-Caucasus Institute, and a co-founder of the Institute for Security and Development Policy in Stockholm. His main areas of expertise are security issues, state-building, and transnational crime in Southwest and Central Asia, with a specific focus on the Caucasus and Turkey. He is the Editor of the Central Asia-Caucasus Analyst, the Joint Center’s bi-weekly publication, and of the Joint Center’s Silk Road Papers series of occasional papers. Dr. Cornell is the author of four books, including Small Nations and Great Powers, the first comprehensive study of the post-Soviet conflicts in the Caucasus. His articles have appeared in numerous leading academic and journals such as World Politics, the Washington Quarterly, Current History, Journal of Democracy, Europe-Asia Studies, etc. His commentaries and op-eds appear occasionally in the U.S., European, and regional press. Cornell is Associate Professor (Docent) in Government at Uppsala University and Associate Research Professor at Johns Hopkins University’s Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies. Dr. Cornell holds a Ph.D. in Peace and Conflict Studies from Uppsala University, a B.Sc. with High Honor in International Relations from the Middle East Technical University in Ankara, Turkey, and an honorary doctoral degree from the Behmenyar Institute of Law and Philosophy of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan. He is a member of the Swedish Royal Academy of Military Science.

Emerita Professor at the Middle East Technical University, Ankara and holder of international positions & HR mandates, Yakin Ertürk speaks on #HerStories of her experience as a member of commissions of inquiry on human rights violations in two major conflict zones, viz the Republic of Kyrgyzstan and the Syrian Arab Republic; of being on the Peace Train to Beijing in 1995 and also on the need to carefully unpack the words mediation and negotiation.

    "There is no bending your principles and values, you either stick by them or you don't.” Qaisar Shareef spent a 30 year career at Procter & Gamble - where he most recently led the company’s operations in Pakistan - which is actually an organization he helped build for the company many years prior when P&G was first starting business in Pakistan. During his time with the P&G, Qaisar also held country leadership roles for the Ukraine. He’s the author of “When Tribesmen Came Calling: Building an Enduring American Business in Pakistan.” In a candid conversation about living and working out of your comfort zone, Qaisar shares not just his perspective of establishing a viable business in an emerging market, but also about returning home - multiple times - to make an impact on both sides of the world.    Qaisar is based in the Washington DC area where he is an advisory partner to Ward Howell International. He also teaches at George Washington University’s Department of International Business. Qaisar serves on the board of HOPE USA, OPEN DC, and Transparent Hands, a crowdfunding platform helping cover the underprivileged’s health care costs. He’s also on the Executive Committee of US Pakistan Foundation, and is president of Montgomery County Muslim Council. Qaisar has a Bachelor of Science degree from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara, Turkey, and an MBA from the University of Cincinnati.  

Since a brutal war that started in the late 1980s, Azerbaijan and Armenia have maintained a fragile truce. But Armenia continues to illegally occupy the Karabakh region. The area has seen flare-ups of violence over the years. But last month, fighting intensified in the north of the disputed territory. In response, Turkey is helping Azerbaijan strengthen its defences. So, what caused the recent flare-up and in what ways will this deepen cooperation between Ankara and Baku? Guests: Fariz Ismailzade Vice Rector of ADA University Oktay Tanriseve Professor of International Relations at Middle East Technical University in Ankara

Fighting intensified last month in the occupied Karabakh region of Azerbaijan that Armenia illegally controls. In response, Turkey is helping Azerbaijan strengthen its defences. So, in what ways will this deepen cooperation between Ankara and Baku? Plus, since Brexit finally became a reality earlier this year, the UK has been scrambling to secure its trade relations. And now, Turkey and the UK are close to finalising a free trade deal. What could an agreement mean for both countries especially amid a pandemic and weakened global economy? Guests: Fariz Ismailzade Vice Rector of ADA University Oktay Tanriseve Professor of International Relations at Middle East Technical University in Ankara Christopher Gaunt Chairperson of the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey Ozan Ozkural CEO of Tanto Capital Partners

#Environment #coronavirus #lightupwithShua In Turkey, Özdemir has put himself at the forefront of the environmental movement, expressing support for protests against a controversial, Canadian-backed mine that Turks have accused of contributing to deforestation and other environmental issues.

 Abroad, he has garnered the respect of ecotheology's greatest minds for changing how Muslims think of environmentalism.  "The unique aspects of Özdemir's work include linking policy to practice," added Dr Odeh Rashid al-Jayyousi, chairman of the Innovation and Technology Management Department at Arabian Gulf University and author of Islam and Sustainable Development. The closer climate change comes to destroying the Middle East, the greater the urgency Özdemir feels to mobilise Muslims against the world's greatest environmental crisis. "As God has created this world and entrusted it to human beings alone, they are not the owners and masters of the natural environment," concluded Özdemir.

"They are only trustees and stewards on Earth. We have to educate and enlighten Muslims that environmental awareness, caring for the environment and animals, and feeling concern over climate change, its daunting consequences, and all other related problems are our ethical and moral responsibilities.” In addition to studying Islam, Özdemir draws inspiration for his eco-friendly campaign from the need to safeguard the future of his four children and three grandchildren, who, according to him, "never saw a wild animal in nature – only in documentaries and zoos."  "I have concerns about their future and the world they are going to live in," reflected Özdemir. "Therefore, caring for the environment and next generation is a moral imperative for me. İbrahim Özdemir is a professor of philosophy and the Founding President of Hasan Kalyoncu University, Turkey. He holds a Doctorate degree in philosophy from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara and a Bachelor's degree in Islamic Theology and Islamic Philosophy from Ankara University Turkey. Although his major is environmental ethics and environmental philosophy, he addresses various audiences concerning topics such as environmental philosophy, Muslim environmental thought, sustainable development, religion and the environment, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, peace education, and Higher Education Leadership. Dr İbrahim Özdemir, the founding president of Hasan Kalyoncu University and author of The Ethical Dimension of Human Attitude Towards Nature: A Muslim Perspective, believes that the growing number of Muslim environmentalists can find inspiration for their aggressive campaign against global warming from Islam itself. Özdemir notes that the Quran and other religious texts call on Muslims to defend the natural environment, a job more critical now than ever. "Özdemir notes that the Quran and other religious texts call on Muslims to defend the natural environment, a job more critical now than ever." http://www.ifees.org.uk/declaration/ https://unfccc.int/news/islamic-decla... We talked about: - What can we learn from Finland? - Does Islamic Ethics align with much disputed Gaia theory? - Environmental Ethics and Islamic Environmental Ethics - What is wealth in Prof. Ozdemir's experience? - Value of Gratitude? - Value of Time? - The Reconstruction of Religious Thought in Islam by Dr. Muhammad Iqbal - Do you believe in afterlife? - What is the purpose of your life? - Moral integrity? - Message of Hope? - What lights you up? Don't forget to subscribe, share, rate and review. Thank you, Shua - شعا ع www.lightupwithshua.com - Podcast http://bit.ly/2nc9tZM - Youtube channel https://goo.gl/rf3HQ9 - The Groton Channel http://apple.co/2BteyA3 - iTunes https://goo.gl/dWpvLF - Instagram

#Islamic Ethics #Environment #ClimateChange İbrahim Özdemir is a professor of philosophy and the Founding President of Hasan Kalyoncu University, Turkey. He holds a Doctorate degree in philosophy from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara and a Bachelor's degree in Islamic Theology and Islamic Philosophy from Ankara University Turkey. Although his major is environmental ethics and environmental philosophy, he addresses various audiences concerning topics such as environmental philosophy, Muslim environmental thought, sustainable development, religion and the environment, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, peace education, and Higher Education Leadership. Dr İbrahim Özdemir, the founding president of Hasan Kalyoncu University and author of The Ethical Dimension of Human Attitude Towards Nature: A Muslim Perspective, believes that the growing number of Muslim environmentalists can find inspiration for their aggressive campaign against global warming from Islam itself. Özdemir notes that the Quran and other religious texts call on Muslims to defend the natural environment, a job more critical now than ever. "Özdemir notes that the Quran and other religious texts call on Muslims to defend the natural environment, a job more critical now than ever." We talked about: Part 3 Quran talks about the sea life and coral reef Respect your elders but don't let them stop you from moving forward and finding your ways to think about the environment Message for youth to be like the branches of trees Don't let history imprison you Critical thinking, looking at Nature from a wider perspective, and not from a selfish perspective What is your goal after you get the diploma How can you contribute to the Nature, other people and not only for yourself What do you do on your way to Prof. Ibrahim's class? He asks his students Don't expect everything from the State, your government, you also can do something Feeding a dog or a cat during a day is also contributing to your environment Making ethical decisions? Open your eyes and ears to your surroundings so you can learn and understand where your assistance and contribution is needed Change your mindset Any small change by us can make a big change in someone else's life http://www.ifees.org.uk/declaration/ https://unfccc.int/news/islamic-decla... Don't forget to subscribe, share, rate and review. Thank you, Shua - شعا ع www.lightupwithshua.com - Podcast http://bit.ly/2nc9tZM - Youtube channel https://goo.gl/rf3HQ9 - The Groton Channel http://apple.co/2BteyA3 - iTunes https://goo.gl/dWpvLF - Instagram

İbrahim Özdemir is a professor of philosophy and the Founding President of Hasan Kalyoncu University, Turkey. He holds a Doctorate degree in philosophy from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara and a Bachelor's degree in Islamic Theology and Islamic Philosophy from Ankara University Turkey. Although his major is environmental ethics and environmental philosophy, he addresses various audiences concerning topics such as environmental philosophy, Muslim environmental thought, sustainable development, religion and the environment, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, peace education, and Higher Education Leadership. Dr İbrahim Özdemir, the founding president of Hasan Kalyoncu University and author of The Ethical Dimension of Human Attitude Towards Nature: A Muslim Perspective, believes that the growing number of Muslim environmentalists can find inspiration for their aggressive campaign against global warming from Islam itself. Özdemir notes that the Quran and other religious texts call on Muslims to defend the natural environment, a job more critical now than ever. "Özdemir notes that the Quran and other religious texts call on Muslims to defend the natural environment, a job more critical now than ever." We talked about: - How can we approach environmental problems? What does this term mean? - What Islam believes about the earth and environment - How sacred is the environment and our earth in Islam? - Can we buy our environment? With any commodity? - The first chapter of the Qur'an and the environment - Muslim scholar's perception about the environment - The rules for ablution in Islam - Eco- Environment and Eco psychology? - “To God belong the East and the West….” - Are you alone in this world? - The book of Nature? - Is Rumi and Muhammad Iqbal Universal? Do they belong to the world? Beyond borders? - What was the first revelation and what does it teaches us today? - Finland and their environmental education? - How can you teach your children and grandchildren to show their connection to the Nature and what it means to a Muslim? http://www.ifees.org.uk/declaration/ https://unfccc.int/news/islamic-decla... Don't forget to subscribe, share, rate and review. Thank you, Shua - شعا ع www.lightupwithshua.com - Podcast http://bit.ly/2nc9tZM - Youtube channel https://goo.gl/rf3HQ9 - The Groton Channel http://apple.co/2BteyA3 - iTunes https://goo.gl/dWpvLF - Instagram

İbrahim Özdemir is a professor of philosophy and the Founding President of Hasan Kalyoncu University, Turkey. He holds a Doctorate degree in philosophy from the Middle East Technical University, Ankara and a Bachelor's degree in Islamic Theology and Islamic Philosophy from Ankara University Turkey.   Although his major is environmental ethics and environmental philosophy, he addresses various audiences concerning topics such as environmental philosophy, Muslim environmental thought, sustainable development, religion and the environment, interreligious and intercultural dialogue, peace education, and Higher Education Leadership. Dr İbrahim Özdemir, the founding president of Hasan Kalyoncu University and author of The Ethical Dimension of Human Attitude Towards Nature: A Muslim Perspective, believes that the growing number of Muslim environmentalists can find inspiration for their aggressive campaign against global warming from Islam itself. Özdemir notes that the Quran and other religious texts call on Muslims to defend the natural environment, a job more critical now than ever. "Özdemir notes that the Quran and other religious texts call on Muslims to defend the natural environment, a job more critical now than ever." For more stay tuned starting March 18th, 2020 conversations with Prof. Ibrahim Ozdemir. We talked about:   Prof. Ibrahim's work in environmental ethics and strategies to tackle this issue. Document on Islamic Declaration on Climate Change Oslo conference on making changes Scientists and Faith scholars coming together What leaders in the Muslim world are doing We are all in this all together http://www.ifees.org.uk/declaration/ https://unfccc.int/news/islamic-declaration-on-climate-change Don't forget to subscribe, share, rate and review.  Thank you, Shua - شعا ع  www.lightupwithshua.com - Podcast http://bit.ly/2nc9tZM - Youtube channel https://goo.gl/rf3HQ9 - The Groton Channel http://apple.co/2BteyA3 - iTunes https://goo.gl/dWpvLF - Instagram  

SEASON 3: Environmental Series FEBUARARY 5th, 2020 Music: Bensound Images: Canva.com Environment and its issues from an Islamic Perspective There is a lot of discussion on environment and its issues in the West and it seems as if Muslims are no where to be found in the discussion of environment and environmental issues in the current situation. What is the Muslim community doing in the US and world wide? Do you think that we face any problems related to the environment? Any at planetary level, national, local and personal level? I want to start this year 2020 with the topic of Environment and bring multiple perspectives. First is the Muslim Perspective that is crucially needed to be included in our discussions, debates and conversations on this topic. A well known professor, brahim Özdemir, one of Turkey's most prominent environmentalists, believes that the growing number of Muslim environmentalists can find inspiration for their aggressive campaign against global warming from Islam itself. He is the  author of The Ethical Dimension of Human Attitude Towards Nature: A Muslim Perspective - I plan to read this and in the process of reading his work published in a journal Acta Via Serica - Vol 2, No. 2, December 2017: 87- 110. Titled Muhammad Iqbal And Environmental Ethics. He has signed the Premable on Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change according to him, if I correctly recall. I had the opportunity to speak to him last week and planning to have him on this podcast soon. Where we will talk about environment, his work in this area from an Islamic Perspective. Also, in the meantime, I am in talks with other scholars who will speak on this topic. As you might have gathered from my work in interfaith area, I plan to bring various perspectives on this subject. Hope to include the Native American perspective as well. Let us see if I will be successful in talking to some Native American tribe in the US on this topic. Coming back to Prof. Ozdemir, “Özdemir notes that the Quran and other religious texts call on Muslims to defend the natural environment, a job more critical now than ever” "As a village boy, I witnessed with amazement the daily cycle of collecting water from the fountain," recounted Özdemir. From the article I would like to share a little more about Prof. Ozdemir believes: While Özdemir left Karapolat to pursue higher education, getting a bachelor's degree in theology from Ankara University in 1985, he returned to his poverty-stricken hometown after obtaining a doctorate in philosophy from the Middle East Technical University in 1996. There, he cooperated with Turkish authorities to bring water to Karapolat, fulfilling what he viewed as a responsibility to his people. As time passed, Özdemir came to hold that all Muslims had a similar duty not only to their peers but also to the natural environment, which he saw as a divine creation.   “From an Islamic perspective, the natural world has value in and of itself and does not exist solely to serve human needs."  We need to pay closer attention to our environment today not only for us but for our future generations. Our home environment is equally important. Conscious living and conscious parenting is connected to everything we do. Our home, community, school, and food, all are related to how we treat our environment. Islamic Declaration on Global Climate Change is what I will talk about in this podcast and discuss with you. I believe that equilibrium (mizan) Arabic for this word,  in  our individual lives has everything to do with the equilibrium of our planet. We all are connected and everything has an effect on the other. We note that the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment (UNEP, 2005), backed by over 1300 scientists from 95 countries, found that “overall, people have made greater changes to ecosystems in the last half of the 20th century than at any time in human history... these changes have enhanced human well-being, but have been accompanied by ever increasing degradation (of our environment).” There are warnings from various scientific communities around the world and we need to pay attention to how we have used and are using natural resources. So, We affirm that – (in the declaration)= God created the earth in perfect equilibrium (mīzān); By His immense mercy we have been given fertile land, fresh air, clean water and all the good things on Earth that make our lives here viable and delightful; The earth functions in natural seasonal rhythms and cycles: a climate in which living beings – including humans – thrive; The present climate change catastrophe is a result of the human disruption of this balance – He raised the heaven and established the balance so that you would not transgress the balance. Give just weight – do not skimp in the balance. He laid out the earth for all living creatures. Qur'an 55: 7-10 ———-Moreover, the divine law according to which He maintains such precise balance, mutual discipline and order amongst all heavenly bodies placed in the huge outer space, has been set in a way that it never changes. (8) Similarly, the Qur'an was bestowed on human beings for the purpose of order and discipline that is essential, and one should not vary it even a little. (9) You should thus maintain this balance with fairness and justice, without differentiating between anybody's rights and obligations. (10-12) The necessity to create scales of justice arose because We have not earmarked for individuals separately the things required for nourishing the human body. For example, the means for producing delicious fruits; date palms with sheathed clusters; grain inside husks; and colourful flowers full of fragrance have been provided for all human beings collectively. We have set the Qur'an as a scale for the distribution of these means, so that everyone obtains sustenance according to his needs. (If these permanent guiding principles were not given from God and everything was left to the will of men, then the stronger would have collected and retained everything for themselves while the weak would have been deprived of the necessities of life. This is happening in the world wherever the divine laws are being ignored.) ————- In the declaration: We recognize the corruption (fasād) that humans have caused on Earth in our relentless pursuit of economic growth and consumption. Its consequences have been – Global climate change, which is our present concern, in addition to: Contamination and befoulment of the atmosphere, land, inland water systems, and seas; Soil erosion, deforestation and desertification; Destruction, degradation, and fragmentation of the habitats of the earth's communities of life, with devastation of some of the most biologically diverse and productive ecosystems such as rainforests, freshwater wetlands, and coral reefs; Impairment of ecosystem benefits and services; Introduction of invasive alien species and genetically modified organisms; Damage to human health, including a host of modern-day diseases. Corruption has appeared on land and sea by what people's own hands have wrought, that He may let them taste some consequences of their deeds, so that they may turn back. Qur'an 30: 41 WE are accountable for everything: “Then whoever has done an atom's weight of good, shall see it, and whoever has done an atom's weight of evil, shall see it.” Qur'an 99: 7-8   The Islamic Declaration on Climate Change also details what Messenger Muhammad (PBUH) has said: “In view of these considerations we affirm that our responsibility as Muslims is to act according to the example of the Prophet Muhammad (God's peace and blessings be upon him), who – Declared and protected the rights of all living beings, outlawed the custom of burying infant girls alive, prohibited wanton killing of living beings for sport, guided his companions to conserve water even in washing for prayer, forbade the felling of trees in the desert, ordered a man who had taken some nestlings from their nest to return them to their mother, and when he came upon a man who had lit a fire on an anthill, commanded, “Put it out, put it out!”; Established inviolable zones (harams) around Makkah and Al-Madinah (cities in the Saudi Arabia), within which native plants may not be felled or cut and wild animals may not be hunted or disturbed; Established protected areas (himās) for the conservation and sustainable use of rangelands, plant cover, and wildlife; Lived a frugal life, free of excess, waste, and ostentation; Renewed and recycled his meagre possessions by repairing or giving them away; Ate simple, healthy food, which only occasionally included meat; Took delight in the created world; and Was, in the words of the Qur'an, “a mercy to all beings.”   Next time I will talk about how the declaration calls upon various communities to bear in mind the importance of our Environment. The Call is on Well Off Nations, Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and all nations and their leaders and to corporations, finance, and the business sector And call on all Muslims wherever they maybe. to tackle habits, mindsets, and the root causes of climate change, environmental degradation, and the loss of biodiversity in their particular spheres of influence, following the example of the Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings be upon him),and bring about a resolution to the challenges that now face us. Allah says in the Qur'an – Qur'an 17: 37 Do not strut arrogantly on the earth. You will never split the earth apart nor will you ever rival the mountains' stature. We bear in mind the words of our Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him): The world is sweet and verdant, and verily Allah has made you stewards in it, and He sees how you acquit yourselves. Hadīth related by Muslim from Abū Sa‘īd Al-Khudrī) Thank you, -- Shua - شعا ع  www.lightupwithshua.com - Podcast http://bit.ly/2nc9tZM - Youtube channel https://goo.gl/rf3HQ9 - The Groton Channel http://apple.co/2BteyA3 - iTunes https://goo.gl/dWpvLF - Instagram Links: https://unfccc.int/news/islamic-declaration-on-climate-change

In this episode, I am hosting Elif Birced. We will talk about the neoliberal restructuring of higher education in Turkey. By drawing upon her interviews with 40 professors and graduate student assistants, Elif will make a compelling case for the precarization of work conditions in social sciences as a result of this the neoliberal restructuring. She will also discuss the intersectional role gender plays in the precarization of academia.Elif is a PhD student at the Department of Sociology at Boston University. She is interested in economic sociology, work, organizations, and sociology of culture. Elif has a B.S. in Economics from Middle East Technical University and an M.A. in Cultural Studies from Sabancı University. Her M.A. thesis was about the precarity of academic labour in Turkey with a particular focus on the experiences of professors and graduate student assistants in the social sciences.Today, Elif will be revisiting the impressive fieldwork she conducted for her M.A. thesis. She will first introduce her own interpretation of the concept of “precarity”. Elif adopts Guy Standing’s approach to precarity but also brings her own twist to the concept. While Standing describes precarity in two dimensions – objective and subjective, Elif points out to the need for considering precarity also as a relational concept.Thus, Elif analyses precarity in three dimensions. In the objective aspect, she looks for structural patterns of insecurities at work such as lack of protection against arbitrary dismissal, lack of adequate and stable income to sustain life or absence of any representative body in the workplace. In the subjective dimension, she focuses on how individuals experience these insecurities. Individuals may accept, internalize or give consent to several right violations committed under the name of neoliberal restructuring. Finally, Elif introduces the relational dimension of precarity, which signals to the importance of relations established, for example, between professors and graduate student assistants and how these relationships affect one’s perception of her precarious position.Elif’s unique approach to precarization of higher education also opens up a valuable space to acknowledge and analyze the direct role of government in creating political insecurities in the workplace. While Elif was conducting her fieldwork in 2016, a group of academics was calling upon the government to end its attacks in the Kurdish villages of Southern East Turkey (for more detail, please listen to the podcast on Academics for Peace), and they were fired from their jobs. Elif points out the fact that social scientists may experience a heightened sense of vulnerability in the workplace if their academic works criticize the government or do not conform to the official government accounts.Finally, Elif will reveal different ways in which gender could become integrated into precarity. She will talk about how job insecurity for women may lead to silencing of sexual harassment in academia. The lack of protection mechanisms against sexual harassment in universities only makes it more precarious for women to work as professors and graduate student assistants.

E. Ahmet Tonak is the author and editor of several books including Measuring the Wealth of Nations: The Political Economy of National Accounts (with Anwar Shaikh), Turkey in Transition: New Perspectives (edited with Irvin Schick) and Marxism and Classes (edited with Sungur Savran and Kurtar Tanyılmaz). Trained as a mechanical engineer at Istanbul Technical University, he earned a Ph.D. in economics from the New School for Social Research. Tonak taught for many years at Istanbul Bilgi University, Middle East Technical University, Bard College at Simon's Rock, and is currently a visiting professor at UMASS Amherst and works as an economist at Tricontinental Institute for Social Research, Interregional Office, Northampton, Massachusetts. He wrote for several Turkish dailies and contributes to sendika.org, an alternative news portal in Turkey. We discuss his new report: "The Rate of Exploitation: The Case of the iPhone."

In this episode, I am hosting three guests; Didem Şalgam, Balacan Ayar and Zeynep Serinkaya-Winter.We will talk about the effects of neo-conservativism on women's experiences with gynaecological violence. Didem will draw upon her research to argue that conservative gender norms that have already and always resulted in gynaecological violence are being given new meanings by the ruling government of Turkey. Also, neoconservative interpretations of gender norms manifest themselves in the state policies about healthcare provided for women.Balacan will mention an important legal case related to gynaecological violence and how this case has the potential to be a me-too movement in Turkey, especially within the healthcare system.Finally, Zeynep will share her experiences with gynaecological violence, helping our listeners affectively understand the importance of solidarity in dealing with gynaecological violence.Didem has an MS degree in Sociology from Middle East Technical University. She also has an MA degree in Gender Studies from CEU. She is currently a doctoral candidate in gender studies working on practices of sexting in “new turkey”. Please have a listen at episode three for a detailed discussion of Didem's research.Balacan is currently an MA student in Gender Studies at CEU and a research assistant at Koç University in Turkey. She received her first master's degree in Comparative Studies in History and Society at Koç University. Her research interests are medical anthropology, sociology of health and illness, gender studies, sexuality, and feminist studies Zeynep Serinkaya Winter received her Master's degree from Koç University, where she is currently a doctoral student. Her Master's thesis analysed the representations of disability and gender in Turkish melodrama films and the construction of normalcy through these representations. Her current research interests include freedom of speech, censorship, the LGBTI+ movement in Turkey, Turkish cinema and digital media. You can reach her at zserinkaya13 [at] ku dot edu dot tr. We will start the discussion with an attempt to define what gynaecological violence could entail. Gynaecological violence has eluded researchers, and it has remained as a silent but very persistent problem. Thus, we believe it is best to approach it from multiple perspectives in order not to leave out any experience that may not be as apparent as physical violence.From the cases our guests will present, we observe different ways in which violence upon women during gynaecological exams are justified — the norm of women remaining a virgin until marriage is one of them. The anti-abortion stance of the government, which has de-facto stopped state hospitals from performing an abortion on demand is another source of gynaecological violence. Sexual harassment during gynaecological exams is yet another source, especially in the cases where perpetrators try to gaslight women by arguing that the harassment was a part of the gynaecological exam. Finally, ignoring women's autonomy over their body, and performing medical exams without their consents must also count as gynaecological violence.Gynaecological violence could manifest itself as phycological attacks of the doctors and nurses such as verbally assaulting women for not being virgin or making them extremely uncomfortable through their actions. It could manifest in the form of physical violence such as not using lubricants during vaginal exams, inserting the devices or fingers without warning, too fast and with extreme force. Gynaecological violence could continue outside the examination room, for example, when the doctor violates patient-doctor confidentiality and discloses women's illness or pregnancy to their families or to others.

In this episode, I am hosting three guests; Didem Şalgam, Balacan Ayar and Zeynep Serinkaya-Winter.We will talk about the effects of neo-conservativism on women’s experiences with gynaecological violence. Didem will draw upon her research to argue that conservative gender norms that have already and always resulted in gynaecological violence are being given new meanings by the ruling government of Turkey. Also, neoconservative interpretations of gender norms manifest themselves in the state policies about healthcare provided for women.Balacan will mention an important legal case related to gynaecological violence and how this case has the potential to be a me-too movement in Turkey, especially within the healthcare system.Finally, Zeynep will share her experiences with gynaecological violence, helping our listeners affectively understand the importance of solidarity in dealing with gynaecological violence.Didem has an MS degree in Sociology from Middle East Technical University. She also has an MA degree in Gender Studies from CEU. She is currently a doctoral candidate in gender studies working on practices of sexting in “new turkey”. Please have a listen at episode three for a detailed discussion of Didem’s research.Balacan is currently an MA student in Gender Studies at CEU and a research assistant at Koç University in Turkey. She received her first master’s degree in Comparative Studies in History and Society at Koç University. Her research interests are medical anthropology, sociology of health and illness, gender studies, sexuality, and feminist studies Zeynep Serinkaya Winter received her Master’s degree from Koç University, where she is currently a doctoral student. Her Master’s thesis analysed the representations of disability and gender in Turkish melodrama films and the construction of normalcy through these representations. Her current research interests include freedom of speech, censorship, the LGBTI+ movement in Turkey, Turkish cinema and digital media. You can reach her at zserinkaya13 [at] ku dot edu dot tr. We will start the discussion with an attempt to define what gynaecological violence could entail. Gynaecological violence has eluded researchers, and it has remained as a silent but very persistent problem. Thus, we believe it is best to approach it from multiple perspectives in order not to leave out any experience that may not be as apparent as physical violence.From the cases our guests will present, we observe different ways in which violence upon women during gynaecological exams are justified — the norm of women remaining a virgin until marriage is one of them. The anti-abortion stance of the government, which has de-facto stopped state hospitals from performing an abortion on demand is another source of gynaecological violence. Sexual harassment during gynaecological exams is yet another source, especially in the cases where perpetrators try to gaslight women by arguing that the harassment was a part of the gynaecological exam. Finally, ignoring women’s autonomy over their body, and performing medical exams without their consents must also count as gynaecological violence.Gynaecological violence could manifest itself as phycological attacks of the doctors and nurses such as verbally assaulting women for not being virgin or making them extremely uncomfortable through their actions. It could manifest in the form of physical violence such as not using lubricants during vaginal exams, inserting the devices or fingers without warning, too fast and with extreme force. Gynaecological violence could continue outside the examination room, for example, when the doctor violates patient-doctor confidentiality and discloses women’s illness or pregnancy to their families or to others.

In this episode, I am hosting Sercan Çınar. We will talk about the construction of socialist masculinities in the 1970s at the height of socialist-Marxist political mobilization in Turkey. Sercan asks a very powerful question: how could socialist-Marxist men justify and reproduce gender inequalities and power relations as natural while, at the same time, remaining extremely critical of the naturalization of, for example, property relations? Sercan will argue that the practices of social mobilization during 70s, especially in response to political violence that marked the decade played an important role in constructing socialist masculinities. Sercan conducted oral history interviews and archival research concerning the decade and, with the help of his findings, he will provide examples of how responses to political violence on the street were utilized to justify and reproduce the dichotomy of man/woman and masculinity/femininity.Sercan will also elaborate on two important factors in the construction of socialist masculinities as a distinct category from hegemonic masculinities.He will first reveal the effects of feminist women sharing political space with socialist men in regards to socialist masculinities.Secondly, he will detail the effects of Global Cold War Politics on the construction of socialist masculinities in Turkey. One of the most striking examples Sercan provides is the border crossing essentialized images and discourses of “Soviet immoral sexualities” which aimed to create moral panic in localities and hoped to fuel anti-communist sentiments. Finally, Sercan will talk about how the socialist-Marxist scene in Turkey simply played into these discourses by pursuing a conservative politics of sexuality.Sercan Çınar is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Gender Studies at CEU. He received his BSc in Political Science from Middle East Technical University. He holds an MA in European Women’s and Gender History from CEU. His MA thesis is on socialist masculinities in Turkey in the 1970s, and he is currently working on his Ph.D. dissertation about Turkish migrant left-feminism in Western Europe during the late Cold War. His research interests include gender and women’s history, the history of masculinities in Turkey and the transnational history of communism and anarchism.

On Episode 27, Nick chats with Serife Tekin, Assistant Professor of Philosophy at Daemen College in Buffalo, New York, about her childhood and adolescent years spent on the Aegean coast in Denizli, Turkey, her transition at Middle East Technical University from studying economics and mathematics to philosophy, her work in the philosophy of psychiatry that incorporates first-person accounts of mental illness, extraordinary science and origins of the current crisis in psychiatric research, and her new manuscript, 'Reclaiming the Self in Psychopathology: Science, Narratives, and Persons' that develops an account of the self that will enrich psychiatric science. Timestamps: 0:15 Hello and welcome 1:25 Serife

Konuşmacımızın Özgeçmişi: CURRENT AND PREVIOUS POSITIONS Since 2017 Professor, Kavli Institute for Systems neuroscience, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway Since 2017 Director of the NTNU Master program in Neuroscience 2015 - 2017 Associate Professor, Kavli Institute for Systems neuroscience, NTNU, Trondheim, Norway 2011- 2016 Assistant Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Dept. of Neurophysiology, KULeuven, Belgium 2010 -2016 Group Leader, Neuroelectronics Research Flanders, VIB, Belgium 2013 -2014 Interim Department Director, Neuroelectronics Research Flanders, VIB, Belgium 2007- 2010 Post-doctoral Researcher, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurobiology, USA EDUCATION 2003-2007 PhD. University of Heidelberg, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany 2001-2003 M.Sc. University of Heidelberg, Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Germany 1996-2001 B.Sc. Dept. of Molecular Biology & Genetics, Middle East Technical University, Turkey FELLOWSHIPS, AWARDS and GRANTS 2016 Mid-Norway regional health authorities research grant 2015 Norwegian research council FRIPRO BIOMED research grant 2015 Association for Chemoreception Sciences (AChemS) Young investigator award 2015 2014 Selected for FENS/Kavli Network of Excellence 2014 Federation of European Neuroscience Young Investigator Prize 2014 2013 European Research Commission (ERC) starting investigator grant. 2008-2010: Human Frontiers Science Program, Long-term Postdoctoral Fellowship, USA 2006 Marine Biological Laboratories, Neural Systems & Behavior Summer Course, USA 2003-2006 Boehringer Ingelheim Fonds Fellowship, Heidelberg, Germany 2002-2003 Scholarship of Max Planck Society, Heidelberg, Germany 2001-2002 Msc Scholarship of DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), Germany 1996-2001 Scholarship of TUBITAK (Turkish Science & Technology Association), Turkey

Gunes Ozhan earned her Bachelor’s degree from the Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics at Middle East Technical University in 2003. Shortly after, she was admitted to the Molecular Biology Program of International Max Planck Research School in Göttingen, Germany. She received her PhD in 2009, with her thesis on the molecular evolution of embryonic development in arthropods, which was conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Developmental Biology in Tübingen. After working as a postdoctoral fellow at the Biotechnology Center of TU Dresden and gaining experience in signal transduction and the zebrafish animal model, Dr. Ozhan was offered a PI position at iBG-izmir and moved to her hometown Izmir in 2014, to achieve her vision of establishing an independent lab in a top-notch biomedical research center in this lovely city. Upon her return, she has been successively awarded Reintegration Fellowship of TUBITAK, EMBO Installation Grant, L'Oréal Turkey For Women In Science award, Academy of Science BAGEP award and Turkish Academy of Sciences GEBIP award. Dr. Ozhan is a molecular and developmental biologist and made valuable contributions to our understanding of Wnt/β-catenin signaling regulation at the plasma membrane. At iBG-izmir, she explores the tight regulation of Wnt signaling that will reinforce discovery of novel drugs and its roles in adult zebrafish brain regeneration.

Married young and used to giving up her own dreams, Iranian student Matineh Eybpoosh moves to the U.S. to study civil engineering—and a whole new world opens up. Matineh Eybpoosh was born in Oroumieh, a town that carries the scent of apples and the generosity of grapes, and shelters happy flamingos. She holds a masters in Construction Engineering and Management from the Middle East Technical University in Turkey, and a B.A. in civil engineering from Tabriz University in Iran. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate at Civil and Environmental Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, a city that's treated her like a good friend: challenging her, battling her, and ultimately understanding her better than before. She writes Farsi poetry, leads the Persian Student Organization, and has performed Persian dance at Pittsburgh festivals. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices