Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Serdar from the Department of Sociology has been awarded the prestigious TÜBİTAK 2219 International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. Through this program, Dr. Serdar will serve as a visiting researcher at the University of Crete in Greece for a period of 12 months. Her supported research project, titled “A Comparative Analysis of Social and Environmental Movements in Greece and Turkey,” aims to provide significant sociological insights into regional activist dynamics. This fellowship not only highlights the academic excellence of our faculty members but also strengthens international research collaborations between Turkey and Greece.
Ana haber: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Serdar has been awarded the TÜBİTAK 2219 International Postdoctoral Research Fellowship. This grant program is designed to support the advanced research initiatives of scholars by facilitating international academic exchange and collaboration. Earning this fellowship demonstrates a continued dedication to impactful sociological research and highlights the strong academic profile of the department.

With this fellowship, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ayşe Serdar will conduct an in-depth research project titled “A Comparative Analysis of Social and Environmental Movements in Greece and Turkey.” In recent years, social and environmental activism has become a critical area of sociological inquiry, reflecting broader global concerns about climate change, civic engagement, and ecological justice. By undertaking a comparative study of Greece and Türkiye, two neighbouring countries with intertwined histories and shared regional challenges, the project aims to uncover the distinct and overlapping dynamics of grassroots activism in both nations. This comparative lens will provide valuable new perspectives on how local contexts, political landscapes, and cultural nuances shape social and environmental movements.

To execute this comprehensive study, Dr. Serdar will be based at the University of Crete in Greece, where she will serve as a visiting researcher for a duration of 12 months. This extended period of academic residency will allow her to engage directly with local scholars, access regional resources, and conduct vital comparative research. The collaboration with the University of Crete represents a step in building robust academic bridges between Turkish and Greek academic institutions. Such cross-border partnerships are essential for fostering mutual understanding and advancing scientific inquiry in the social sciences.
Securing international fellowships like the TÜBİTAK 2219 elevates the individual researcher’s academic trajectory and enhances the global visibility and reputation of the Department of Sociology. The findings from this 12-month project are expected to yield high-impact academic publications and enrich the department's global research networks. The study's outcomes will contribute significantly to the broader sociological understanding of regional activism and environmental policies in the Mediterranean context.