An Interdisciplinary Reflection Area on City, Health and Justice: Independent Living Symposium Held

At Istanbul Gelisim University, "Interdisciplinary Independent Life, City and Health Symposium II", which addresses the effects of urbanization on individuals' independent life, access to health services, social justice and sustainable development from an interdisciplinary perspective, has been the scene of remarkable discussions this year by bringing together knowledge and imagination. At the event, not only problems were discussed, but also creative models of the cities of the future through utopias.

The Social Braid of the "City" was Emphasized at the Opening

The opening speech was made by Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Rıfat Mutuş. Prof. Mutuş pointed out the importance of thinking of the city not only as a physical structure, but also as a network of cultural, ethical and social relations. He emphasized that the symposium also paved the way for this multi-layered way of thinking.

Prof. İsmet Galip Yolcuoğlu discussed the relationship between urban poverty and structural inequalities and the role of social services in this field. Then, taking the floor, Asst. Prof. Hilay Atalay focuses on social sustainability in urban planning while Asst. Prof. Leyla Bektaş Ata evaluated the right to access to public spaces through women's daily life experiences and revealed the relationship of gender with the city.

Relationships Between Health, Mood and the Public Sphere Are on the Table

In the panel session moderated by Assoc. Prof. Anıl Al-Rebholz, the effects of urbanization on the health and social life of individuals were examined in a multifaceted way.
Asst. Prof. Nurten Elkin, analyzed the interaction of the Health Transformation Program with urban policies. Asst. Prof. Deniz Kaya Meral drew attention to the psychosocial pressures created by urbanization in terms of mental health.
While Lect. Buse Bulat reveals the obstacles that children face in their right to play and access to public spaces; Lect. Bedriye Çelik Kanca, on the other hand, shed light on an important social problem by evaluating the effects of digital addiction on children.
One of the noteworthy presentations of the panel was that of Duygu Taplamacıoğlu Korman. In her study titled "Motherhood in Feminist Urban Utopia: Solidarity, Not Guilt", she positioned motherhood in an urban utopia woven with solidarity, not loneliness.

Utopia Presentations from Students: The Power of Imagination

In the afternoon session of the symposium, the stage was with the students of the Faculty of Health Sciences. Seven different student groups offered solutions to social problems such as health, old age, disability, environment and digital inequality through the concept of utopia. The presentations were evaluated by an independent jury consisting of academics from fields such as architecture, literature, political science, communication and art.

The presentations were examined according to the criteria of conceptual depth, interdisciplinary approach, social sensitivity and applicability. At the end of the day, the first prize was given to the "Sanvitas Utopia" project prepared by Elif Kaymaz, Esma Nur Yiğit, Melek Beyza Ballı and Sude Sarışahin, students of the Department of Health Management. Sanvitas offered an alternative vision to the current health system with its critical structure centered on health inequality.

At the award ceremony, certificates of appreciation and awards were presented to the students by Asst. Prof. A. Yüksel Barut. Barut emphasized that this process is not only a success, but also an experience of learning to think critically, produce together, and dream for the benefit of society.
Dean of the Faculty of Health Sciences Prof. Rıfat Mutuş, Vice Deans Assoc. Prof. Neşe Kıskaç and Asst. Prof. A. Yüksel Barut, as well as many academicians and students participated to the event. The "If I Were You" panel in the foyer area during the symposium allowed the participants to share their thoughts on the city, health and justice.

Cities Built with Imagination

The “Interdisciplinary Symposium on Independent Living, the City and Health II” not only highlighted the social, economic and environmental problems posed by urbanization, but also reaffirmed the belief that more equitable, accessible and sustainable cities are possible through utopias. This meeting, which blended scientific knowledge with imagination, took place in the memories with the potential to transform the ways of thinking about urbanization processes.