Burçin Bozkaya’s new book

Burçin Bozkaya’s new book

Burçin Bozkaya authors a new book on Big Data

School of Management Faculty Member Burçin Bozkaya coauthored a new book with his colleague Vivek Kumar Singh of the MIT Media Lab, titled “Geo-Intelligence and Visualization Through Big Data Trends.”


The last decade has seen dramatic increase in the collection of digital data regarding personal and professional life. There is an increasing number of cognitive approaches to the analysis of this data as well as growing interest in the visualization and interpretation of the data. Geo-Intelligence and Visualization through Big Data Trends provides insight into the latest developments, application examples, visualization and analytics of big data, and an overview of location data and analytics. The book discusses emerging trends and latest applications in this dynamic field, and aims to be an innovative resource for both professionals and academics in the industry.  The studies explained in the book are along parallel lines with the efforts of the Behavioral Analytics and Visualization Lab established this year in Sabancı University in partnership with MIT.

For more information about the book: http://www.igi-global.com/book/geo-intelligence-visualization-through-big/123852

The Sabancı University community ran to the aid of the SU Scholarship Fund!

The Sabancı University community ran to the aid of the SU Scholarship Fund!

Our students, alumni, employees and Friends of SU took part in the 37thIstanbul Marathon on Sunday, November 15 for the benefit of the Sabancı University Scholarship Fund.

Thanks to their supporting families and friends, we raised TL 2.820 for the fund.

The fund will be used for the monthly stipend of 9 of our successful students who are in financial need, and the balance will go towards the scholarship of another student.

We would like to thank all supporters, financial or otherwise, for making a difference and creating awareness.

Our donation campaign continues until November 30, 2015 so that we can assist even more students in financial aid.

Click here to donate online!

For wire transfers:

Akbank

“Sabancı Üniversitesi” Branch

Sorting Code: 713

Account: 30727

IBAN: TR870004600713888000030727   

SU Istanbul Marathon entrants:

Ahmet Atakan Demir

Aybüke Külünk

Bensu Ateş

Birden Tuluğ Siyahi

Can Kartoğlu

Ceren Ahisha

Çağatay Yılmaz

Dilek Tekdal

Ethem Utku Aktaş

Fatih Turhan

Gökşin Liu

Hacer Ezgi Karakaş-schüller

Ines Karmaus

İpek Özdemir

İzel Özman

Mahmut Asım Elliiki

Muhammed Burak Alver

Müge Erdem

Özlem Karadeniz

Pelinsu İçil

Peter Schüller

Reyhan Süzen

Senem Avaz

Sevgi Ceyda Şairoğlu

Umut Barut

Yaşar Mert Harzadın

Yunus Emre Bahar

Zeliha Algül

Supporters of Istanbul Marathon entrants for the benefit of the SU Scholarship Fund:

Abdülkadir Can Karaca

Armağan Kuru

Arzu Kıran

Aslı Tuan  Acer

Ayla Gürleyen

Bahadır Tavusbay

Banu Ayşe Kerse

Bensu Ateş

Cem Berksun

Ebru  Özgür Katı

Elif  Gülez

Engin  Peker

Ethem Utku  Aktaş

Fatma Kılıç

Fatma Onat

Gökhan Sezginer

Gülekşen Ulusoy

Gülseren  Caşın

Haluk Bal

Hüseyin  Şairoğlu

Kemal İnak

Mariam Öcal

Mehmet Akif Akçal

Meltem Kurt

Merve Duran

Müge Özbir Yılmaz

Neşe Uslu

Özden Caymaz

Özgür Algül

Pınar Kalaycı

Salih Arıman

Selin Kanyas

Serpil  Gürbüz

Sezen  Gülşen Kama

Sinem  Adik Alkan

Sinem  Kural

Sinem Eskin

Süreyya  Güneş

Şule Aktaş

Tezcan Yalçın

Tuğçe Kalyoncu

Tümer  Arıtürk

Uğur Kaan  Karşılıklı

Ümit Emre Erdoğan

Yasemin Birben

Zeliha Algül

Zuhal Tümay

 

 

Achievement of Burcu Saner Okan and Yusuf Menceloğlu

Achievement of Burcu Saner Okan and Yusuf Menceloğlu

Dr. Burcu Saner Okan, one of SUNUM’s researchers, and Prof. Yusuf Menceloglu from Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences won the 2nd place award among 60 projects with their project entitled as “Graphene production by recycling process and its use as a reinforcing and weight-reducing agent in automotive plastics” in the Project competition about new technologies in automotive sector organized by Yıldız Technical University Technology Transfer Office on November 18, 2015.

Their project was also granted by TÜBİTAK Technology and Innovation Grant Programs.

Workshop for Business Against Domestic Violence Guidelines

Workshop for Business Against Domestic Violence Guidelines

The Workshop for Business Against Domestic Violence Policy Development and Implementation Guide Draft Assessment was held at the Sabancı Center on November 4, 2015 as part of the "Business Against Domestic Violence" Project of the Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum.

kadına yönelik aile içi şiddet çalıştayı

41 delegates from 30 institutions took part. Introductory remarks were delivered by Corporate Governance Forum Director Melsa Ararat. Melsa Ararat said, “We aim to ensure that woman employees and companies are not affected by domestic violence and policies are developed without injustice to women." Speaking on the workshop agenda, Melsa Ararat said that the Guideline would be revealed to the public on December 15, 2015.

melsa ararat

Ayşe Yüksel from the Sabancı University Gender and Women's Studies Forum as well as representatives from the UN Population Fund, TÜSİAD and participating companies reviewed the draft guideline and submitted their recommendations.

CDP 2015 Global Water Report and Turkey results

CDP 2015 Global Water Report and Turkey results

The CDP 2015 Global Water Report and Turkey results compiled with the support of Garanti Bank were disclosed.

The Global Water Report issued by CDP, the world's strongest and most effective environmental civil society organization, and the results achieved in Turkey were revealed at a meeting in Salt Galata on October 27, 2015.


According to CDP’s Global Water Report titled "Accelerating Action," eight companies worldwide were included in the CDP Water A List for their approach to water management. There are no Turkish companies in that list.

This was the first year that Turkish results were disclosed, and 36% of the respondents report having been exposed to water-related adverse effects in the last financial year. 64% of the companies note that water has become an important risk for their business, while 86% report that water creates opportunities for their companies.

The CDP Water Program was implemented in Turkey for the first time in 2015 by Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum and with the support and cooperation of Garanti Bank. In addition to the outputs of the CDP 2015 Global Water Report, the CDP Turkey Water Results Report prepared with the support of Deloitte Turkey to analyze the responses of companies from Turkey was revealed to the public at the meeting in Salt Galata on Tuesday, October 27. 

Introductory remarks to the main outputs of the CDP Global Water Report and the results of the CDP Water Program in Turkey were given by Sabancı University Vice President Professor Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz and Garanti Bank Assistant General Manager Ebru Dildar Edin. Following a video message by CDP Water Program Director Cate Lamb, Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum Director Dr. Melsa Ararat presented the CDP Global Water Report and Turkey results.

"Calculations suggest that the business-as-usual approach will cause Turkey to be among nations that experience water shortage rather than water issues by 2030."

Sabancı University Vice President Professor Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz said, "Calculations suggest that the business-as-usual approach will cause Turkey to be among nations that experience water shortage rather than water issues by 2030.  As individuals, public institutions and private companies, we all have responsibilities in preventing this outcome.  Water is the greatest consumption input of almost all industrial sectors. I am certain that initiatives like the CDP Water Program will help to increase sensitivity to water issues in Turkey, and I know that the support of contributing companies will create awareness in business circles to create good and sustainable business models."

"Our support to the CDP Water Program aims to expand the outreach of integrated water management in Turkey and to help the private sector assume risks related to water resources."

Garanti Bank Assistant General Manager Ebru Dildar Edin said, "The CDP Global Water Report makes stark revelations about the situation of water in Turkey and indicates that if the present consumption habits were to continue and no measures were taken, water will soon become a global crisis affecting national economies, and as a result, societies. As Garanti Bank, we believe that the fundamental principle of responsible and sustainable banking is putting in thought to the consequences of any steps we take before we take them. Businesses must go beyond efficient use of water to apply precautions across their entire value chain. Therefore, our support to the CDP Water Program aims to expand the outreach of integrated water management in Turkey and to help the private sector assume risks related to water resources. We are also proud that 15 companies responded to the CDP Water Program in its first year in Turkey. We intend to increase this number year after year to join our forces for conserving water resources and preventing the devastating effects of water shortage on the society and environment."

"It has been a challenging year for water with the worsening water security and supply crisis being ranked as number one or the greatest risk facing society in terms of impact by the World Economic Forum this year."

CDP Water Program Director Cate Lamb said, "It has been a challenging year for water with the worsening water security and supply crisis being ranked as number one or the greatest risk facing society in terms of impact by the World Economic Forum this year. This year, water risk was number one; less than three years ago it wasn’t even in the top 20.  I believe that is the reflection of the increasing business awareness of this issue and the necessary steps that will be required in order to secure a more stable, resilient and growing economy into the future. What was recognized in our analysis this year that despite the fact that leading companies are breaking away from the rest of the pack, there is a significant gap in performance overall. Many companies still fail to address water risks in any meaningful way. CDP provides a framework that has been used by a large number of companies to change this business-as-usual approach."

"Our reason for starting the CDP Water Program is to mediate to reveal water risks in a more comprehensive and systematic way, and establish a reputable platform for dialog on the reestablishment of water security."

Presenting CDP Water Report outputs, Sabancı University Corporate Governance Forum Director Melsa Ararat said, “Water-related risks have been gaining more and more weight among the climate change risks that companies have been reporting under the CDP Climate Change Program since 2010. It has been frequently said lately that Turkey is among high-risk countries with respect to water security. The reason for starting the CDP Water Program as part of CDP Turkey this year was to mediate to reveal water risks in a more comprehensive and systematic way, and establish a reputable platform for dialog on the reestablishment of water security."

CDP 2015 Global Water Report main outputs 

CDP has the world's most comprehensive corporate dataset on water risks and opportunities compiled through water questionnaires and responses. This year 617 institutional investors asked 1,073 of the world’s largest publicly listed companies across industry sectors with high water vulnerability or impacts to disclose how they are adapting and responding to worsening water security.  CDP’s new global water report analyzes the 405 company responses to this request, including those from Turkey.

CDP disclosed the results of CDP Water Ratings given to responding companies for the first time this year.  Asahi Group Holdings, Colgate Palmolive, Ford Motor Company and Toyota Motor Corporation are among the global corporations achieving an A rating for their efforts to improve water security and being included in the CDP Water A List. No Turkish companies were on the A List.

Key findings of the global report:

- Acting to improve water security remains a fundamental business imperative for many companies. Corporate water stewardship is becoming better understood, particularly by large corporations. Almost two-thirds of responding companies report exposure to water risk, with reported financial impacts in 2015 totaling more than US$2.5 billion.

- Oil and gas companies showed the least transparency to investors despite high exposure to water risk. Only 22% of the world’s largest publicly listed energy companies disclosed their water management strategies.

- The eight companies in the CDP Water A List will help to drive performance in the market. Analysis of responses over five years illustrates considerable progress in water management – but also serious areas of weakness. Supply chain risks, incomplete water risk assessments, a lack of meaningful water policies, and far from universal disclosure, all need to be addressed as a matter of urgency.

- Tackling water challenges remains an issue and action is urgently needed to close the gap between large companies and others. Despite increasing investor involvement, the market is not transparent enough: Only 38% of the 1073 companies responded to CDP's disclosure request.

- Water stewardship offers clear benefits to at-risk companies. Transforming business as usual operational approaches to water management into strategic water stewardship efforts reduces risk, enhances strategic preparedness, improves investor appeal and makes businesses more resilient.

CDP Turkey 2015 Water Program Results

The CDP Water Program sent disclosure requests to 51 companies traded on the BIST-100 index that operate in sectors most vulnerable to water risks. In addition to 8 of these companies responding, 7 additional companies voluntarily disclosed data despite not being requested by CDP to do so, for a total of 15 respondents this year.

Key Findings:

- Turkish companies have a very low rate of response to CDP. 84% of the 51 companies receiving requests failed to respond to the CDP Water Program in 2015. On the other hand, 7 companies voluntarily disclosed their water data. The low rate of responses may be tied to many factors such as receiving a request from CDP for the first time, lack of an effective water policy, lack of water-related data, and the nonexistence of a national water strategy.

- 36% of the respondents report having been exposed to water-related adverse effects in the last financial year.  

- Water security is a key business issue for many Turkish companies. 64% of the respondents report that water has become a significant risk for their business.

- No company in Turkey has an effective and comprehensive water policy. Such a policy requires that water-related strategies are integrated into the overalls strategies of the company, performance standards are established for direct operations and supply chains, action steps are clearly defined, and water, health and hygiene are recognized as fundamental human rights.

- Physical risk factors like increasing water shortage or stress, degrading water quality and droughts are the risks most frequently reported by respondents. Three quarters of the 35 different water-related risks reported are physical risks.

- 86% of the respondents report that water presents operational, strategic or economic opportunities. The most important opportunities are in cost savings and increased water efficiency. Many companies believe that reducing water consumption may bring cost savings.

- There are great gaps in water risk assessment. Only 14% of these companies have completed a general risk assessment that covers their direct operations and supply chains. The majority of Turkish companies are yet to define comprehensive policies that involve suppliers in their value chains in the water issue.

- 79% of the respondents report that water policies, strategies and planning, or corporate water management as a whole, is handled at the Board level.

- Half of the respondents have set targets regarding water. 79% of the companies have set qualitative targets for improving water management, while 50% have set quantitative targets.

Among key quantitative targets are "reducing the quantity of water drawn," "improving the monitoring of water usage" and "reducing water intensity." Qualitative targets include "sustainable agriculture," "customer education" and "stronger ties with the communi

Click for Global Water Report 2015.

Click for CDP Turkey 2015 Water Program Results.

Families are back to school

Families are back to school

Sabancı University invited parents to the sixth annual “Family and Education Day.” Families learned more about a wide range of topics from science to entrepreneurship, energy, and politics.

Sabancı University “Family and Education Day” took place at the Sabancı University campus in Tuzla on Saturday, October 24, 2015.   The traditional Family and Education Day event started at the Sabancı University Performing Arts Center with introductory remarks by President Nihat Berker.

President Nihat Berker

The first presentation of the Family and Education Day was delivered by Vice President Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz. Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz spoke on “Global Energy and Water: Conjoined Twins and Other Siblings." This was followed by Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences Dean Yusuf Menceloğlu on “Nanotechnology from Labs to Daily Life; Nanoengineering from Molecules to Material." School of Management faculty member Dilek Çetindamar gave a lecture titled“Being the Top Entrepreneur and Innovator is No Luck." Finally, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Emeritus Professor Ahmet Evin spoke on “Energy, Politics and States.” 

Parents were accompanied by Sabancı University faculty members during lunch, where they found the opportunity to ask questions. The afternoon session included tours of the Information Center and SUNUM, and Faculty Programs. Nanotechnology Research and Application Center Director Volkan Özgüz met parents at SUNUM and gave information about the facility.

Parents received general information about the Faculty of Engineering and Natural Sciences from Assistant Dean Cem Güneri; the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences from Dean Ayşe Kadıoğlu, the School of Management from Assistant Dean Burçin Bozkaya, and the School of Languages from Director Jacqueline Einer.

2014-2015 Lecture Awards given

Foundations Development Year Instructor Awards category had Neslihan Demirdirek in first place, Sharon Turner in second and Michael John Thomas in third.

Contribution to First Year University Courses – Class Lectures Category Awards went to David Hill in first place, Brian Rodrigues in second place, and Ekrem Sabit Şimşek in third place.

Contribution to First Year University Courses – Hall Lectures Category Awards went to Hakan Erdem, Cemil Koçak and Akşin Somel in first, second and third places, respectively.

Graduates of the Year Award winners chosen with the votes of senior year undergraduate students were Murat Kaya, Güvenç Şahin and İlker Birbil.

In the First Year Teaching Assistant Awards category, Işın Taylan was first, Abba İbrahim Ramadan second and Hatice Sezer third.

In the Teaching Assistant Awards category for courses other than first-year university courses, first prize went to Marco Chiappetta, second prize to Can Çalışkan, and third prize to  Periklis Tsekouras.

Winners received their awards from President Nihat Berker, SoM Dean Füsun Ülengin, FASS Dean Ayşe Kadıoğlu and FENS Dean Yusun Menceloğlu.

Dance performances during the day

Performances by Sabancı University dance club SUDans livened up the atmosphere.

 

Applications for the Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program begin

Applications for the Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program begin

Applications are now open for the Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program held with the cooperation of Sabancı University and Akbank. The program is open to managing partners or executive directors of companies established in Turkey. The assessment considers the value created by projects and the objectives of the applicants.

The Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program held by Akbank in association with the Sabancı University Entrepreneurship Council will accept admissions until November 2, 2015. The program is open to managing partners or executive directors of companies established in Turkey. The assessment and selection criteria for the program include the value added by the project, the ground covered, growth potential, and objectives.  

Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program is a 5-day training that includes subjects such as strategy, innovation, marketing, operations, finance, human resources, law, intellectual property and government incentives that entrepreneurs need to know. The training will be held at the Karaköy Minerva Palas between November 23 and 27, 2015, and participants will be issued a Sabancı University certificate at completion. The keynote speaker at the certification ceremony will be Mehmet Buldurgan, founder of the active angel investor network Şirket Ortağım and former CEO of Temsa.

"Our support for entrepreneurs is not limited to financing; we offer many solutions that add value to the entrepreneurship ecosystem."

Speaking about the program, Akbank's Vice President of Small and Medium Enterprise Banking, Bülent Oğuz, said that supporting entrepreneurs was instrumental for dynamic and accelerated economic growth, continuing:
"Entrepreneurs play active part in creating new thought and giving rise to new industries, and bring dynamism to the economy they operate in by analyzing customer needs as quickly and accurately as possible. Therefore, Akbank's support for entrepreneurs is not limited to financing; we offer many solutions that add value to the entrepreneurship ecosystem. The Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program we implement with Sabancı University as a mini-MBA for small and medium enterprises aims to pave the way for a long-term development strategy and sustainable growth for participants. Taking a company to healthy growth and sustaining it are supremely important. Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program has given support to a great number of entrepreneurs since established, and this year we will extend our service to 50 carefully-selected entrepreneurs. We hope that the program will enable our entrepreneurs to further grow their businesses and gain an important position in tomorrow's world of business."

Trainings will be given by Sabancı University faculty members and business experts. Trainers and their subjects in the program will include Sabancı University Faculty Member Dilek Çetindamar on “Business Plans and Business Models in SMEs"”, Sabancı University Faculty Member Cenk Kocaş on “Creating value through marketing in SMEs", Lean Institute Specialist Hüsrev Yaman on “SME Operations, Competitive Advantage through Lean Production and Management", Sabancı University Faculty Member Işın Güler on “Making a Difference in SMEs with Strategy and Innovation", Sabancı University Entrepreneurship Council Director Kutlu Kazancı on “SME Growth through Right Finance Management”, Sabancı University Faculty Member on “Leadership and HR Management in SMEs", Diffusion Capital Partners Founding Partner Ömer Hızıroğlu on “Law and Intellectual Property for SMEs”, and Sabancı University Entrepreneurship Council Specialist Başar Kaya on “Government Incentives for SMEs".

Speaking on the Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program, Sabancı University Entrepreneurship Council Director Kutlu Kazancı emphasized the importance of leaps in innovation, speed and effectiveness in Turkish SMEs to compete on an international level, and said: “Akbank and us joined forces for a thorough certificate program to improve the competitive strength of 50 SMEs every year in order to support the backbone of the Turkish economy."

About the Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program:

Established in 2003 and supported by Endeavor, Kagider and Inovent, the Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program is designed to provide entrepreneurs with a sound basis for building an effective business, deliver the necessary training, and complete applied project work. During the 12 years since the first program, the training content was constantly updated and redesigned to reflect the outcomes and experiences around the world and to adapt to the circumstances in Turkey. The program aims to equip entrepreneurs who have started their ventures or ready to grow with knowledge on how growth will be achieved and sustained.

The selection jury for the Sabancı University-led training program aiming at entrepreneurs who want to grow their business determine the participants among applicants who have been in business for at least three years and are having growth issues, as opposed to applicants with only a business idea. SMEs from all over Turkey join the Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program for a week-long training free of charge. Trainings are open to entrepreneurs who already have a business.

Subjects in the Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program cover a wide range of issues from financial calculations in the growth stage of companies to operating and marketing plans varying by business model, and include informative sessions on loan and shareholders’ equity requirements and growth in domestic and foreign markets. Also included in the program are visits to successful entrepreneurs or lectures by visiting entrepreneurs who share their success stories. The keynote speaker in the certification ceremony of the 2014 Akbank Entrepreneur Development Program was Hasan Aslanoba.

The program is free of charge and applications will be open at www.akbank.com until November 2, 2015.   

 

Turquality 12th Term Graduation Ceremony

Turquality 12th Term Graduation Ceremony

The graduates of the 12th term of the Turquality Executive Development Program held under the auspices of the Ministry of Economy simultaneously at Sabancı, Koç, Istanbul and Bilkent Universities received their certificates at a ceremony at the Exporters’ Assembly of Turkey’s Foreign Trade Complex with the attendance of the Minister of Economy, Nihat Zeybekçi.  

turquality töreni

Speaking at the ceremony, Sabancı University Vice President Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz spoke on the significance of the Turquality Program for Sabancı University. Saying that participants received courses from Sabancı University faculty who were recognized as among the best in their fields, Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz expressed their desire to expand the program worldwide and said that Sabancı University would continue to contribute to the program towards this objective.

The ceremony concluded with 12th term graduates receiving their certificates. 34 participants from Sabancı University received their certificates from Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekçi, TİM Chair Mehmet Büyükekşi, and Sabancı University Vice President Sondan Durukanoğlu Feyiz.

QS EECA Rankings revealed: Sabancı University ranks 14th

QS EECA Rankings revealed: Sabancı University ranks 14th

UK-based higher education ranking QS revealed the Emerging Europe and Central Asia – EECA Universities Rankings. Sabancı University gained three positions compared to last year and became 14th among the "Top 150 Universities." 

qs eeca sıralaması

The Emerging Europe and Central Asia-EECA top 100 list compiled by QS University Rankings include 12 Turkish universities. Sabancı University advanced from 17th position last year to become the 14th this year. 

Also included in the rankings were METU and Bilkent University at 11th position, Koç University at 15th, Boğaziçi and Istanbul Universities at 17th, ITU at 30th, Hacettepe University at 34th, Ankara University at 56th, Ege University at 73rd, Gazi University at 83rd and Dokuz Eylül University at 91st position.  

A statement issued by the ranking institution explained that the QS university rankings for European and Central Asian nations were assigned different criteria depending on region, which differentiates the EECA Rankings from the QS World University Rankings.

The list covers universities from 30 countries including Albania, Armenia, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, FYR Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.  There are 12 Turkish universities in the top 100, and 16 in the top 150.

The Lomonosov Moscow State University and Novosibirsk State University from Russia were first and second, respectively, and Charles University from the Czech Republic was third. 

Survey results had the most weight in determining scores:

A total of nine factors were assessed: academic reputation (30%), employer reputation (20%), faculty/student ratio (15%), papers per faculty (10%), web impact (10%), staff with a PhD (5%), citations per paper (5%), international faculty (2.5%) and international students (2.5%).

Sustainability and climate change in transport systems

Sustainability and climate change in transport systems

Sabancı University School of Management and Istanbul Policy Center hosted the World Conference on Transportation Research Society - Special Interest Group: E1 Transport System Analysis and Economic Evaluation (WCTRS SIG E1 Workshop) on October 5 and 6, 2015. The two-day event at the Karaköy Minerva Palas featured prominent names from academic and business communities as speakers. 

This year's topic was “Sustainability As a New Breakthrough in Transport System Benchmarking: The Climate Change Framework." The workshop brought together academics working on transport systems and climate change with business representatives.

World Conference on Transportation Research Society

Opening remarks were delivered by Sabancı University President Professor A. Nihat Berker, Istanbul Policy Center Director Professor Fuat Keyman and School of Management Dean Professor Füsun Ülengin. Professor Nihat Berker emphasized the importance of the transport sector in a global world and noted the connection between the development of this sector and sustainability and climate change. Professor Keyman spoke on the climate, energy, environment and sustainability efforts within the Istanbul Policy Center.  Professor Füsun Ülengin said that climate change scenarios were based on a global average temperature increase of 2 centigrade and that the transport sector accounted for 11% of this increase. She said that climate change and sustainability had to be considered when planning transport investments and that a roadmap showing the interactivity among the variables in this area would be prepared as an outcome of this workshop.

The first speaker on the first day of the workshop was Eckhard Szimba from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Szimba spoke on the transport policies of the EU. Ashish Verma from the Indian Institute of Science explained city transport policies in Bangalore and presented solution recommendations developed from a different perspective. Aseem Kinra from the Copenhagen Business School discussed the breakthrough in the national logistics sector from the perspective of the global supply chain. Yves Crozet from the Laboratoire d'économie des Transports spoke on the changes and challenges brought by sustainability on the transport sector. Sabancı University School of Management faculty member Çağrı Haksöz spoke on risk intelligence and supply chain in the Silk Road. Sabancı University School of Management faculty member Tevhide Altekin discussed socially-responsible logistics in sustainable supply chains.

The second day of the workshop began with an industry session led by Unilever Turkey Vice President of Food Marketing, Mustafa Seçkin. Mustafa Seçkin spoke about Unilever’s sustainability project for tea growers in the Black Sea Region through its Lipton brand. Afterwards, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology’s Werner Rothengatter spoke on the design of synchronized sustainable supply chains. Rosario Macario from the Universidade de Lisboa explained the road from a non-sustainable environment to a sustainable one.

A brainstorming session on causality was followed by a panel discussion with Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center members Ümit Şahin and Ethemcan Turhan. The moderator of the panel was Ömer Madra.  Ömer Madra gave examples of natural disasters caused by climate change worldwide.

The closing speech of the event was delivered by Sabancı University School of Management Dean Professor Füsun Ülengin.

 


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