The “3rd International Environmental Humanities Conference” (3. Uluslararası Çevreci Beşeri Bilimler Konferansı), hosted by our university’s Center for Environmental Humanities (Çevreci Beşeri Bilimler Merkezi) in collaboration with the Faculty of Humanities (Beşeri Bilimler Fakültesi), was held at Mustafapaşa Campus, Oktay Sinanoğlu Conference Hall, attracting a diverse and highly engaged audience, predominantly composed of international participants.
With this year’s theme, “Ecocriticism in the 21st Century” (21. Yüzyılda Ekoeleştiriler), the conference aimed to explore the latest theoretical approaches and innovative research under the umbrella of ecocriticism, opening discussions on its multifaceted dimensions. The three-day event began with opening speeches by Prof. Dr. Serpil Oppermann, Director of the Center for Environmental Humanities, and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sinan Akıllı, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Assistant Director of the Center. The conference stood out for its rich content and broad academic scope.
The conference brought together 64 participants from 16 different countries, including 21 researchers and academics from leading Turkish universities (both presenters and non-presenting attendees), as well as international scholars from the USA, South Africa, Italy, the UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Switzerland, Hungary, Slovenia, South Korea, India, Uruguay, and Chile. This year’s keynote speakers were Prof. Dr. Serenella Iovino (University of North Carolina) and Assoc. Prof. Dr. Alexa Weik von Mossner (University of Klagenfurt). In addition to original research presentations, the conference featured an ecology-focused digital art installation. On the final day, a screening of two eco-themed short films (Floodplain and Our Ark) by director and screenwriter Deniz Tortum was held, followed by a Q&A session with the filmmaker.
As Turkey’s only traditional thematic conference in Environmental Humanities, this event has become synonymous with our university. The fourth edition of the International Environmental Humanities Conference series is planned for 2026.
