Zeynep Günay

Zeynep Günay is an Associate Professor at Istanbul Technical University's Department of Urban and Regional Planning. Her academic career spans critical heritage studies, urban regeneration, and neoliberal urbanism. She has held visiting positions at Bauhaus-Universität Weimar, Gran Sasso Science Institute, and other institutions.

• PhD: Sustainability of historic landscapes (ITU, 2011)
• MSc: Urban conservation (ITU, 2004) & regeneration studies (Cardiff, 2007)
• Bachelor: City and Regional Planning (Middle East Technical University, 2001)

Her research focuses on conflict heritage, memory politics, and neoliberal interpretations of urban preservation. She explores body politics, liminal spaces, and circularity in urban contexts, particularly in developing countries. Recent projects include the Erasmus+ KA220 CIRC.LE initiative (2021-2025) and Horizon 2020 MSCA-RISE collaborations.

Key awards include the European Union Prize for Cultural Heritage (2004), Gerd Albers Award (2015), and ITU Zirvede Ödülü (2018). She has served as Vice President of ISOCARP and Director of ITU's Young Professionals’ Programme (2017-2023).