Aliye Ahu Gülümser

Professor Aliye Ahu Gülümser serves at Istanbul Technical University's Faculty of Architecture within the Department of Urban and Regional Planning. Her current roles include Director of the ITU Environment and Urbanization Application and Research Center and past leadership as Department Head (2020-2022).

Her research focuses on Rural Planning, Strategic Spatial Planning, and Sustainable Rural Development, with particular emphasis on rural entrepreneurs, ethical urban planning, and resilience frameworks. Key projects include Istanbul's Natural and Rural Areas Sustainable Management and Turkey's Spatial Strategy Plan development.

Recent publications analyze metropolitanization impacts in Turkey, ethical perspectives of urban planners, and material innovations in contemporary practice. Her work consistently bridges academic research with practical applications in Turkish urban contexts.

• First Prize Antakya Metropolitan Municipality (2021)
• Ilhan Tekeli Thesis Master's Thesis Award (2022)

She actively supervises theses (24 in progress per Scopus) and leads major research projects including TTO Turkey's Spatial Strategy Plan and Rural Area Planning Models. Her professional network spans the Regional Studies Association, Urban Economics Association, and TMMOB Chamber of Urban Planners since 2004.

Gülümser directs the ITU Environment and Urbanization Application and Research Center, focusing on sustainable development projects at Taşkışla Campus. Her collaborative work includes international partnerships through Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam research experience.