معرفی
Maral Erol serves as Associate Professor in the Department of Humanities and Social Sciences at Işık University, Istanbul. She earned her BA and MA in Political Science and International Relations from Boğaziçi University and Yıldız Technical University respectively, completed her PhD in Science and Technology Studies at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, and conducted a five-year postdoctoral fellowship at Duke University.
Her academic credentials include:
- Bachelor of Arts, Political Science and International Relations, Boğaziçi University
- Master of Arts, Political Science and International Relations, Yıldız Technical University
- PhD, Science and Technology Studies, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Dr. Erol's research critically examines medicalization processes through feminist Science and Technology Studies frameworks, with primary focus on masculinity, gender-science-technology relations, biomedical technologies, and medicalization. Her work investigates how biomedical discourses shape bodily experiences in Turkish contexts, particularly regarding menopause, menstruation, aging, and functional foods, emphasizing power dynamics and neoliberal governance in health practices.
Analysis of her publication record reveals consistent exploration of medicalization across the lifespan, with recurring themes in women's health (menopause, menstruation) and men's health (andropause, aging). Her scholarship demonstrates methodological innovation through qualitative analysis of Turkish health discourses and contributions to feminist technoscience theory.
As an active IstanbuLab member, Dr. Erol has moderated STS Talks, edited special journal issues, contributed to international conference exhibits (including Society for Social Studies of Science conferences), organized panels on science advocacy in authoritarian contexts, and participated in the Political Economy reading group. She currently researches discourses surrounding local and heirloom seeds in Turkey.