Serap KAYASÜ

Prof. Dr. Serap KAYASÜ is a Professor and Chair in the Department of City and Regional Planning at Middle East Technical University (METU), Ankara. Her academic journey includes B.Sc. and Ph.D. degrees from METU and an M.A. from the University of Waterloo. She specializes in urban and regional development, gender studies in urban contexts, and institutional frameworks influencing planning policies. Her research emphasizes the intersection of gender with urban space, regional economic strategies, and disaster management governance.

• Education: B.Sc. in City Planning (METU), M.A. in Urban Studies (University of Waterloo), Ph.D. in City and Regional Planning (METU)

Her research interests revolve around institutional aspects of urban development, gender equity in city planning, and regional policy dynamics. Key themes include the role of regional development agencies in Turkey, EU membership impacts on regional policies, and transformative urban regeneration strategies. Recent work focuses on neighborhood improvement practices under the 'Gentrification 2.0' framework.

Her publications span topics such as disaster risk governance, urban transformation concepts, and gendered spatial interactions. Notable awards include the University of Waterloo Graduate Scholarship (1984-1988) and the Peace Scholarship for Women (1985-1986).

• Research Projects: Directed Turkey's section of the EU-funded 'Gentrification 2.0' project (JPI Urban Europe, 2012) and co-authored studies on Izmir Development Agency performance.
• Teaching: Courses include advanced planning studios, labor dynamics in global restructuring, and gender issues in urban planning.