Sofya Cihan CANBOLAT

Dr. Sofya Cihan CANBOLAT serves as an Assistant Professor in the Graphic Design Department at Kastamonu University's Faculty of Fine Arts and Design since 2025, following her appointment as Research Assistant in 2017. She holds a PhD in Art Education (2021), Master's in Graphic Education (2014), and Bachelor's in Applied Arts Education (2011), all from Gazi University.

Her research spans Graphic Design, Visual Communication, and Illustration, with significant contributions to climate change art activism, mail art, and cultural heritage preservation. Her scholarly work integrates traditional techniques like woodcut printing with digital innovations, examining contemporary applications of historical practices such as Kastamonu stone lithography.

Analysis of her 15 most recent publications reveals a strong focus on environmental themes in art (33% of works), cultural heritage reinterpretation (27%), and design pedagogy innovations (20%). Her interdisciplinary approach connects visual arts with social responsibility, particularly through climate change narratives and community engagement projects.

• En Fazla Sosyal Sorumluluk Projesi Award (Kastamonu University, 2025) for leading multiple social responsibility initiatives
• Bilim Teşvik Ödülü (Economic Development and Social Research Association, 2017)
• Active editorial role as Associate Editor for Otuzyedi Art and Design Journal (2022-2024)

She has secured research funding from TÜBİTAK and institutional grants for projects including AI-supported climate change applications and illustration workshops. Her artistic practice features 131 documented events including three solo exhibitions (Macedonian Souvenir Stamps, Breathless, and Think, Words of the Elders Are the Greatest of Words) and international mail art collaborations across 25+ countries. She actively contributes to academic service as a member of the Art Educators Association (SEDER) since 2019.