Winner Announced for the Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı "Human Development Research Award"

The Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı "Human Development Research Award" presented by Koç University's UNESCO Chair on Gender Equality and Sustainable Development was this year granted to Dr. Mine Egbatan. The award was presented at a ceremony held at Koç University on 10 December.

The award programme established by Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı to encourage scientific research aimed at enhancing human well-being has continued to support research with high potential for societal impact in the social sciences since 2017.

2025 Award Winner: Dr. Mine Egbatan
The 2025 award winner is Dr. Mine Egbatan, who continues her research at the University of Texas. The researcher was selected for the award by the jury for her work titled "Disability, Gender, and Infrastructure in Populist Turkey."

Speaking at the ceremony, Prof. Dr. Bertil Emrah Oder, Director of Koç University's Center for Research and Application on Gender and Women's Studies (KOÇ-KAM) and holder of the UNESCO Chair, drew attention to the importance of the research and stated:

"The Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı Award Programme continues to support young researchers who approach fundamental issues of human development with scientific depth and a perspective on societal impact. We find it particularly valuable that this year's award was given to an innovative study that focuses on intersections of critical importance for Turkey, such as disability, gender and infrastructure policies. We hope that the findings of this research will contribute to more inclusive social policies."

The 2025 submissions were evaluated by a jury comprised of Prof. Dr. Nazlı Baydar from Koç University, Prof. Dr. Yasemin Usluel from Hacettepe University, Dr. Nazlı Altınok and Assoc. Dr. Burak Gürel from Koç University.

Previous Award Winners
Previous recipients of the Prof. Dr. Çiğdem Kağıtçıbaşı Human Development Research Award, granted since 2017, are as follows:

- Şebnem Özdemir, "ANKA (Analytical Causal Decision Tree)", 2017

- Miraç Burak Gönültaş, "Approach and Activation of Crime Investigation in Cases of Child Abduction for Sexual Abuse", 2017

- Elif Gül Yılmazlar, "Assessment of Judges' Decision-Making Processes Regarding the Institution of Unjust Provocation in Terms of Gender Discrimination", 2018

- Mustafa Öztürk, "Acquisition and Dissemination of Competence in Sustainable Development-Focused Education in Primary Education", 2018

- Şebnem Feriver Gezer, "Integration of Systems Thinking Skills into Early Childhood Education in Turkey", 2019

- Anıl Özge Üstünel, "Social and Developmental Construction of Women's Identity", 2019

- Cem Soylu, "Testing the Biopsychosocial Successful Ageing Model Based on Socioemotional Selectivity Theory", 2020

- Seçil Gönültaş, "Youth Power in Society: Promoting Civil Engagement of Young People in Turkey through a Role Model Intervention Programme", 2021

- Nazlı Kazanoğlu, "An Alternative Model for Work-Family Balance for Turkey", 2022

- Mine Egbatan, "Disability, Gender, and Infrastructure in Populist Turkey", 2025