Practicing Collaborative Research
The Center for Spatial Justice (Mekanda Adalet Derneği) is an independent, multidisciplinary organization based in Istanbul, working at the intersection of research, art, and social impact.
Since 2016, the Center has developed an innovative approach that combines rigorous research methodologies with creative practices to address complex urban and environmental challenges.
Welcome to a presentation by Hüseyincan Eryılmaz and Ceren Yartan introduction and moderation by Magnus Ericson.
Photo: Ekin Çekiç
Ergene river basin study, Ergene, Türkiye.
The organization’s work is grounded in field-based, collaborative research processes that bring together communities, researchers, and cultural practitioners. Using methods such as participatory mapping, citizen science, and qualitative fieldwork, the Center generates situated knowledge on spatial injustices—ranging from urban transformation to ecological degradation. These processes prioritize co-production, long-term engagement, and the integration of local knowledge into broader analytical frameworks.
Hüseyincan Eryılmaz and Ceren Yartan will discuss the methods employed by the Center – be it walks, publications, digital platforms, or research – within the context of Türkiye, which brings its own characteristics and challenges. The focus will be on different walking practices, storytelling methods, and the printed and online publication beyond.istanbul which serves as a critical platform for sharing interdisciplinary perspectives and connecting urban and ecological spatial justice issues in Turkey with global debates. Recent work, such as housing cooperatives, just transition, heatwaves, and well-being in urban environments, will also be part of the discussion.
Hüseyincan Eryılmaz is a practice-based urban researcher and program coordinator working at the intersection of spatial justice, civil society, and participatory research and practice. He has nearly a decade of experience designing and coordinating civil society programs, including international exchange and subgrant mechanisms involving local communities, NGOs, and public actors. At the Center for Spatial Justice in Istanbul, he coordinates multi-stakeholder programs combining fieldwork, learning processes, and research-informed practice, with a focus on post-disaster recovery, urban justice, and local participation.
Ceren Yartan has a degree from the Cultural Studies program at Sabancı University, and completed her MA in Comparative Literature at Washington University in St. Louis. She has worked as an editor and research specialist across various arts and cultural organizations, contributing to publications and developing training programs on cultural policy and podcasting. Her interests include cultural policy, care practices, and socially engaged forms of knowledge production. She is the creator and host of the 11 Minutes podcast and a fellow of the Alliance for Socially Engaged Arts. She is curremntly the General Coordinator at the Center for Spatial Justice, before serving as Publications Coordinator.
Magnus Ericson is Head of Applied arts IASPIS, responsible for IASPIS’ programme related to design, craft, architecture, spatial and urban practice.