Our Team
MERVE ŞİMŞEK
After graduating from Atatürk University Food Engineering and Sociology, she completed her master’s degree in Sociology at Beykent University with a thesis on Social Work and Violence. After her engineering studies in the private sector and Turkish Standards Institute, she was appointed as a sociologist to the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of the Ministry of Family and Social Services in 2014. After working at the Violence Prevention and Monitoring Centre in the field of women, she took part in children’s home inspections in Child Services. She is currently working as a project coordinator in the EU, Foreign Relations and Projects Unit of Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services.
TÜRKAY ÇOTUK
In 2011, he graduated from Marmara Faculty of Fine Arts, Department of Painting. In 2019, he completed his master’s degree in painting at the same school with his thesis titled “Reproduction of space simulacrum through performative tendencies“.
Awards :
-Akbank Contemporary Artists Award Exhibition Aksanat, Istanbul / Türkiye, 2013
-Siemens Art Borders and Orbits 5-6 Siemens Sanat, Istanbul / Türkiye, 2009
Artist Residency Programs:
-Case Dell’ Arte Gallery Artist Residency Program Bodrum/Türkiye, 2013
-Artist residency program within the scope of the Intercultural Dialogue Organization, Gyumri/Armenia, 2008
Exhibitions and Workshops Attended:
– 2025-2026 Erasmus+ KA 210 Projesi olan “Youth-Centered Digital Society” Proje Tasarımı/Proje Koordinatörlüğü-Openact işbirliği ile
-Seminar and workshop series on the Hikikomori phenomenon, Erasmus +, in cooperation with the Ministry of Family, 2023-2024,
-23. Online Performance Festival, Flow Video Performance, 2022
-Stay LIVE at Home, Live Home Performance No: 48 in collaboration with Performistanbul, 2020
-Evaluations on art production within the scope of the workshop organized by Ai Weiwei, Sakıp Sabancı Museum, 2018
-Contemporary Art in the Open Air / Ströer Kentvizyon Panels, 2016
MERVE BAŞ
In 2013, she graduated from Istanbul University, Department of Psychology, and in 2022, she completed her Master’s programme in Social Work at the University of Health Sciences with her thesis titled “The effect of fair world belief and social comparison levels on the subjective well-being of individuals who left institutional care as adults”. After working as a statistical analysis (SPSS) consultant for various academic studies for a while after her undergraduate graduation, she was appointed as a psychologist to the Istanbul Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services in 2015. After working in various institutions in Disability Services and Child Services, she worked as Branch Manager in Istanbul ASHİM Child Services Unit. Finally, she was appointed to Van Provincial Directorate of Family and Social Services and continues to work as responsible for the Child Services Unit.
PROF.DR. KUTAY YILMAZ
In 1995, he graduated from the Turkish Military Academy as a Gendarmerie Lieutenant, majoring in Industrial Engineering. He voluntarily retired from active duty on 14 October 2016. He completed his master’s degree in Anthropology at Yeditepe University (Istanbul) in 2003 and received his doctorate from the same department in 2010. He is currently serving as a Professor in the Department of Sociology (English) at Istanbul Beykent University.
His research interests include international migration, the status of child migrants in Türkiye, social transformation in Southeastern Anatolia, the categorical classification of occupational accidents, forest crimes, and types of fraud in Türkiye. He contributed a chapter titled “Journey to the Anthropocene: A Story of Human Cultural History” to the edited volume Traces of the Anthropocene. In his 2023 book “The Social Structure and Change of Turkey,” Yılmaz offers an insightful exploration into the dynamics of Turkish society and its evolving structures.
BELFİN KAYALAR
She began her studies in Sociology at Beykent University in 2023. Since 2025, she has been actively involved in youth-focused work at the Openact Association. She is a dedicated student committed to gaining the necessary professional qualifications throughout her academic journey. Responsible, organized, and disciplined, she places strong emphasis on academic achievement. She is also open to diverse experiences and learning opportunities that support both her personal growth and professional development.