Emrah Altınok

Emrah Altınok is a social scientist, artist, and author (member of PEN International) working as an assistant professor at Istanbul Bilgi University's Department of Architecture. Trained in urban & regional planning, urban sociology, and urban political economy. He holds a PhD in Urban Planning from Yıldız Technical University, Istanbul. His research interests include the political economy of capitalism, hegemony, history, theory, and criticism in planning and architecture, critical urban theory, social urbanism, and ecosocial design. Presently, he is thinking and writing on post-capitalism, post-growth politics, solidarity economies, and cooperatives. With hybrid expertise, Altınok can influence city planners, mayors, and NGOs to implement progressive urban and social programs. As an activist and role model educator who employs an out-of-classroom approach, he works with his students in solidarity with neighborhood initiatives to develop participatory and inclusive planning and design models. Based on his research experience in toponymy, critical mapping, and geospatial analysis, he has joined a network of COST Action secondary proposers in 2022. His mappings and data visualizations addressing social and environmental challenges in the context of Istanbul's over-urbanization were exhibited at MAXXI in 2015. As an artist combining social research, data science, and hybrid artistic mediums, Altınok has been exhibited in 10+ international and national galleries and art venues, such as Cantieri Culturali Alla Zisa, Palermo, and the Institut Français de Turquie. Several worldwide magazines and newspapers, such as the Financial Times, Where Magazine, Wired, and Zeit and distinguished publishing houses, such as Random House, Penguin, and De Geus, have included his works.