Our department faculty member, Prof. Dr. Aliihsan Şekertekin, addressed climate risks using satellite data during a COP31 panel.
On November 2, 2026, a panel titled “On the Road to COP31: A Changing Climate, A Changing Life” was organized by the Iğdır University Environmental Problems Application and Research Center (ÇEVMER) at the September 8 Martyrs’ Conference Hall. Prof. Dr. Aliihsan Şekertekin—a faculty member in our department and the Director of the Vocational School of Technical Sciences—participated as a speaker, and students from the Department of Architecture and Urban Planning also attended the event.
The opening remarks for the panel were delivered by our University’s Rector, Prof. Dr. Ekrem Gürel, and Vice-Rector and COP31 Coordinator, Prof. Dr. Haktan Sevinç. Their speeches emphasized the importance of scientific research, sustainable environmental policies, and public awareness in the fight against climate change.
In a panel moderated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Züleyha Reçber, Director of ÇEVMER, Prof. Dr. Aliihsan Şekertekin delivered a presentation titled “Warming World, Warming Cities: Surface Temperature and Climate Risks via Satellite Data.” Examining the impacts of urbanization and construction on surface temperatures using satellite data, Şekertekin drew attention to the formation of urban heat islands. He emphasized the importance of increasing green spaces in cities to mitigate this effect.
In the panel, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Mehmet Ali Çelik evaluated the impacts of climate change on agricultural production and food security in his presentation titled “Drought, Famine, and Food Security in the Shadow of Climate Change.” Meanwhile, Assistant Professor Erkan Durar addressed the psychological dimension of the climate crisis in his presentation, “The Effects of Climate Change on Human Psychology.”
The event provided our students with the opportunity to see how satellite data is used to monitor environmental changes and assess climate-related risks in urban areas. The presentations, which were directly relevant to the fields of study within our department, helped our students connect their professional knowledge with issues concerning climate change and sustainable urbanization.
The program concluded with the presentation of certificates of appreciation to the speakers by Rector Prof. Dr. Ekrem Gürel, following the question-and-answer session.
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