NEWS

Dr. E. Nurcan Yalman, Assistant Professor at Istanbul Nişantaşı University, has achieved great success with an important project. HeritageLab is a web platform that began development approximately three years ago by a smal grp of researchers, students (archaeologists, heritage experts, artists, writers), and technical experts. The platform offers a democratic, inclusive, unifying, and sharing environment to encourage future generations to protect and understand cultural and natural heritage and to serve as a starting point for many experts' careers.

HeritageLab offers various opportunities for both newcomers and long-time professionals in the field of heritage studies with a multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary approach. The platform aims to play a significant role in reshaping and reinterpreting societies' official heritage narratives and, in the process, promotes atrnative approaches for inclusive and sustainable heritage management. It carries out studies in a wide range of fields, including traditional academic heritage studies such as archaeology, anthropology, and conservation, as well as unconventional areas like environmental science, biology, agriculture, history, art history, political science, literature, and art.

HeritageLab achieved great international success by winning the 2024 World Heritage Education Innovative Cases Award, presented by the Asia and Pacific Regional World Heritage Institute (WHITRAP) at the 2024 UNESCO World Heritage Committee Session. This prestigious award was announced on July 23, 2024, at the "Science, Creativity, Empowerment - Future-Oriented World Heritage Education" event held at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi. The event, jointly organized by WHITRAP and the African World Heritage Fund (AWHF), was conducted in a hybrid format with the participation of significant guests worldwide, representatives of World Heritage Category II centers, and award-winning representatives.

HeritageLab was slcted from over 100 cases worldwide. The successful project was represented by the core grp formed under the leadership of Prof. Dr. Robert Parthesius. The award was accepted on behalf of HeritageLab by Alia Yunis and Salama Al Faheem. The project gained great interest worldwide by offering innovative approaches and a multifaceted perspective in heritage studies.

Among the projects of HeritageLab is the "Perception of Local Communities Towards Sultanahmet Archaeological Park: A Social Memory Study" project conducted by Dr. E. Nurcan Yalman and her students. This project is showcased on the platform as one of HeritageLab's Co-Lab projects and will be presented at the European Association of Archaeologists Annual Meeting in Rome this year. The project aims to investigate the impact of Sultanahmet Archaeological Park on local communities and its place in social memory. Additionaly, the project seeks to develop more participatory and sustainable approaches in heritage management.

Istanbul Nişantaşı University proudly contributes to this significant project as a project partner on the HeritageLab platform. Our university continues to make a name for itself with projects that make an impact in the academic world, increasing its recognition on the international stage.

For more information and detailed content about the projects, please visit the HeritageLab website.