Ecological Literacy

Training Title: Ecological Literacy

Training Date: February 15, 2025

Training Time: 12:00-15:00

Instructor Name: Duygu Başoğlu

Training Objective

This training aims to raise participants' basic awareness of environmental issues and ecological balances. The goal is to guide individuals in developing sustainable living habits.

Importance of the Training

Environmental problems today threaten both the quality of life for individuals and the health of future generations. Ecological literacy helps individuals make nature-compatible decisions, understand the functioning of ecosystems, and contribute to environmental sustainability. This training offers participants the opportunity to take the first steps toward protecting ecological balance by increasing environmental awareness.

Training Content

• Introduction to Ecology
  • What is ecological literacy?
  • Basic principles of ecosystems
• Environmental Issues and Their Impacts
  • Climate change, water resources, and biodiversity loss
  • The environmental impact of daily life habits
• Principles of Sustainable Living
  • Correct consumption habits
  • Waste management and recycling
• Developing Ecological Awareness
  • Making a difference with simple behavioral changes
  • Practical applications and case studies

Learning Outcomes

Participants will:

• Learn the basic concepts of ecological literacy.
• Gain awareness about the functioning of ecosystems and the impact of environmental issues.
• Understand the importance of sustainable living habits.
• Develop environmentally friendly behaviors in their daily lives.
• Explore ways to reduce individual and collective environmental impact.

Instructor: Duygu Başoğlu

About the Instructor

Duygu Başoğlu is a sustainability expert who has translated her passion for nature into a professional career focused on designing built environments that align with planetary boundaries. After completing her education in architecture and urban planning, she gained over 10 years of experience in areas such as energy efficiency, disaster resilience, and nature-based solutions through international research projects and pilot design applications.

Since her student years, she has engaged in volunteer activities and, through her interest in outdoor sports, has had the opportunity to closely explore various natural areas. These experiences have strengthened her connection with geography and inspired her to play an active role in learning and awareness projects. She currently works at an international company focusing on climate and sustainability services.

With this Ecological Literacy training, she aims to raise awareness on nature conservation, climate change, and biodiversity issues while familiarizing participants with basic concepts. She will also lead discussions on integrating ecological literacy into daily life and suggest activities for citizen science.

Duygu completed her double major in Architecture and Urban and Regional Planning with honors at Istanbul Technical University, then participated in an Erasmus exchange program in sustainable architecture at Politecnico di Milano. She has also conducted research on sustainable development in the Integrated Ph.D. program at Middle East Technical University and completed an associate degree in Computer Programming at Anadolu University.

She has contributed to innovative solutions in sustainability and energy efficiency through her work in EU-funded H2020 and ERASMUS+ projects. Duygu has been involved in prestigious award-winning projects, such as the Sign of the City Awards (2018, 2019) and the World Architecture Awards (2014), and has contributed to literature through publications and technical papers.

She is proficient in English and has basic knowledge of French and Italian. Her technical expertise includes visualization, CAD software, project management tools, and web development languages. Her personal interests include mountaineering, travel, natural science, and art, and she actively engages in environmental and urban issues through volunteer work.