Özlemnur Ataol (O.)

Ataol is an urban researcher specialized in participatory urban research and collaborative urban planning with underrepresented groups, such as women and children. Her research analyses how cities can benefit from participatory approaches for better inclusive and just development & management. Her experience includes collaborations with non-professional groups as well as professional groups, such as local governments, NGOs, and foundations within the fields of evidence-driven policymaking and participatory urban planning & management towards creating inclusive and sustainable cities for all.

She holds a Ph.D. in Urbanism and is currently a postdoctoral researcher at Maastricht University. Additionally, she shares the editorship of Media+Book Review at Children, Youth and Environments journal.

As an urban researcher, she dedicates her research to empowering children in urban planning since children are a distinctive user group of urban environments, as well as because the built environment is a significant indicator of children's physical and mental development starting from birth. Above all, because children are citizens of today and adults of tomorrow, their well-being in urban environments is a matter of nations' future. Therefore, Ataol advocates for children's right to participate in every matter children think matters, including their cities, and believes in inclusive development for urban environments. She is committed to achieving international goals and agendas, such as Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and New Urban Agenda (NUA), with children as urban citizens. Specifically, she is interested in the role of young people in the implementation of  Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), such as SDG#11 –enhancing inclusive urbanization and providing access to safe, inclusive, and accessible public spaces for all and SDG#13 –taking urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts. Her extended research interest is centered around topics of circular cities, smart cities, and e-participation / e-citizenship.