Rice University School of Social Sciences

Istanbul London Houston

Global Urban L A B

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C O N T E N T S

about the urban lab Global Urban Lab ..................................................................................... Page 6 Rice Students in Houston ........................................................................... Page 7 Rice Students in London ............................................................................ Page 8 Global Collaborations – Koç University ................................................... Page 9 Global Collaborations – CAPA International ........................................ Page 10 About the Directors .................................................................................. Page 11

student reflections from istanbul Urban Lab Spring 2011 Istanbul Itinerary ............................................... Page 14 Zachary Marx-Kuo .................................................................................... Page 16 Hannah Thalenberg ................................................................................. Page 20 Chris Keller.................................................................................................. Page 22 Audra Herrera ........................................................................................... Page 26 Fahad Punjwani ........................................................................................ Page 28 Jordan Rueter ........................................................................................... Page 32 Kelsey Mase ............................................................................................... Page 34 Trenton Gaultney ...................................................................................... Page 36 Nina Elizando-Garza ................................................................................. Page 38 Ellory Matzner ............................................................................................ Page 40 Shamsa Mangalji ...................................................................................... Page 42

closing Special thank you ..................................................................................... Page 44

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A B O U T T H E L A B

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G L O B A L U R B A N L A B Consider this: How does a city provide the transportation, housing, infrastructure and logistics for hosting a major international event that millions of people will attend? This is the question that a group of Rice students grappled with during their spring 2011 semester in Houston and London as part of the inaugural year of the Global Urban Lab program. The purpose of the program is to permit students to analyze a particular urban problem or issue and determine how today’s emerging global cities handle changing circumstances. Six Rice students in London joined six Rice students from Houston in Istanbul, Turkey for one week in March. The students met with officials of the Istanbul Olympic bid committee to learn about their efforts to host the 2020 games after four previously unsuccessful bids for the event. They explored the differences and similarities between Istanbul, Houston and London—such as traffic congestion, public transportation shortages, and tremendous local pride. The Global Urban Lab exposes students to how global cities face challenges to enrich their cultural and international standing. Social Science Associate Dean Ipek Martinez, Political Science Professor Melissa Marschall and Associate Dean of Undergraduates Don Ostdiek spearheaded the initial launch of the program and organized meetings with various city officials, reporters, local schools and universities to provide a multi-dimensional experience for the students to learn from international leaders in their field.

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R I C E S T U D E N T S — H O U S T O N

From Left to Right: Professor Melissa Marschall, Hannah Thalenberg, Chris Keller, Zachary Marx-Kuo, Fahad Punjwani, Jordan Rueter, Audra

Herrera and Associate Dean of Social Sciences Ipek Martinez

Rice students in Houston enrolled for Political Science Professor Melissa Marschall’s POLI 332 Urban Politics course during the spring 2011 semester. Students examined the historical growth and change of cities and suburbs, focusing on issues of race and class, the structure of the local government, the development of urban policy in the American federal system, and the various ways in which cultural values have contributed to American exceptionalism in residential patterns and the forms and functions of local government. Professor Marschall’s students were tasked with examining the socio-political aspects of emerging global cities and comparing Istanbul and Houston. Students had the opportunity to directly observe patterns of development, settlement, transportation, housing, discuss critical policy issues with local elected officials, urban planners, and leading Turkish scholars, and take in the beauty and culture of one of the most dynamic and historically significant cities in the world. Students participated in a mini-conference at Koç University and gave presentations that critically compared Houston, Istanbul, and London on topics such as education, transportation and soci-political implications for major events.

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R I C E S T U D E N T S — L O N D O N

From Left to Right: Shamsa Mangalgi, Melissa Fwu, Nina Elizondo-

Garza, Ellory Matzner, Trenton Gaultney, and Kelsey Mase

Rice students studying in London enrolled for a full-semester course load through the CAPA International Education Program. Students paired with local internship hosts to provide both acquaintances with the city of London and professional work development while abroad. Internship hosts included eATA/Vauxhall, Parsons Brinkerhoff, London Borough of Tower Hamlets, the European/Atlantic Group, and British Water. Students in London also took part in Dr. Don Ostdiek’s Policy Studies course, POST 350- Comparative Urban Planning Lab to investigate the challenges and opportunities major global cities face when bringing in large events such as the 2012 Olympics. The students met with local reporters, developers and businesses to develop their own research and solutions to overcome London’s biggest obstacles for making the 2012 Olympics a success. Students presented their findings in Istanbul to Koç University faculty and students on topics such as transportation, security and infrastructure issues.

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G L O B A L C O L L A B O R A T I O N S Koç University- Istanbul The Global Urban Lab Istanbul is a collaboration between Rice University School of Social Sciences and Koç University. The mini conference and student presentations were held at the Koç campus, located in the northern part of Istanbul, while the Koç Istinye Conference facilities, in the heart of Istanbul minutes away from Bosphorus, served as the base camp for the group with its first-class accommodations. The conference in spring 2011 addressed urban development and change, featuring issues and insights from Turkey, the U.S. and the U.K. In the first session, the introductory remarks by Rice University professor Dr. Melissa Marschall were followed by Dr. Ali Burak Guven and Dr. Ali Carkoglu of Koç University with presentations on developments and challenges in the Turkish economy, and parties, elections and public opinion in Turkey, respectively. In the second session, Dr. Marschall shared an overview of urban development, federal-urban relations, and local government in the U.S. The Rice students followed with their roundtable presentations on Houston and London, highlighting challenges and opportunities for emerging and established global cities.

Koç University- Main Campus

Koç (“Coach”) University is a non-profit private university in Istanbul, Turkey committed to the

pursuit of excellence in teaching and research.

Koç Istinye Campus

The centrally located Istinye Campus, walking distance from the Bosphorus, provides modern

conference facilities and accommodations.

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G L O B A L C O L L A B O R A T I O N S CAPA International- London The Global Urban Lab London is a collaboration between Rice University School of Social Sciences and CAPA International Education that offers students the opportunity to participate in internships and explore a variety of topics while studying abroad. Students are housed in the heart of London; attend classes taught by distinguished professors and scholars and participate in local internships. The classes offered to the spring 2011 cohort included Ethics in the Media, International Finance, International Marketing, International Economics, The Social Dynamics of London: Contemporary Issues through Service-Learning, Britain in the 20th Century, European Government and Politics. Dr. Don Ostdiek and Dr. Jerry Rusk of Rice University led the Urban Lab with their lectures in London with alternating intervals.

The CAPA International Office

CAPA International coordinated all housing, educational and internship opportunities for

Rice Social Sciences students studying in London during the spring 2011 semester.

CAPA International Student Library

The campus is located in the Kensington district of West London, and has fully equipped classrooms, a computer lab, resource room, the student lounge, wireless Internet access, and local library access.

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A B O U T T H E D I R E C T O R S Ipek Martinez Associate Dean of Social Sciences and Director of Gateway, Rice University ipek@rice.edu 713-348-2439 Ms. Martinez is the Associate Dean for the School of Social Sciences and the Director of the Gateway Program for undergraduates that provide opportunities to students through internships, research, and ambassadorships. Dean Martinez and her staff manage the organization and logistics of the Global Urban Lab initiatives.

Dr. Melissa Marschall Albert Thomas Associate Professor of Political Science, Rice University marschal@rice.edu 713-348-2694 Professor Marschall leads the Istanbul Global Urban Lab. Her research focuses on local politics, educational policy, participation, and issues of race and ethnicity. She is currently completing a book manuscript that examines immigrants and schooling in the U.S. She is also co-investigator of the Local Elections in American Project (LEAP), funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) and the Ken Kennedy Institute for Information Technology, which is developing a path-breaking methodology to create a centralized, comprehensive, and cost-effective local elections database that will provide unparalleled opportunities for learning about local elections and the political, racial, and socio-demographic features of American cities. Professor Marschall teaches courses on urban and subnational politics, educational policy, policy analysis and research methods.

Dr. Don Ostdiek Associate Dean of Undergraduates, and Director of Policy Studies, Rice University dho@rice.edu Dr. Ostdiek oversees International Programs at Rice University and serves as the Director of Policy Studies program under School of Social Sciences. Dean Ostdiek leads the London Global Urban Lab and his staff manages the preparation of students for studying abroad.

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S T U D E N T R E F L E C T I O N S F R O M I S T A N B U L

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G L O B A L U R B A N L A B S P R I N G 2 0 1 1 I S T A N B U L I T I N E R A R Y Saturday, February 26, 2011 Arrive in Istanbul Sunday, February 27, 2011 Explore Istanbul Monday, February 28, 2011 Koç University Program and Student Presentations Tuesday, March 1, 2011 Beşiktaş Municipality Olympic Bid Committee Yűcel Family Dinner Wednesday, March 2, 2011 Fenerbahçe Sports Club Transportation Lab Experience utilizing taxi, bus, ferry and Metrorail Thursday, March 3, 2011 Anafartalar Elementary School Robert College Istanbul Transportation Authority Friday, March 4, 2011 Sabancı Istanbul Policy Center Rice Reception at Koç Istinye Campus Saturday, March 5, 2011 Explore Istanbul historic sites Sunday, March 6, 2011 Depart for Houston & London

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Z A C H A R Y M A R X - K U O

I first heard about the program as supplementary to the Urban Politics class taught by Professor Marschall. Since my specialty in political science is comparative politics, and I had not gotten a chance to study municipal governments in my political science career at Rice, this opportunity to combine the two areas of study seemed perfect. Furthermore, my studies up to this point have been more focused on developed countries or more visible developing countries, like the BRIC countries. Basically, studying politics in Istanbul allowed me to explore several new areas of study: urban politics, global cities in developing countries, and a whole new part of the world that I knew very little about beforehand. Almost as interesting as my travels to Istanbul were the preparatory programs and experiences organized by the department. Most of these were focused on learning about Turkey in general, which gave us a solid background for a better understanding of the city as a whole. The meeting and lecture with the Ambassador to the United States from Turkey Namik Tan demonstrated how important relations were between the two countries. Outside of the program, I attended a lecture on the Gülen movement, which helped me understand religion’s past and present role in Turkish society. Also, I participate in a program with the Susanne M. Glasscock School of Continuing Studies in which they pair Rice undergraduate students with an intensive English learner to help the learner with his/her English fluency. By sheer luck, he happens to be from Turkey. He has helped me understand more general aspects of Turkish culture and has been very receptive to questions that I have had before and after the trip. On our trip, we covered a variety of topics that mirrored what I have been studying in the Urban Politics class. Some of the topics included education, government structure, the role of party politics, Istanbul as a global city, transportation, and the role of religion. What stood out to me were the striking similarities and differences between Houston and Istanbul. For example, since party politics plays only a minimal role in local governments around the United States, I had never really considered them as being important at the municipal level until the trip. The mayor of Beşiktaş, Ismail Ünal, shared with us how strong of a role party politics can play. According to him, because his party was different than that of the government of Istanbul (Istanbul has smaller municipalities within it, and each of which has its own government and mayor), the government of Istanbul was implementing its own growth policies against the government of Beşiktaş’s will. The government of Beşiktaş did not believe that it had sufficient infrastructure to support this growth, and the government of Istanbul was unwilling to provide infrastructure for them. In the United States, party politics with roots at the national level would almost never

Junior

Political Science & Art History major

Martel College

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manifest themselves like they did in Istanbul and Beşiktaş, with disagreements mirroring executive-legislative relations in US national government during a split government. However, in terms of his personality and demeanor, Mr. Ünal was like any other politician. He was commanding yet approachable, and he seemed very charismatic despite the language barrier. Just like a politician form the United States, when Dr. Marschall asked him about rumors that he would run for mayor of Istanbul, he neither confirmed nor denied them and told us that we would have to wait and see. Istanbul’s eagerness to become a global city surprised me as well. I knew that Istanbul – and Turkey as a whole – has attempted to raise its profile internationally, but I had no idea that Istanbul had been so receptive to other cultures. Of course, we saw examples of this everyday walking through the city, passing by American chain restaurants and European clothing stores. But even more unexpected was the level of commitment to profile-raising initiatives as demonstrated by their Olympic bid committee. One major aspect of the committee’s uniqueness was that it was created as a long-term committee to develop ongoing bids and was not created to bid for one or two specific games. This really demonstrated the city’s commitment to emerging as a strong global city and its persistence in reaching this goal. The city has also already built an Olympic stadium, which is a risky investment but demonstrates their tenacity in achieving this goal. In the Urban Politics class, we recently read how risky of an investment building a stadium can be without having a consistent or specific purpose for it. The Olympic stadium in Istanbul has been used for concerts and a UEFA Champions League final, and the soccer club Istanbul BB and Turkish national team now use the stadium for their respective home games. Of course, the city is realistic in their bid and has not yet built all of the facilities and infrastructure needed to host an Olympic game, but their desire to do so is clear.

Monitoring traffic at the Istanbul Traffic Control Center

One issue that arose several times was transportation. Whether using public transportation in our leisure time, sitting in traffic between meetings, or hearing about it firsthand at the transportation authority, its importance in such a large and unique city could not have been overemphasized. I figured that Istanbul would have a fairly sophisticated public transportation system, but I never thought that they would implement such diverse methods of public transportation. Light rail, subway lines, water taxies, buses, and trolleys are all commonly utilized in the city, and using each method of transportation was fairly simple. Public transportation was packed at almost all times of day, not just during peak hours. Despite these various methods of public transportation, car traffic was still an issue. Long commute times were common, and again time of day seemed to have little to no effect on the length of trips. This reality of transportation translated over to almost every meeting that we had in Istanbul, so much so that we

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ended up scheduling a meeting with the transportation authority of the city while there to see how the issue was dealt with formally. As previously mentioned, a lack of sufficient transportation infrastructure was one of the main reasons why the officials in Beşiktaş opposed the planned development in their municipality. Istanbul has to increase public transportation to make their dreams of hosting an Olympic game a reality. At the transportation authority, we saw firsthand just how modern their transportation system is and how effective some of the new systems have been in dealing with their transportation issues. Their highway bus system has significantly reduced commute times on the highway, and traffic cameras have generated valuable revenue for the city while making the streets safer for their citizens. Although their transportation system rivals many other global cities, like Houston and other cities, Istanbul will continue to grow, forcing their transportation systems to do so as well. The question that every student always (and should) asks himself and his teachers at all levels of education is “Why am I learning this?” This trip answered that question for me. It taught me the real-life implications of my studies in political science, thus contributing to them in a way that a classroom experience could never do. In addition to being a life-changing experience, it was also an eye-opening one, both culturally and educationally.

Fenerbahçe Stadium Istanbul Transportation Authority

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H A N N A H T H A L E N B E R G

Checking my inbox at a dingy internet cafe during a road trip through eastern Turkey, the subject line seemed too good to be true: “Introducing Urban Lab Istanbul.” As I neared the end of my second period living in Istanbul as a visiting student, I was presented with the opportunity to return there yet again through a project that would allow me to put my wealth of experience residing in cities into a conceptual framework and give me an in-depth look not only at the two cities where I had spent the majority of my time as an undergraduate, but also at London, about which I knew very little. Along the way, as I researched transportation systems and had the chance to show newcomers around Istanbul, I got everything I expected and more out of the Global Urban Lab program. This program appealed to me in that it encompassed all of my personal and academic interests. Having grown up in São Paulo, Brazil, and lived my entire life in or around large cities, I was thrilled by the prospect of discussing and comparing urban development issues with which I was familiar from experience (especially as they pertained to matters of social justice and environmental conservation) but had never approached as academic subjects. I also had a strong attachment to the site of this year’s program: after spending the summer of 2009 and the fall of 2010 studying at Bogaziçi University, I had come to know and love Istanbul as a home. Furthermore, the opportunity to participate in Urban Lab came just as my interest in urban studies was being sparked by a sociology seminar on the political economy of low-income housing and a history course regarding architecture and urbanism in Ottoman Istanbul. All in all, Urban Lab and I were a perfect match! The topic I, together with Chris Keller, chose to research was transportation and the expansion and optimization of infrastructure in global cities with growing populations. With previous coursework as a point of departure, Chris covered the history of transportation in Houston and the development of the highways that characterize our urban environment. Meanwhile, as someone who had felt very much enmeshed in the fabric of some cities and excluded from the life of others as a function of their public transit systems, I focused on public transportation. In preparation for the presentation that we were going to make for a mini-conference at Koç University, we were fortunate to count with the assistance of Janis Scott, a Jones College associate endearingly nicknamed “The Bus Lady” due to her vast knowledge and constant use of Houston’s METRO, as well as her connections and involvement within the Metropolitan Transit Authority of Harris County. The experience of learning about the METRO administration, the system as it is now, and plans for its future and presenting our new knowledge to a

Senior

Anthropology & History major

McMurtry College

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foreign audience was a unique and rewarding way to get in touch with the city we live in. Most importantly, the week Rice’s Urban Lab group spent in Istanbul provided me with a more complete understanding of and newfound appreciation for a city with which I was already extremely familiar. Learning about Turkish government and urban policy issues in the scholarly settings of Koç University and the Sabancı University Istanbul Policy Center gave us solid theoretical grounding for our exploration. Moreover, getting inside perspectives on municipal governance from the mayor of the Beşiktaş municipality, on hosting international sporting events from the head of Istanbul’s Olympic bid committee, on the workings of a world-class sports club from Ali Koç and some of the Fenerbahçe Sports Club directors, on infrastructure and transit development from Istanbul’s Transportation Authority, and on education from administrators of both a public elementary school and Turkey’s most prestigious private high school was invaluable in that it opened my eyes to what goes on “behind the scenes” in Istanbul and made me curious to investigate these subjects in cities like Houston, London, and São Paulo. In our group, I was also in the peculiar position of being the only person who had lived in Istanbul in the recent past and, therefore, a source of information about places to visit, how to get around, things to watch out for, etc. Just as it is said that the best way to learn is to teach, I felt that showing and explaining Istanbul to people who had never been there before allowed me to put the city into perspective and pay attention to aspects of it to which I had become accustomed and which I hardly noticed anymore. From touristic sites such as the Hagia Sophia and the Grand Bazaar to restaurant menus to navigating public transit and dealing with pushy merchants on the street, it was as if I were tracing my own trajectory to the time when everything there seemed completely foreign to me, too, and my peers’ reactions (both positive and negative) to what they saw and experienced gave me an eye both more critical and more appreciative of Istanbul. Looking back on my participation in the Global Urban Lab program, I feel nothing but gratitude for having been given the chance to channel all of my personal and academic interests into an investigation and travel experience that gave me invaluable knowledge about cities with which I was familiar only at surface-level and provided me with a powerful impetus to further pursue urban studies. I hope that this program will continue to engage Rice students with urban milieux worldwide for years to come!

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C H R I S K E L L E R

I applied for Urban Lab Istanbul because my basic knowledge of the city made it sound like the ideal destination for a student in any of the social sciences: the meeting point of Europe and Asia, its long and complicated history, a secular government with a population ninety-eight percent Muslim, a booming developing economy, and so on. In my particular case, I had just had an “aha” moment for my academic career, wherein I pinpointed what within political science interested me most: urban politics and policy, yet on an internationally comparative scale. I had studied urban issues and comparative politics, so I was seeking a way to merge the two in an intellectually stimulating way. I had just signed up for Dr Marschall’s Urban Politics course, POLI 332, when this trip was announced over the Social Sciences Gateway listserv. I saw this trip as the perfect opportunity for me to confirm my interests while also just generally expanding my knowledge in the social sciences. It exceeded my expectations on all counts. I went to Istanbul with good background knowledge in American urban issues, with a specific interest in and knowledge of Houston, given my experiences both in classes, in extracurricular activities (mostly community service), and through less formal exploration of the city. I had written a paper on transportation, specifically highway systems, in the Houston Area, so I had a particular interest in comparing the transportation systems of Houston, Istanbul and even London. Although our trip did not include an academic discussion of transportation systems apart from my presentation on Houston, I learned a lot from talking with the Mayor of Beşiktaş, the head of Istanbul’s Olympic Bid Committee and especially one of the managers of the Istanbul Metropolitan Transit Authority. Seeing how up-to-date their transportation technology is, how extensive their public transportation is, and hearing from the top what sorts of new projects they are working on all took me aback. While not perfect, it seemed to me as if they were doing a much better job of keeping up with the growth, both in land area and in population, of the Istanbul metro area than Houston has in its relatively brief urban history. Especially knowing that Houston was one of the first cities to have the (long-gone) trolley car system, it was amazing to see how far ahead Istanbul was in their transportation technology and coverage. On a similar note, hearing how their red-light traffic cameras had reduced traffic infractions by eighty percent made me feel embarrassed of the recent removal of our red-light camera system. It seems to me as if Houston is moving in the exact opposite direction of Istanbul in this fashion, although this is true of Houston when compared to many other cities in the US and abroad. This is not to say that Houston is a terrible city and Istanbul is perfect. Houston is, of course, looking to expand its public transportation. The political will within Istanbul seems to be much greater for transit development, however, whereas most people in Houston

Senior

Political Science major

Jones College

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are content with their cars. Also, Istanbul is following Houston’s path in its continuation of outward growth. I was surprised to hear from one of the Koç University professors, with whom I had lunch that he believes outward growth is a good thing that most people support. He said he is looking forward to the coming of the third bridge because he feels it is needed and it will lessen traffic on the other bridges. After studying Houston, and indeed many cities in the American “sunbelt”, I have found such sprawling growth patterns to have very different results from what he expects. More people will come to the part of Istanbul where the bridge is being built, the traffic will be just as bad, and the beautiful forest surrounding Koç (which this professor bragged about) would be destroyed in favor of residential and commercial development. Although I heard a different opinion of growth from the faculty of the Sabancı University and its Istanbul Policy Center, it seemed that most of the government officials we met agreed that growth could only bring good to Istanbul. The city is so spread out already that I fear Istanbul may make the same mistakes Houston has, resulting in a disjointed city; inaccessible, undesirable and unlivable to many prospective residents.

Sabancı Istanbul Policy Center Meeting

Overall, being in Istanbul, hearing what the people have to say (they were surprisingly forthcoming during meals, oftentimes more so than in meetings), and seeing the way Istanbul’s transportation systems function gave me an important, more comprehensive perspective of the city as a whole. Taking the ferry, the above-ground metro, the füniküler, the subway and the public buses gave me an incredibly accurate perspective of what it takes for the average Istanbulite to get from work to home to shops, etc. Apart from transportation, I feel I learned a lot about politics and policy of Turkey and Istanbul. I feel a special connection with the saga of Turkey’s Olympic bid, as the city seems to have matured (by global standards) since it first began bidding, and it seems as if the city most certainly deserves the bid. It would be a huge political statement for Istanbul should they win the bid, as it would confirm the city’s status as a rising star in the realm of global cities. Houston is significantly behind Istanbul in its preparations, but I feel that if it were to make some of the same strides Istanbul has been making for the past 20 years, it could also achieve a global status in the next few decades. Although at present Houston’s fiscal status is much worse than Istanbul’s, I have hope for both cities. In summary, you could say that I am an even bigger fan of the Turkish Olympic Bid Committee than I am of the Fenerbahçe Football Club – which, trust me, is saying quite a bit.

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One particular experience I would like to mention is that the Muslim call to prayer was a stunningly beautiful reminder of the ethnic composition and cultural depth of the people of Istanbul. Although faintly, I could hear it from Istinye, and we always heard it when we were in other parts of the city (save, possibly, Beykoz). I found the mosques to be a beautiful contrast to the larger commercial buildings, apartments, and condos we saw. The call and the mosques were also a great reminder of the role of faith in politics, or rather the lack thereof, and how the people of Istanbul follow even better than we in America the ideal of the separation of church and state. I went to Istanbul thinking that the removal of the ban on the headscarf was a big deal in Turkey, but on all accounts it seems to be not so. The young people especially seemed not to mind the mildly Islamist AKP and their policies, although I remember Hazal mentioned her embarrassment at the arrests of several journalists. Overall, among the people we met day-to-day, the religious divide seemed almost invisible and unimportant in everyday life. This changed my perceptions of what it can mean to be Muslim and just how diverse the followers of Islam can be. If I had to summarize Istanbul in one word, it would have to be buyurun. Type it into Google Translate and you get “Here you are,” but this word means so much more to the people of Istanbul and those, like our Urban Lab Istanbul group, fortunate enough to visit the City on Seven Hills. It has many meanings: “Take this seat!”, “Come in!”, “Can I help you?”, “Welcome!”, “Enjoy your tea!” just to name a few. Whenever I read it or hear it now, my mind goes back to the vendors who bellow it, and to the powerful smell of their fresh fish, mussels and roasted chestnuts, found along the Bosphorus seven days a week. In general, buyurun is a call to come and share some experience, be it food or art or a seat on the metro, and this sense of hospitality is what sets Istanbul apart from most other big cities I have visited. Houston’s famous Southern hospitality has nothing on Turkish hospitality. This is usually attributed to Istanbul’s long history as host to countless great world civilizations – Greeks, Persians, Romans, and Ottomans, just to name a few. Napoleon once said if the world were one nation, Istanbul would be its capital – and this had indeed been the vision of many empires that chose Istanbul for their capitol city. I am certainly intrigued by the city for all of the reasons I have mentioned: it has an appeal to those in international affairs, urban issues, business, anthropology, sociology, history, etc. It was an amazing place to begin my journey as a global student, and I cannot wait to return to further explore the city and its people.

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A U D R A H E R R E R A

I was interested in the Urban Lab in Istanbul program because it would allow me to explore significant policy topics in a city that is so interesting because of its rich history, culture, and of course, urban development. From studying the Ottoman Empire at Rice and keeping up with Middle Eastern politics, I knew I would learn a lot through visiting and studying Turkey. One particular policy topic I have always been interested in is education, so when we were all assigned to choose a topic to give a presentation on at Koç University in Istanbul, my partner, Jordan, and I chose to talk about public education in grades k through 12 in Texas. Through the Urban Lab, I got to learn about education in Turkey. The government of Turkey requires that all children go to primary school for eight years, beginning at age six or seven. After that, students have the option of attending high school for four years. They are placed at high schools depending on their scores on a national entrance exam. If a student makes it through all twelve years of schooling, he or she can take the OSS exam that dictates what he or she can study and at which universities. I found the prospect of taking one test that determined what you were going to study and where daunting! While this strict system may be intimidating, it has its practical purposes because it ensures that there are enough professional people in the country to meet its needs. Most Turks seem to take education pretty seriously because it is the only way to advance in Turkey. While in Istanbul, we got to visit Robert College, one of the elite preparatory schools in Turkey. Founded in 1863 by two Americans, it currently educates students who scored within the top 5% on a national entrance exam. Primary school aged students who can financially afford to get extra lessons to prepare for the high school admittance exam often go after school to test prep centers. Thus, it would seem that students who come from wealthier families in Istanbul have better opportunities to go to the best schools. Schools like Robert College do, however, offer financial aid to students who cannot afford to attend the institutions. While at Robert College, we got to meet one student who was planning to apply to Rice’s School of Architecture. He claimed that many students from Robert College hoped to attend top universities in the United States because of the quality of the programs and status of the schools. He said that students really pay attention to university rankings when making their decisions where to study.

Junior

Political Science & English major

McMurtry College

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We met very kind and knowledgeable people at each educational institution we visited, but our group visit to Anafartalar primary school was one of my most memorable experiences during the Urban Lab. Some aspects of the school reminded me of my own elementary school in Colorado. The school offered public education to working parents in the area. It even provided after school care for students for an extra cost. At Anafartalar, the students were educated in subjects such as math, science, and history as well as English, music, and physical education. When we walked into a classroom of first or second graders, the students very quietly rose and stood at attention. However, when we walked into a classroom of fourth or fifth graders, the students excitedly shouted greetings to us and didn’t settle down until the teacher asked them to. I found it funny that the boys sat in the back and the girls sat in the front. These observations reminded me how similar children are across cultures. I learnt about a number of other policy topics through the Urban Lab in Istanbul through the meetings I participated in. Among the topics was transportation, the 2020 bid to host the Olympics, politics, and economics. At each of these meetings, we were offered Turkish tea or coffee and often a variety of cookies, a mark of Turkish hospitality. Our hosts at Koç University and each of the speakers we met were very welcoming and willing to talk to us and answer our questions about their prospective areas of study. We were fortunate enough to even visit the Fenerbahçe soccer stadium where we learnt not only about the team but also about the corporation and its operations. Although we attended many meetings, the program allowed us time to explore Istanbul. The group got to visit many famous places such as the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia, and the Covered Bazaar. I even got to experience a bit of nightlife in Istanbul and visit the Istanbul Museum of Modern Art. The mayor of Beşiktaş municipality invited us to be his guests at a concert for one of the most well known violinists in Turkey. Overall, I feel that the program gave me great insight into Istanbul.

Students at Anafartarlar Elementary School Turkish coffee fortune telling

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F A H A D P U N J W A N I

For Spring Break this year, I was fortunate to be selected as one of the twelve students who visited Istanbul as part of the School of Social Sciences’ Global Urban Lab. The program offered multiple unique opportunities: It was a crash course on the political, cultural and economic environment of Istanbul; it was communicating with local city and government officials, economists, political scientists, businessmen and students; it was experiencing the city firsthand. In preparation for our trip, Professor Melissa Marshall organized short meetings with representatives of key Turkish organizations in Houston: one with Akil Öktem, Consul General of Turkey in Houston, and another with Yuksel A. Aslandogan, representative from the Gülen Movement. They informed us about Turkey’s cultural and political environment and shared their favorite destinations and restaurants of Turkish delicacies in Istanbul. We reached Istanbul on Saturday, February 26th 2011. The group was comprised of twelve students: six who were studying abroad in London as a part of the Global Urban Lab program and six from Houston, most of whom were part of Professor Marshall’s “Urban Politics” class. It was a diverse group of students who brought a variety of perspectives to the table corresponding to their academic concentrations and general interests. Like most tourists, we appreciated the beauty of the city. Narrow streets with yellow, green and red houses lined one side of a hill: on the other side stood beautiful mosques. Mosques, which borrow architectural schemes from various empires, illustrate the historical significance of Istanbul as a city beloved by many throughout the ages. Streets, pathways and roads criss-cross and meet the Bosphorus, a narrow strait that separates Europe and Asia. Ferries ride elegantly on the pure Bosphorus water, as symbols of the cultural and economic connection between East and West. We visited most of the destinations any Turkish tour guide would take one to. We visited Hagia Sophia; as the site of convergence of two Abrahamic religions, Christianity and Islam, and two empires, Byzantine and Ottoman, Hagia Sophia’s power and grandeur are breathtaking. We visited the magnificent Blue Mosque, whose architecture enthralled us. The Topaki Palace of Ottoman Sultans gave us a peek into Turkish history. We got a panoramic view of the city from the observation base of the Galata Tower. Taksim Square was as crowded and lively as my friends who had visited Turkey before had promised it would be. With Ipek Martinez, Associate Dean of Social Sciences, who lived in Turkey before moving to the United States leading the troops, we enjoyed the finest Turkish cuisines: tender lamb, eggplant puree, kebabs, fish, dolma, simit etc. with Ayran followed by

Senior

Mathematical Economic Analysis major

Martel College

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succulent deserts, such as walnut and pistachio baklava and Turkish delights. We even picked up on some basic Turkish words; my favorites are gidelim (let’s go), iyi günler (good day) and tesukkürler (thank you). However, unlike many tourists, we dove deeper and learned about urban issues of Istanbul. We had the opportunity to meet with eminent people in the city. We met city officials such as the mayor of Beşiktaş Municipality, who talked about the current economic climate of Beşiktaş, political problems facing the municipality and future projects that are to be undertaken. The mayor was extremely cordial and charismatic. We were engaged in his presentation even though we didn’t speak or understand his language. We also met the head of the Istanbul Olympic Bid Committee who briefed us on the short-term and long-term city planning that goes into bidding for events like the Olympics. Rice alumnus and Turkish business tycoon, Ali Koç, also took out time from his busy schedule to meet with us and talk to us about Fenerbahçe Sports Club and related projects. Fenerbahçe’s foreign affairs director, Mr. Turgut Acar, surprised us with football jerseys with our names on the back. A Turkish media group recorded our tour of Fenerbahçe Stadium. The next thing we knew, we had made it on to Turkish news channels, newspapers and media websites. We met professors, economists, political scientists and policy analysts from Koç University and Sabancı Istanbul Policy Center, who presented on Turkish political and economic history, government structure, current political and economic situations and the future of Istanbul and Turkey.

Rice Students with Ali Koç, ’90, VP of Fenerbahçe Sports Club (Fourth from Left)

We experienced firsthand the public transportation system in Istanbul. Unfamiliar with the language, but armed with an ability to read maps and instructions from Ms. Martinez, we took the subway from Taksim Square to Istinye, where we were staying, one day, and local buses and metro from Istinye to the Grand Bazaar another day, on our own. We also experienced ferry transport, an integral component of public transportation in Istanbul, as we crossed the Bosporus from the Asian side to the European side.

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Another unique aspect of the program, which furthered our understanding of urban issues facing Istanbul, was the ability to have open discussion with locals such as university staff and students. Staff and students from Koç University accompanied us to meals. Hearing their opinions on urban planning, political issues and economic development in Istanbul (and Turkey) complemented the presentations from scholars and city officials very well. This trip was an unparalleled learning experience. I learned a great deal about Istanbul as a metropolitan city and, through presentations and research by participants in this program, was able to make comparisons between urban issues facing Istanbul, Houston and London. As I reflect on this experience, I can testify with confidence that there is a difference in visiting a city as a tourist and as a Global Urban Lab participant.

Ali Koç (’90) and Turgut Acar exchange t-shirt gifts with Rice University students.

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J O R D A N R U E T E R

I have not had the opportunity to travel very often so when I heard about the Gateway trip to Istanbul I could not wait to apply. Since I have not traveled to many places, initially I was simply interested in visiting new places. However, my experience was better than I had ever imagined. Not only did we get to tour Istanbul, but we delved into the culture, policy issues, food, transportation issues, education and workings of the city. I learned more on the trip than I ever expected. During the trip we met with the mayor of one of the municipalities in Istanbul, the Istanbul Olympic bid committee, professors from Koç University, the director of the transportation department and many more prominent people in the city. From all these interactions we got firsthand accounts of how the city is run, issues the city is facing and solutions to some of these problems. Transportation is a huge problem in Istanbul. Since the city grew so quickly, the infrastructure cannot handle the large amount of people living there, causing huge traffic problems. When we met with the mayor of Beşiktaş, he emphasized how the growing commercial industry was causing major traffic issues in his municipality. It was so interesting to hear about this from his perspective because he helped me see this big issue on a smaller personal level. Now I have a better understanding of the relationship between the smaller municipalities and the city of Istanbul.

Beşiktaş Mayor, Ismail Unal, Mayor’s Assistant, Elcin Onder, Koç Student,

Baran Yalcin

Senior

Policy Studies & Art History

Martel College

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Two groups of Rice students went on the trip this year. One group is studying abroad in London for the spring semester and the other group is in Houston taking an urban politics class. We split up into partnerships and presented on urban issues such as transportation and education in the cities of London and Istanbul. We presented our topics to each other and students from Koç University. My presentation focused on education in Houston. I enjoyed researching education in Houston, but what made my research more meaningful was learning about education in London, from the student’s presentations, and Istanbul as well. In Istanbul we went to Koç University, a primary school and Robert College. On our visits we met with the directors and principals of these schools who familiarized us with the Turkish education system. In Turkey, students must take a test periodically covering everything they have ever learned. Their scores on these tests determine what high schools and universities they can attend and what they can study at each university. Many students that can afford it, go to separate tutoring in order to score high on these tests. Therefore it seemed as though family income played a big role in each child’s educational opportunities. I enjoyed learning about how family income and education relate to each other because the same is certainly true in the United States. We, as a country, are currently struggling with this issue and it is interesting to note that we are not the only ones. I think that with more knowledge about how other countries deal with similar problems and have similar problems we can work together to find a better solution. That is what I learned most from this trip. Although I was across the world in a new country there were still many similarities between Istanbul and Houston. Istanbul is a magnificent city. On top of learning about the policies that govern the city we also had some free time to tour the city. I have never been in a place with so much rich history. It was breathtaking to see the Hagia Sophia, the Blue Mosque and the many other historic sites. My favorite was probably the Hagia Sophia because although it is a mosque there were remnants of Christian iconography from when it used to be a cathedral, creating a poetic blend of the two religions. It is not until you step inside that you realize how big the mosque is and see all its glory. However, we were not merely sightseers; throughout the week we became immersed in the Turkish culture. We met and talked to Turkish people of all different ages and backgrounds, we learned some Turkish words and phrases and we ate tons of delicious Turkish food. I am fortunate to have had this opportunity. Now Istanbul has a place in my heart and I cannot wait to go back.

Robert College

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K E L S E Y M A S E

It was mid-October and I was on crutches from knee surgery when I received an email from Dr. Don Ostdiek inviting me to participate in the School of Social Sciences Rice in London Program for the spring of my junior year. I could barely make it across campus on my bright red scooter, much less think about moving to London for four months. However, in my three years at Rice I learned to never give up a great opportunity and so I followed up with Dr. Ostidek to find out more about the program. He explained to me that the program essentially had four parts: a part-time internship, two classes, an independent policy analysis of the 2012 London Olympics, and a weeklong trip to Istanbul, Turkey. All four facets of the program were intriguing, but the trip to Istanbul was the one that I simply couldn’t pass up. Having little traveling experience or prior knowledge of Turkey, I never imagined that my college education would include an interactive study of Istanbul’s urban politics. After visiting Istanbul, my belief was solidified that the best learning comes from new experiences and challenges, and I will continue to remember that for the rest of my educational journey. Following two months of living in London, the five Rice students and I boarded the British Airways plane to Istanbul to meet six other students and two faculty members from Houston. On our first day, we arrived at Koç University’s Istinye Campus. While it was comically situated behind the local grocery store, Migros, it was great accommodation for each of the students. The five students from London and I really enjoyed having private bedrooms and baths, a luxury that few people can afford in central London. Within the first couple of days of our trip, we visited some of the more touristy sites in Istanbul, such as Hagia Sophia and Topkapi Palace. We enjoyed this time as a chance to see the city of Istanbul and to get to know the group we would be living with for almost nine days. I clearly remember standing in the back of Topkapi Palace overlooking the Bosphorus and watching the red Turkish flag flying against the grey skies. I reflected on how different that view was from anything else I had ever seen in the United States or the United Kingdom and that it was a view I could have never imagined seeing before the trip. A couple of days in to our visit we began the study of Istanbul as a center for urban development. At Koç University, each student gave a presentation on either Houston or London, Dr. Melissa Marschall presented on the theories of urban development, and two Turkish professors lectured on different policy issues facing Turkey. We also had the chance to visit the mayor of Beşiktaş, a municipality in Istanbul, to hear about the economic challenges facing his municipality. Perhaps the most exciting part was a trip to Fenerbahçe Stadium to meet Ali Koç, a Rice alumnus. We all received personalized Fenerbace soccer jerseys and enjoyed a tour of the stadium. When we wore the jerseys

Junior

Economics major

Wiess College

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on the streets of Istanbul we were unaware that it would attract all sorts of attention. One man on the train told us we should cover the blue and yellow jerseys so they didn’t start a riot—soccer really is like a religion in Turkey. While you can read books about a city, see it in movies, and talk to people who have visited it before, nothing compares to taking your own trip. Simply communicating with locals, eating their food, riding in public transportation, and observing others’ way of life is what teaches you the most about any place. Perhaps you don’t learn the history or the technical urban theories that you would in the classroom, but you do learn something that will stay with you long after graduation. I became aware of how different my life in the United States is from the life I would have lived if I had been born in Istanbul. I also learned how many of the social issues facing the US are being discussed across the world. During my four months in London and my weeklong trip to Turkey, I developed an appreciation for travel and culture that would have never been possible in a classroom. I am thankful for the opportunity that Rice has given me and I hope that many students after me have similar experiences.

Hagia Sophia

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T R E N T O N G A U L T N E Y

Over Spring Break 2011, I was lucky enough to spend a week in Istanbul with 11 other Rice students, and 3 Rice faculty members. The trip was part of Rice’s Urban Lab program which currently involves an urban politics class at Rice, and 6 study abroad students in London. I applied to the Global Urban Lab program because it appealed to me in a variety of ways. The global component of the Urban Lab was crucial to my decision. Even before I had heard about the Global Urban Lab, I was interested in studying abroad. I had done my homework, and was planning to study in China fall semester of my junior year. However, when I heard about the Global Urban Lab program, I realized that it was a fantastic opportunity for me to broaden my cultural, professional, and academic horizons. When you are immersed in a society, you are able to vastly accelerate your learning curve with regards to the society’s culture. This culture, impacts the way the entire society functions both on day-to-day and long term planning basis. London is currently dealing with a significant long term public policy issue, the 2012 Olympic Games. As part of the Global Urban Lab program, the 6 students in London were tasked to investigate some aspect of the Olympic Games. The end result will be an evaluation of the Games potential for success with regards to the expressed goal of regenerating poorer parts of London. Various topics are being researched, from environmental improvements to the impact of sex trade surrounding the Games. For my research, we are attempting to paint picture of the poorer boroughs of London using developmental and demographic indicators. As part of this project, we are also developing a model showing relationships between various domains of urban development. While we are still stress testing this model, and therefore it could be subject to change. The basic concept of the model shows that Jobs/Employment will have a direct impact on Income, which will impact Education, which leads back to Jobs. In this model, both Jobs and Education are independent variables, Income is both an independent and dependent variable, and Social Wellbeing is a dependent variable. This is just a sample of some work that we have been doing through the Global Urban Lab program. The Global Urban Lab was made truly global through our aforementioned trip to Istanbul over spring break. This trip allowed us exposure to a completely different urban culture. Between the 6 students from London and the 6 students from Houston, we were able to make many interesting comparisons regarding the urban culture of Istanbul.

Junior

Social Sciences major

Lovett College

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Immediately, we commented on the public transportation, which compared favorably to Houston, but paled in comparison to London.

Students attend meeting with the Beşiktaş Mayor

While in Istanbul, we were able to meet with many governmental figureheads, as well as distinguished members of the professional and sporting community. These meetings gave us the unique opportunity to ask questions of these leaders, and enhance our classroom urban politics knowledge. For the London students, one meeting in particular was of great importance. Istanbul has been bidding for the Olympic Games since 2000, when the Summer Games were awarded to Sydney. Since then, it has unsuccessfully tried to acquire the Games. We were able to meet with the head of the Turkey’s Olympic Bid Committee, and explore the biggest obstacles to Istanbul’s bid, and the policies being put in place to overcome these challenges. In terms of understanding the workings behind an Olympic bid, there would have been very few people better to talk to then this man. Further meetings with heads of public transport and education allowed us to really get a feel for the future of Istanbul. While these meetings meant that we woke early, and had busy and full days, the amount we were able to learn from these luminaries made it more than worthwhile.

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N I N A E L I Z A N D O - G A R Z A

I was drawn to the 2011 Rice in London program, and consequently the Istanbul Urban Lab program, because I knew I would be able to experience the culture and society of the two cities first-hand, and have Rice guidance while doing so. The Urban Lab program isn’t a typical study abroad experience. What sets the London aspect of the Urban Lab apart is that we are able to participate in internships –mine is with the European Association for the Treatment of Addiction, an organization which represents groups in the treatment and rehabilitation sector and communicates their views to Ministers, Commissioners, and members of the British government – and also work on a research paper, the theme of which centers around the 2012 Olympics and their legacy. My project focuses on the transportation of London and how it will affect and be affected by the 2012 Olympic Games, as well as the legacy the Games are leaving behind in regards to London’s transportation system. As Istanbul is bidding for the 2020 Olympic Games, it was clear that being able to visit and compare both cities in regards to this would be a valuable opportunity.

Rice Students with Yalcin Aksoy, Istanbul Olympic Preparation and

Organization Director The transportation of the city of London is iconic – the double-decker bus is internationally recognized as an unofficial symbol for England, and the Underground map can be found both printed on t-shirts and posters, as well as being used by various

Freshman

Social Sciences major

Hanszen College

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cities as the base for their own underground transportation systems. What I learnt from commuting constantly in London is that the way in which you travel greatly affects your day – delays, refurbishments and closures can transform a perfectly fine morning into a stressful quest to arrive at your destination, and I would rather spend more time at work or in class than spend time inside a Tube compartment during rush hour. Regardless, being able to live in London, participate in working life and have a type of independence and freedom which living on campus does not allow has proven to be an invaluable experience. Once it was spring break, we departed for Istanbul, and it was clear that while both cities were large, cosmopolitan, and geographically European, they were markedly different in nearly every way. The people we met in Istanbul gave us valuable insight into how Istanbul works as a city, how it represents and has to cope with a complex mixture of the East and West, and how it struggles between achieving modernization and preserving its history. The latter aspect of the city was clearly presented to us when we met the Mayor of the Beşiktaş municipality of Istanbul. Beşiktaş contains several sites of major historical importance, and these were seemingly being disregarded in order to make way for newer buildings in an attempt to modernize. The main focus of our visit was Turkey’s 2020 Olympic bid, which is the 5th attempt Turkey makes to acquire the Summer Olympic Games. While they are improving their sports facilities, what seemed to be lacking was infrastructure. In this way, Istanbul proves to be the opposite of London –while London is well connected and has several public transport links, Istanbul lacks accessible transportation, and travelling from one part of the city to another quickly is nearly impossible without a private vehicle. Istanbul is undergoing a planned overhaul of their transportation system, but this won’t be fully ready until 2023 –if all goes according to plan-, which made us question how successful their 2020 bid would be. While we took part in many meetings, tours and Q & A sessions, we embraced the time we had to explore Istanbul. Between navigating the Turkish transport system, visiting iconic sites such as the Hagia Sophia and the Blue Mosque, and seeing how much you could haggle for a pashmina in the Grand Bazaar without angering the salesman, we had more than enough to do and see, and less time than would have been ideal. Even if our time in Istanbul was limited, this year’s Urban Lab program has provided me with the ability to live in two great cities and meet many interesting and informative people, and I’m glad I was a part of it.

Crossing from Asia to Europe with the ferry

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E L L O R Y M A T Z N E R

Global Urban Lab in Istanbul was a fantastic experience all around. The trip’s value was in what I learned about urban policy and in what I experienced of Turkish culture. The urban policy conference at Koç University was an opportunity for the Rice students to learn about policy issues in Istanbul such as the headscarf ban. Dr. Marshall’s lecture provided a comparison between Istanbul and American cities by detailing some of the major urban trends in the United States. It was also nice to hear presentations from all the Rice students on topics we had been studying related to urban policy. The meeting with the mayor of Beşiktaş was especially enlightening. I was interested to learn that Istanbul does not have spacial or town planning, just like Houston. I was amused that most politicians are similar in appearance and manner, regardless of their nationality or ethnicity. The mayor was boisterous and charming. The politics were largely similar, too. The mayor spent a good deal of the meeting complaining about the City of Istanbul granting applications for skyscrapers along the borders of his municipality without properly addressing transport needs. Talking with the head of the Olympic Bid Committee was similarly educational. Mr. Aksoy explained to us why it was important for Istanbul to host the Olympics, mostly because it was necessary for Istanbul to become a respected global city. One student asked Mr. Aksoy if Islamophobia might stand in the way of Istanbul’s bid. He was unable to answer this question as well as our questions on public transportation but offered to arrange a meeting with the Istanbul Transportation Authority for the group. Despite Mr. Aksoy’s confidence, I do not believe Istanbul will be able to win the 2020 bid unless there is a massive overhaul of the City’s public transportation system. During the trip we experienced Istanbul’s public transportation (including buses, ferries and metros) many times. I wasn’t impressed. The system was unpleasant and inefficient. The contrast between the Istanbul and London systems could not be overlooked. I cannot imagine millions of spectators using that system to get to and from the Games. The question and answer session at the Istanbul Policy Center was helpful because I got my questions answered about Turkey’s entry into the European Union. It was a lot of fun touring Fenerbahçe Stadium and spending some time with Ali Koç, who treated us so well. One thing about Istanbul that really struck me was the hospitality. The dinner Hazal’s parents took us to was incredible--I don’t think I’ll ever forget it. Everyone we encountered was welcoming and curious about talking with American students. I enjoyed getting to spend some time with the Koç University students. I was stunned at how flawless their English was and was surprised to find out that all of their classes are taught in English.

Senior

Policy Studies & Civil Engineering

Wiess College

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Visiting Istanbul was amazing. The sights were unlike anything I had ever seen--especially impressive were the Blue Mosque and the Hagia Sophia. My favorite sight was the Grand Bazaar. I had a great time haggling with the shop owners. I bought a chess set for my older brother that I’m sure he’ll love. Hands down though, the thing that I loved the most about Istanbul was the food. Every meal was better than the next. I loved every last bite, especially of that delicious eggplant mash they serve as a side.

Koç University presentation Turkish hospitality at the Yűcel home

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S H A M S A M A N G A L G I

Tangible, hands-on research. That is what I had hoped to do during the Global Urban Lab program. For my study abroad experience, I was looking for a new way to define, ‘research’; Traditionally at Rice, international ‘research’ means surfing the web for articles written about issues facing different countries. International research means poring through books, learning interesting facts about other countries, and sighing, ‘I wish I could be there!’ Rice’s Global Urban Lab program in London and Istanbul has given me this opportunity and more. Honestly, my Global Urban Lab experience has exceeded my expectations. In both London and Istanbul, I have gotten the chance to experience new cultures, firsthand. I have a better understanding of both cities’ distinctive social norms, institutions and political structures. Directors of the Global Urban Lab program have given us invaluable people connections. In both cities, I have been able to interact with policy makers and CEOs and question them about their work. I have become friends with English and Turkish citizens who gave me invaluable insight about important issues which their cities were dealing with. Undoubtedly, I have gained a new perspective on London and Istanbul that I never could have gotten in a classroom atmosphere. In London, I have been placed at an internship with British Water trade association, which represents the interests of UK-based water companies. British Water educates companies about relevant policies and lobbies on behalf of the companies. The association sponsors outward missions to give companies access to overseas business. I am given substantive work daily, be it contacting international business partners or working at an event at the House of Lords. I have gotten a taste of the unique, British work culture (which involves drinking countless cups of tea and throwing darts at a pub with my boss after work). My ‘research’ even took me to the streets. About a month ago, I marched with students protesting against increases proposed legislation which would increase school fees threefold. I spoke to passionate opponents and supporters of the legislation, and learned about the Socialist system of governance, in which school fees have traditionally been highly subsidized. I focused on the topic of ‘education’ for my presentation in Turkey, and compared the British system to the American system, exploring the costs and benefits of each. Speaking to so many passionate individuals gave me an in-depth perception of education in Britain, and has definitely influenced the way I define the term, ‘education’.

Sophomore

Sociology major

Martel College

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The Istanbul Global Urban Lab facilitators brought us to the table with the most influential members of the Turkish public and private sector. I would have never dreamed I would be able to converse with the mayor, the head of the Department of Transportation, and the head of the Olympic bid committee (over Turkish coffee and cookies, no less!). Not only were we given comprehensive, in-depth presentations about contemporary topics, but we were also able to question our presenters. We compared the way London is preparing for the 2012 Olympics versus the way Istanbul plans to prepare for the event if they win the 2020 bid. Though both cities view the Olympics as an event which will benefit their cities immensely, they have wildly different goals. London is using the Olympics as a way to ‘regenerate’ the city’s low income areas in which Olympic venues have been built. Istanbul hopes the international event will showcase Islam and Muslim values in a positive light, and dispel the harmful idea that Islam and the West can never cooperate. I have gotten the chance to converse with Londoners who feel immensely proud to work on London’s Olympic ‘regeneration scheme’. I have gotten the chance to hear the Turkish bid committee head speak passionately about Istanbul’s chance to banish the ‘clash between Islam and the Western civilizations’ mentality. This, my friends, is hands-on research. No longer do I have to sigh over my books and wish I could “be there”: Rice’s Global Urban Lab experience has allowed me to be there, indeed!

Learning Turkish folkdance steps at Koç University Presenting at Koç University

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S P E C I A L T H A N K Y O U

The Rice University School of Social Sciences would like to thank the following people and organizations for their support of the

Global Urban Lab.

Koç University faculty, staff, and students

Ali Koç (’90)

Fenerbahçe Sports Club

Mustafa, Elif and Hazal (’14) Yűcel

Beşiktaş Municipality

Istanbul Olympic Bid Committee

Istanbul Transportation Authority

Anafartalar Elementary School

Robert College

Sabancı Istanbul Policy Center

Special Thanks to

Lyn Ragsdale, Dean of Social Sciences

David Leebron, President of Rice University

Global Urban Lab School of Social Sciences

Rice University 6100 Main Street, MS 27

180 Baker Building Houston, Texas 77005

(713) 348-2439 http://socialsciencesgateway.rice.edu