The event is designed for graduate students, doctoral candidates, or early-career researchers (no more than ten years should have elapsed between the program registration date and the participant’s doctoral graduation date) studying political science and international relations in Türkiye, who focus on topics related to the Eastern Mediterranean. Its aim is to provide an interactive platform through which participants can strengthen their research and academic capacities, while also building a scholarly network with peers and trainers working on similar themes. In the long term, the initiative seeks to contribute to the creation of an epistemic community in Türkiye dedicated to regional studies of the Eastern Mediterranean.

Application Deadline: October 10, 2025
Venue: Hapimag Resort Sea Garden, Yalıçiftlik – Bodrum

Eligibility

• Master’s students enrolled in programs in Türkiye.
• Doctoral students currently studying in Türkiye.
• Early-career researchers who completed their PhDs no more than ten years prior to the program registration date. Doctoral graduates must be employed at a university, research hospital, research institute, or R&D institution.
• Participants must be conducting research in fields such as environmental security, climate security, ecological security, sustainability, or sustainable development.
• Applicants must be registered in the TÜBİTAK ARBİS database.

Application Process

• Applicants are required to submit a 400–600-word research abstract (including title, objectives, literature review, methodology, expected results, novelty, and contribution to the researcher) along with a CV.
• Applications will be collected via Google Forms.
• The Event’s Scientific Committee will review abstracts and CVs to determine the selected participants.
• The workshop will be conducted as a single-class format.

Support

The costs of participation—including accommodation, meals, and stationery—for both participants and trainers will be covered under TÜBİTAK’s 2237-A Support Program for Scientific Education Activities. Travel expenses to Bodrum Hapimag Hotel are the responsibility of the participants; however, a transportation allowance of 1,690 TL (subject to tax deduction) will be provided under the same support program.

The workshop also aims to offer a comprehensive exploration of the historical, geopolitical, legal, economic, and security dimensions of the Eastern Mediterranean, fostering a multidimensional perspective on the region. Participants will be encouraged to enhance their capacity to analyze core regional issues, strategic approaches of different actors, and potential solutions. Within this framework, the workshop also seeks to evaluate Türkiye’s role and policies in the Eastern Mediterranean, contributing to knowledge production in an academic and professional context.

Expected Outcomes

The workshop aims to strengthen the research and educational capacities of early-career participants by:

• Analyzing the historical, cultural, and geopolitical significance of the Eastern Mediterranean and its impact on regional and international actors.
• Examining maritime jurisdiction issues such as continental shelves and Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs), and discussing the role of international law in conflict and resolution processes.
• Understanding the impact of the region’s energy resources—particularly natural gas and oil—on cooperation and conflict.
• Analyzing the policies of major powers (EU, US, Russia, China, etc.) toward the Eastern Mediterranean and their effects on regional stability and security.
• Discussing how Türkiye’s Eastern Mediterranean policies are shaped by regional dynamics and international relations.
• Evaluating ongoing and potential conflicts, including the Cyprus issue, Turkey–Greece relations, and maritime disputes.
• Identifying opportunities for sustainable regional and international cooperation and developing solution-oriented proposals.
• Assessing the impact of terrorism, radicalism, and other security threats on the region.
• Defining threats to security and stability and formulating strategies to address them.
• Enhancing participants’ capacity for comprehensive knowledge and analytical skills on the Eastern Mediterranean.
• Raising academic and professional awareness of the region’s dynamics and challenges.
• Offering strategic recommendations for policymakers and academics through academic and applied debates on the region’s importance in international relations.
• Creating a scholarly network by bringing together early-career researchers and expert trainers working on related themes, fostering interaction and knowledge exchange.
• Identifying gaps in the current literature and promoting collaborative projects and publications.
• Providing early-career researchers with constructive feedback from peers and senior academics to refine their work for publication in high-impact journals.
• Supporting doctoral students by offering expert feedback on their dissertations.
• Enhancing early-career researchers’ critical thinking, argumentation, and analytical skills, while encouraging in-depth discussions guided by expert trainers.
• Developing the ability to identify research gaps, engage with current debates, and generate collaborative ideas for projects and publications.

Trainers:

Scientific and Organizing Committee

Local Organizing Committee