- E-mailali.saysel@uib.no
- Visitor AddressFosswinckels gate 6Lauritz Meltzers hus5007 Bergen
- Postal AddressPostboks 78025020 Bergen
I'm an interdisciplinary scholar in environmental resources management and sustainability transformations with specialty in the field of System Dynamics. Before joining UiB (2023), I was a professor of Environmental Sciences in Boğaziçi University, Istanbul. I have a BS in Industrial Engineering (Boğaziçi University, 1990), and I hold MS and PhD degrees in Environmental Sciences and Technology (Boğaziçi University 1993 and 1999). Over the last five years my work focused on the food-water-landscape nexus in the Mediterranean with projects funded by PRIMA (H2020) and other research initiatives. I am an expert in the Intergovernmental Panel on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) task force on scenarios and models (2019-26), and a Lead Author of IPBES Global Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (2019). Currently I am an associate editor of System Dynamics Review and member of academic organizations, International System Dynamics Society and International Society for Ecological Economics.
My current teaching in UiB focuses on fundamentals of system dynamics, dynamic simulation based decision experiments and advanced non-linear model analysis, as outlined below:
GEO-SD 302 Fundamentals of system dynamics
GEO-SD 306 Dynamic complexity and decision experiments
GEO-SD 311 Analytical methods and advanced modelling
I also regularly supervise MPhil thesis in system dynamics:
GEO-SD 310 Research wiriting course (Shared)
GEO-SD 351 Master's thesis in system dynamics
I've been part of an ERASMUS+ collaboration lead by Emerit. Prof. Dr. Erling Moxnes of UiB. For MOOCS that has been developed under this Partnerships, see the UiB System Dynamics MOOC portal. My major contribution has been the module on food, water and energy nexus.
For my past teaching record in environmental sciences and system dynamics, please see my CV. This consists of classes on social and political ecologies, and system dynamics for sustainability transformations.
- (2023). Solute transport through undisturbed carbonatic clay soils in dry regions under differing water quality and irrigation patterns. Geoderma. 12 pages.
- (2023). Hydro-physical deterioration of a calcareous clay-rich soil by sodic water in Central Anatolia, Türkiye. Geoderma Regional. 9 pages.
- (2023). Bringing the Nature Futures Framework to life: creating a set of illustrative narratives of nature futures. Sustainability Science. 1-20.
- (2023). A dynamic model for salinity and sodicity management on agricultural lands: Interactive simulation approach. Ecological Modelling. 14 pages.
- (2009). Misperceptions of global climate change: information policies. Climatic Change. 15-37.
More information in national current research information system (CRIStin)
My whole record is not on CRISTIN. Above are the publications after 2023.
For major publications in peer review journals and peer review editorial books before, please see the list below.
For other published work, including the thesis before 2023, please download my CV.
Ciobanu N., A. K. Saysel. 2021. Using social ecological inventory and group model building for resilience assessment to climate change in a network governance setting: A case study from Ikel Watershed in Moldova. Environment, Development and Sustainability. V. 23(1), pp. 1065-717.
Chan, KMA; Boyd, DR; Gould, RK; Jetzkowitz, J; Liu, JG); Muraca, B; Naidoo, R; Olmsted, P; Satterfield, T; Selomane, O; Singh, GG; Sumaila, R; Ngo, HT; Boedhihartono, AK; Agard, J; de Aguiar, APD; Armenteras, D; Balint, L; Barrington-Leigh, C; Cheung, WWL; Diaz, S; Driscoll, J; Esler, K; Eyster, H; Gregr, EJ; Hashimoto, S; Pedraza, GCH; Hickler, T; Kok, M; Lazarova, T; Mohamed, AAA; Murray-Hudson, M; Farrell, PO; Palomo, I; Saysel, AK; Seppelt, R; Settele, J; Strassburg, B; Xue, DY; Brondizio, ES. 2020. Levers and Leverage Points for Pathways to Sustainability, People and Nature. V. 23 (1), pp. 1065-85
Yazar M, D. Hestad, D. Mangalagiu, Y. Ma, T. F. Thornton, A. K. Saysel, D. Zhu. 2020. Enabling Environments for Regime Destabilization towards Sustainable Urban Transitions in Megacities: Comparing Shanghai and Istanbul. Climatic Change. V. 160 (4), pp. 727-752
Thornton T. F., D. Mangalagiu, Y. Ma, J. Lan, M. Yazar, A. K. Saysel, A. Chaar. 2020. Cultural models of and for urban sustainability: assessing beliefs about Green-Win. Climatic Change. V. 160 (4), pp. 521-537.
Yazar M., D. Hestad, D. Mangalagiu, A. K. Saysel, Y. Ma, T. Thornton. 2020. From urban sustainability transformations to green gentrification: Urban renewal in Gaziosmanpaşa, Istanbul. Climatic Change. V. 160 (4), pp. 637-653.
Doğança Z., A. K. Saysel. 2018. Developing Seventh Graders’ Understanding of Complex Environmental Problems with Systems Tools and Representations: A Quasi-Experimental Study, Research in Science Education. V. 48, pp. 491-514
Saysel, A. K. 2017. Role of Information Feedback in Soil Nitrogen Management: Results form a Dynamic Simulation Game, Systems Research and Behavioural Science, special issue in System Dynamics. V. 34, pp. 424-439
Sansarcı E., A. A. Aşıcı, A. K. Saysel. 2014. System Dynamics Model of the Original Philips Curve, Düzce Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Enstitüsü Dergisi, V. 2, pp. 25-44.
Doğança Z., A. K. Saysel. 2013. Yedinci Sınıf İnsan ve Çevre Ünitesine Eleştirel Bir Yakşalım: Dinamik ve Karmaşık Çevre Problemlerinin Öğretilmesi, Boğaziçi Üniversitesi Eğitim Fakültesi Dergisi. V. 30, pp. 87-106.
Öztürk, M., N. Copty, A. K. Saysel. 2013. Modeling the Impact of Land Use Change on the Hydrology of a Rural Watershed, Journal of Hydrology, V. 497, pp. 97-109
Saysel, A. K., M. Hekimoğlu. 2013. Exploring the Options for Carbon Dioxide Mitigation in Turkish Electric Power Industry, Energy Policy, V. 60, pp. 675-686
Feola G., C. Sattler and A. K. Saysel. 2012. Simulation Modeling in Farming Systems Research: Potential and Challenges, in The Farming Systems Approach into the 21st Century: The New Dynamic, (ed. I. Darnhofer, D. Gibbon, B. Dedieu), ), Springer, pp. 281-306. ISBN 9789400745025. DOI: 10.1007/978-94-007-4503-2_13
Saysel A. K. 2010. Agriculture in Turkey Towards a New Climatic Era: Prospects and Challenges, in Rethinking Structural Reform in Turkish Agriculture: Beyond the World Bank's Strategy, (ed. Barış Karapınar, Fikret Adaman and Gökhan Özertan), Nova Science Publishers.
Moxnes, E., A. K. Saysel. 2009. Misperceptions of Global Climate Change: Information Policies, Climatic Change, 93: 15-37
Saysel, A. K., Y. Barlas. 2006. Model Simplification and Validation: Illustration with Indirect Structure Validity Tests, System Dynamics Review, V. 22. No: 3, pp. 241-262
Castillo, D., A. K. Saysel. 2005. Simulation of Common Pool Resource Field Experiments: A Behavioural Model of Collective Action, Ecological Economics, V.55, pp. 420-236
Saysel A. K. 2004. Irrigation Projects, Agricultural Dynamics and the Environment, in Encyclopedia of Life Support Systems (EOLSS), System Dynamics Chapter (ed. Yaman Barlas), UNESCO Publishing, Paris-Oxford.
Saysel, A. K., Y. Barlas, O. Yenigun. 2002. Long Term Sustainability in an Agricultural Development Project: A System Dynamics Approach, Journal of Environmental Management, V. 64. No: 247, pp. 247-260
Saysel, A. K., Y. Barlas. 2001. A Dynamic Model of Salinization on Irrigated Lands, Ecological Modelling, V. 139. No: 2-3, pp. 177-199
Below is the list of my research projects after 2018. For those before 2018, please see my CV.
Sustainable water storage and distribution in the Mediterranean. OurMed project. PRIMA (H2020) – Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Med Area (2023-26). I’m participating as a researcher to steer the activites on dynamic modeling for policy analysis and building of living labs in the case study area, Konya Closed Basin (KCB) of Turkey.
Multiplayer Simulation Gaming for Sustainable Groundwater Irrigation. Principle Investigator. Boğaziçi University Research Fund (2021-23)
Innovative and Sustainable Groundwater Management in the Mediterranean. InTheMed project. Principal investigator. PRIMA (H2020) – Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Med Area (2020-23)
Soil salinity and sodicity management by sustainable irrigation practices in Konya Plain, Turkey. WP leader. Newton Institutional Link Grand between UK and Turkey (2019-2021). I joined as a researcher for model based analysis and building of interactive simulators for soil salinity management in irrigated semi-arid landscapes.
Building Resilience to Climate Change Impacts in the Ichel Watershed in Moldova: A system Dynamics Approach. Principal investigator with PH. D. candidate Natalia Ciobanu (2016-2019)
Systems Approach and Simulation Modeling for Sustainable Management of Groundwater Commons. Principle investigator with MS candidate Adnan Mirhanoğlu. Boğaziçi University Research Fund, (2016-2018)
Green growth and win-win strategies for sustainable climate action. Local principle investigator. H2020, Environment and Resources, Project no 642018 (2015-2018). I joined for analysing the enabling factors in urban sustainability transformations towards climate resilience in Istanbul.