Meltem Erdem Kaya is an Associate Professor of Landscape Architecture at Istanbul Technical University (ITU). She worked as a visiting scholar in the Landscape Ecology, Perception, and Design Lab at the University of Michigan, School of Natural Resources and Environment, USA, in 2010. Her research and teaching focuses on methods of landscape design, ecological approaches in landscape architecture, landscape characteristics and morphological studies on rural settlements, regenerative strategies for urban vacant lots. Dr. Erdem Kaya is actively participating design competitions and holds various awards at national level. Her professional practice focuses on landscape architecture projects ranging from small scale public spaces to large scale planning projects in urban and rural context. She is currently director of the Department of Landscape Architecture Department at ITU.