Mehtap Leyla Turanalp Uysal
(she/her) Mehtap Leyla Turanalp Uysal is an award-winning designer who recently graduated with a Master’s in Design Studies from Harvard GSD and is now a PhD student in the Environmental Planning & Policy Program at the Department of Urban Studies & Planning at MIT. Originally Kurdish from Mesopotamia, Leyla graduated from Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University in Turkey with a BA/BS in Urban and Regional Planning, focusing on permaculture and nature restoration. At Harvard, her research centered on restoring nature, Indigenous climate knowledge, and preparing cities for climate change. At MIT, she continues this research within the context of Indigenous Kurdish and global change. Outside academia, Leyla is the founder and CEO of Bajer Watches, a company dedicated to promoting Kurdish culture and empowering women and children in Kurdish communities globally. A passionate entrepreneur, fashion designer, activist, gardener, and mother, she is committed to making our world better for all.