Prof. Dr. Ali K. Saysel is an interdisciplinary environmental scientist with a specialty in the field of system dynamics. Before joining UiB Geography in 2023, he was a professor of Environmental Sciences at Boğaziçi University, Istanbul. He has BS in Industrial Engineering (Boğaziçi University, 1990), and MS and PhD degrees in Environmental Sciences and Technology (Boğaziçi University 1993 and 1999).

System Dynamics is a model-based approach to understand and analyze root causes of change in coupled, complex, feedback systems. Dr. Saysel develops computer simulation models as instruments of deliberation for environmental resource management and sustainability transitions, hence he is engaged in stakeholder mapping, governance issues and participatory methods in socio-environmental-technical systems. 

Dr. Saysel's recent work focuses on agricultural water management and the food-water-landscape nexus in the Mediterranean, under PRIMA (H2020) research program. He is 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). He is an associate editor of System Dynamics Review and a member of the International System Dynamics Society and the International Society for Ecological Economics.

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 modeling (with Saeed P. Langarudi)

He regularly supervises MPhil thesis in system dynamics:

GEO-SD 350 Master's thesis in system dynamics

GEO-SD 351 Master's thesis in system dynamics

He's been part of an ERASMUS+ collaboration led by Emeritus Prof. Dr. Erling Moxnes of UiB. For MOOCS that have been developed under this partnership, see the UiB System Dynamics MOOC portal. His major contribution has been the module on the food, water, and energy nexus.

For past teaching record in environmental sciences and system dynamics, please see the CV. This consists of classes on social and political ecologies, and system dynamics for sustainability transitions.

2025

• Ocak, Semra; Saysel, Ali Kerem (2025). The Deep-Sea Discharge Project and the failure of environmental conservation in the Ergene Basin, Turkey. (external link)

2024

• Secci, Daniele; Saysel, Ali Kerem; Uygur, İzel et al. (2024). Modeling for sustainable groundwater management: Interdependence and potential complementarity of process-based, data-driven and system dynamics approaches. (external link)

2023

• Öztürk, Hasan Sabri; Deviren-Saygın, Selen; Copty, Nadim-Kamel et al. (2023). Hydro-physical deterioration of a calcareous clay-rich soil by sodic water in Central Anatolia, Türkiye. (external link)
• Deviren-Saygın, Selen; Öztürk, Hasan Sabri; Akça, Muhittin Onur et al. (2023). Solute transport through undisturbed carbonatic clay soils in dry regions under differing water quality and irrigation patterns. (external link)
• Durán, América Paz; Kuiper, Jan J; Dutra Aguiar, Ana Paula et al. (2023). Bringing the Nature Futures Framework to life: creating a set of illustrative narratives of nature futures. (external link)
• Tunca, Mehmet Can; Saysel, Ali Kerem; Babaei, Masoud et al. (2023). A dynamic model for salinity and sodicity management on agricultural lands: Interactive simulation approach. (external link)

2009

• Moxnes, Erling; Saysel, Ali Kerem (2009). Misperceptions of global climate change: information policies. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

The record by 2022 is on CRISTIN.

For major publications in peer-reviewed journals and peer-reviewed editorial books before 2022, please see the list below.

For other published work, please see the 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

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 research projects after 2018. For those before 2018, please see the CV.

Sustainable water storage and distribution in the Mediterranean. OurMed project. PRIMA (H2020) – Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Med Area (2023-26). Researcher to steer the activities 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. PRIMA (H2020) – Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Med Area (2020-23). Local principal investigator. 

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). Work package leader 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). Local principle investigator for analyzing the enabling environment in urban sustainability transformations for climate resilience in Istanbul.