Özgün Özçakır is an architect by training who specialized in the preservation field. He is an assistant professor at Middle East Technical University (METU), Graduate Program in Conservation of Cultural Heritage. He received his Ph.D. degree from the same program for his thesis entitled ‘In-Between Preservation and Economics: Establishing Common Ground between Socio-Cultural and Economic for the Sustainability of Urban Heritage Places in Turkey.’ His research interests include heritage values, intervention strategies and approaches in heritage places and heritage impact assessment (HIA).