Osman Balaban is a professor of urban planning at Middle East Technical University (METU) in Ankara, Türkiye.

He holds a PhD. in city planning from METU (2008); and a master’s degree on urban policy planning from METU (2000). Dr. Balaban worked as a postdoctoral researcher at United Nations University-Institute of Advanced Studies (UNU-IAS) in Yokohama, Japan between 2009 and 2012. During his graduate studies at METU, he focused on the analysis of political and economic dynamics that shape the production of urban built environment. Dr. Balaban broadened his research agenda during his postdoctoral studies by conducting field research in Tokyo, Yokohama, Kanazawa and Delhi to understand the links between climate problem and key urban sectors like land use, transport and buildings.

His major research and teaching interests include such topics as climate change, low-carbon and climate resilient urbanism, environmental politics, urban politics and local governments, and urban regeneration. In his recent research, Dr. Balaban deals with climate change adaptation, urban resilience, post-disaster recovery planning and social vulnerability analysis.