Our team
Dr. Mert Gökalp
Marine Biologist | Documentary Filmmaker | Writer | Photographer
Mert Gökalp is an interdisciplinary scientist and artist specializing in marine ecosystems, and is also known for his award-winning documentaries. He is notable for his research, academic publications, and environmental awareness projects on sponge aquaculture, invasive species, and sustainable fisheries along the Turkish coast.
In his doctoral studies at Wageningen University, he focused on sea sponges, designing sustainable integrated aquaculture systems to offer solutions for the future of the oceans. He is also the director of documentaries such as Bluefish and Grouper: Lord of the Reef.
With his camera and pen, Gökalp aims to make the hidden life of the sea visible, seeking new ways to connect with the environment by combining science and art.
📞 +90 537 708 65 34
Dr. Aylin Ulman
Marine Ecologist | Fisheries Scientist | Conservation Activist
Dr. Aylin Ulman is a marine scientist with over 15 years of experience in marine conservation science, invasive species, illegal fishing, and historical marine ecology. Her doctoral research, completed as a joint degree between Italy and France, investigated the role of maritime traffic in the spread of invasive species throughout the Mediterranean.
Through Mersea Marine Conservation Consulting, which she established in the southwest of Turkey, she conducts projects focused on combating invasive species, protecting biodiversity, and engaging the public. She has numerous academic contributions to international publications, European Union-funded projects, and sustainable fisheries.
She is also a diving instructor, field leader, and advocate for public science communication. Dr. Ulman believes that we cannot protect the future without understanding the past.
Dr. Başak Sözer
Marine Biologist | Science Writer | Editor & Translator
Dr. Başak Sözer is a marine biologist specializing in marine ecology, microscopic life forms, and environmental monitoring, with a scientific journey spanning from the Sea of Marmara to the oceans. During her doctoral studies at Istanbul University, she focused on picophytoplankton, taking on researcher and executive roles in national and international projects. She has worked with prestigious institutions such as TÜBİTAK, the European Union 7th Framework Programme, and the METU Institute of Marine Sciences, contributing significantly to the understanding of ecosystem changes along the Turkish coasts.
Since 2020, as the founder of publishing houses like TukoTuko Kitap and Galapagos Kitap, she has been producing scientific content for children and young adults, conducting translations from German and English, and carrying out editing and writing activities. She also teaches biology at the International Baccalaureate (IB) and AP levels.
In 2023, she was honored with the first prize in the Trophées Scientifiques de Corse for her field study on microplastic pollution in the Bodrum Peninsula. Dr. Sözer, who specializes in microscopic organisms, is also an expert in advanced techniques such as flow cytometry, pigment analysis, and microalgae cultures.
Driven by her love for the sea, children, and knowledge, she continues to keep science alive not only in the laboratory but also on the pages of books and in classroom settings.
Ecrin Burgazlı
Underwater Archaeologist | UX - UI Designer
Ecrin Burgazlı is a researcher specializing in both terrestrial and underwater archaeology, possessing a strong academic foundation and extensive field experience. She is currently in the thesis stage of her Master's degree in the Department of Archaeology at Aydın Adnan Menderes University, focusing her thesis on a literature review of underwater archaeological research conducted in the Bodrum Peninsula.
She has participated in field studies at significant archaeological sites such as Tisna, Myrina, Gryneion, Alinda, and Gerga, taking responsibility for core archaeological processes including mapping, inventorying, and documentation through measured drawings and photographic records.
In 2024, her underwater excavation work on the Hellenistic shipwreck in Serçe Limanı, conducted with INA (Institute of Nautical Archaeology), reinforced both her theoretical knowledge and her practical skills, which are supported by her three-star diver certification. During this time, she actively participated in the documentation, measurement, and scientific recording of archaeological finds.
Adopting a holistic approach to cultural heritage preservation and interpretation in her work with multidisciplinary teams, Burgazlı also contributes to the integration of archaeology with digital tools and to public awareness projects.
Tunç Cambazoğlu
Born in Ankara in 1982, Tunç Cambazoğlu spent his childhood in Bodrum due to his father, an underwater archaeologist, working at the Bodrum Museum of Underwater Archaeology. After completing his primary, secondary, and high school education there, he finished his university education at Eastern Mediterranean University in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, graduating from the Department of Tourism and Hotel Management.
Following his education, Cambazoğlu undertook ventures in the private sector, including restaurant and store management. Since 2014, he has taken over the management of Aşkın Diving Dive Center, which was founded by his father, Aşkın Cambazoğlu, in 1987.
Tunç Cambazoğlu holds an amateur captain's license and is also a commercial diver, professional diving instructor, and a passionate underwater photographer. Integrating his interest in the sea and the underwater world with his profession, Cambazoğlu continues to preserve Bodrum's long-established diving culture and pass it on to new generations.
Professional Advertising Photographer & Visual Communication Designer
Born in Kadıköy in 1986, Eryürek combined her early interest in fine arts with photography, thus defining her professional path. After graduating from Yeditepe University's Visual Communication Design department, she produced works in analog and digital photography disciplines and gained extensive experience in the field of visual storytelling.
His professional career has focused on the advertising industry, specializing particularly in advertising photography, creating creative, aesthetically pleasing visual content for brands. He possesses a deep understanding of visual communication, aesthetic composition, and storytelling.
Eryürek, whose passion for nature, the sea, and sailing is an integral part of his life, has always embraced engaging in various sports disciplines and spending time in nature as a way of life. He has also contributed as a volunteer to search and rescue efforts in various non-governmental organizations, developing an approach that values social solidarity.
Eryürek is pleased to support Eco Heritage's vision of nature conservation and a sustainable future, and continues to add value to projects with her expertise and interdisciplinary background.
Ergun Kocabiyik
Yazar | Çevirmen
Ergun Kocabıyık completed his higher education at Ankara University's School of Press and Broadcasting in 1987. Until 1997, he worked in the cinema-television sector as an assistant director, scriptwriter, and copywriter. During the same period, his writings, including short stories, articles, and essays, were published in significant literary journals such as Hayalet Gemi, Akşam-lık, Varlık, Eşik Cini, Mesele, Doğu-Batı, and Hece.
From 1997 to 2020, Kocabıyık played an active role in the publishing industry, serving as an editor at Sabah Kitapları and Kabalcı Yayınları, and as managing editor at Boğaziçi University Press. Concurrently, he served as a consultant and researcher on various documentary projects.
He has published original and translated works in the fields of literature, culture, and Sufism. These include Yazılı Yüz, Bal-Ayı (e-book), Mystical Dimensions of Islam (translation from Annemarie Schimmel), Aynadaki Narkissos (Narcissus in the Mirror), English-Turkish Dictionary of Sufism, Dolaylı Hayvan (Indirect Animal), Dünyanın Fısıltısı (The World's Whisper), and 101 Books You Will Never Read.
He has also contributed as a chapter author to various collective works. Notable among these are the texts “The Symbolic States of Water” (in Istanbul Water Culture), “Hemlin's Bakery” (in Bread in Every Aspect), and “The Heaven They Call Heaven: On a Couplet by Yunus Emre” (in Neither Sane Nor Mad).
With his long-standing experience in both the literary world and the publishing sector, Ergun Kocabıyık continues to contribute to cultural production.