Prof. Dr. İlhan Tekeli, born in Izmir, received his bachelor’s degree in Civil Engineering from Istanbul Technical University in 1960 and his MS degrees in Urban and Regional Planning in 1964 and in 1966 from Middle East Technical University and the University of Pennsylvania, respectively. He received his PhD in the same field from Istanbul Technical University in 1968.
He taught at the Middle East Technical University from 1970 until his retirement. He is one of the founding members of the History Foundation and has served as its first president. He was a member of the Council of Higher Education. He was awarded in several occasions including the Sedat Simavi Social Sciences Award, Mustafa Parlar Award for Outstanding Achievement in Education, TMMOB Chamber of Architects Award for Contribution to Architecture the Sakıp Sabancı Social Science International Research Award and the Turkish Independent Architects Association’s jury award and the TUBITAK Service Award, Mustafa Parlar Science Award, the TASAM Strategic Vision Award. Having been one of the founding members the Academy of Sciences of Turkey, Prof. Tekeli was a board member of the Academy. He is also a consultant of many local administrations including Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir, Izmit, municipalities union etc. and institutions of varying sizes.
He is the author of more than 110 books, including those he co-authored. His scientific writings were published in 26 volumes by the History Foundation. He has penned more than 660 scientific papers and articles on urban planning, regional planning, social systems, macro-geography, local administrations, economic policies, economic history, city history, municipal history, educational planning, philosophy of science and historiography.