top of page

About Me.

I’m Ela Ä°layda Evcil, a high school student at Hisar School in Istanbul with an academic background and a passion for architecture, human rights, and sustainability. My journey combines works I have done regarding architecture and form with human rights, ethics and STEM.

​

This page displays my CV, including research, publications, work in architecture, AI, cultural heritage, and human rights.

Summer Schools, Courses & Seminars

 10th Grade, 2024; 12 hr/wk, 3 wks/yr

Syracuse University Pre-College Architecture Summer Program

 12th Grade - 10 hrs/wk, 4wks 

Coursera course on Roman Architecture 11, Yale University

12th Grade - 10 hrs/wk, 4wk

Coursera course on The Age of Sustainable Development, Columbia University

  • Took undergraduate-level courses on architectural design and modeling

  • Learned 3D modeling software (Rhino, Photoshop), explored space-architecture relationships, and developed physical modeling skills

  • Studied the history of Roman Architecture and the cultural role of architecture in society

  • Studied social, economic, and environmental dimensions of sustainable development, covering global inequality, human rights, public health, and climate change

AWARDS & HONORS 

John Locke Institute Essay Award, Economics

Youthpass Certificate, Artistic Transformation and Freedom of Expression

Academic High Honor Certificate and High Honor Roll

AP Scholar with Distinction

"The Emergence of Homo Economicus: Historical Transformations from Primitive Societies to Capitalist Systems", analyzing the link between private property rights and human rights violations across historical societies

Artwork published in a magazine for outstanding contribution to solidarity project

Awarded for consistent superior academic   achievement  with a GPA of above 90/100 in Grades 9-10-11

The Sixth Sense, Columbia University

Wrote a story and published an animation work in a student book by Hisar School & Columbia University

RESEARCH PROJECTS

 10th Grade, 2024; 8 hr/wk, 16 wks/yr

Pioneer Academics Research Project on AI, Mentored by Leshui He, Associate Professor at Bates College

  • Collaborated with international students to analyze AI technologies and their societal impact

  • Learned AI pattern recognition and studied AI bias

  • Researched intersections of inequality, ethics, and technology

  • Co-authored a group paper and presentation on AI bias affecting women’s rights and educational inequality

 11th Grade - Present 

AP Physics 1 Earthquake Resistant Design and Relocation Project

  • Researching earthquake-resistant materials and methods of earthquake damage mitigation, while researching how AI pattern recognition and FEA analysis can be used as damage mitigation methods

  • Developed an architectural project on providing homes to those affected by the earthquake, enhancing a feeling of belonging in Hatay, Turkey

11th Grade 

Heritage Augmented Reality (AR) Project

  • Developed the HERA app using Augmented Reality to enhance children’s understanding of cultural heritage

  • Selected for HCI International 2025 Human-Computer Interaction Conference

WORK EXPERIENCE 

  9th Grade – 40 hrs/wk, 2 wks/yr

KG Architecture Firm  

  • Observed architectural work on historical preservation and community-centered design, using 3D modeling software

  • Observed meetings and work done by architects regarding building renovations, residential architecture, and historical preservation efforts

  • Explored the usage of 3D modeling software SketchUp, and observed texture and rendering programs through architectural work

 11th Grade – 30 hrs/wk, 1 wks/yr

Teacher Assistant, Venture for All Entrepreneurship Program       

  • Assisted Professor Sarah Beston (Columbia University) in lectures on community-empowering ventures and guided student groups

  • Served as a TA for the group that won the Best Social Impact Award with a project that provides high school students across the nation and in underserved communities with internship opportunities

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT PROJECTS 

10th Grade–Present; 1.5 hr/wk, 40 wks/yr

Cities and Cultural Heritage Project Leader     

  • Observed cultural heritage sites in Turkey and raised awareness about damage from political conflict and negative urbanization

  • Visited conflict areas to see how national heritage and architecture were harmed by violence and human rights violations

  • Participated in university lectures on heritage representation through culture, nutrition, and architecture, leading questioning sessions

  • Led student discussions and engaged with locals to raise awareness of heritage loss due to conflict and human interference

10th Grade; 2 hrs/wk, 9 wks/yr

Science in a Box Mentor

  • Mentored middle school students lacking access to science lessons, promoting accessible education for all

  • Led Zoom sessions and facilitated online science experiments following the curriculum

12th Grade–Present – 3 hr/wk, 8 wks/yr

Organizer, School Arts Gazette Workshops

  • Organizing workshops for children in underserved communities

  • Leading sessions based on the month’s Gazette issue, covering cultural heritage preservation, history, philosophy, arts etc.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

 7th Grade–Present

Model United Nations, Hisar School   

  • Co-Secretary General, Hisar JMUN (12th Grade): Co-led conference planning, coordinated Secretariat members and participants, managed materials and scheduling, and developed agenda items on international political issues

  • President, Special Assembly, Hisar JMUN (11th Grade): Led debates with 150+ delegates on political and human rights issues, published agenda items, assisted chairs and delegates, and oversaw conference logistics

  • Club Member (7th–11th Grade): Participated in Junior and Hisar MUN committees, served as delegate, judge, and Vice President Chair across 10+ conferences

 10th Grade – Present; 3 hr/wk, 14 wks/yr

Founder, Designer, and Editor-in-Chief, School Arts Gazette

  • Founded the school’s bi-monthly arts and humanities gazette covering arts, cultural heritage, architecture, history etc.

  • In Grade 11, expanded the gazette into an organization, serving as a founder and president of Hisar Arts Gazette Club

  • where student teams gathered news ideas and were guided in content development

  • Conducted and published interviews with notable Turkish artists, providing peers' insight into how the arts reflect nationality, culture, and humanity’s relationship with nature

  • Promoted awareness of humanities-related topics, including cultural heritage preservation

  • Led and collaborated with a student team of journalists and editors

 10th Grade –  12 hr/wk, 1 wk/yr

Panelist, Student-Led Discussion with Prof. Dr. Ioanna Kuçuradi

  • Worked on the panel discussion flow and led a panel addressing questions on human rights, deontological ethics, and Enlightenment philosophy

  • Directly engaged with Prof. Dr. Ioanna Kuçuradi, asking questions about human rights violations and the role of ethics in politics

10th Grade–Present –  3 hr/wk, 28 wks/yr

Editor-in-Chief, Designer & Contributor, School Politics Magazine

  • Writing and editing pieces for the yearly magazine published by Hisar School’s Center for Human and Social Studies, and design layouts for the magazine and individual articles

  • Organized and published interviews with political institutions, writers, and thinkers, including Sir Geoff Mulgan, Herkül Millas, and the Istanbul Policy Center

  • Editing and publishing scholarly works by professors, students, and educators, promoting rigorous academic discourse and community engagement

10th Grade–Present –  3 hr/wk, 25 wks/yr

Politics Section Editor, Journalist & Club Member, School English Gazette 

  • Wrote pieces on global issues and politics for the biweekly gazette, Hisar Chronicle, while editing and assisting all political content from student journalists in the club

11th Grade; 2 hr/wk, 7 wks/yr

Head of 3D Modeling & Club Member, Energy Club

  • Modeled a solar panel using 3D software and assisted club members in the design and modeling process

10th Grade; 8 hr/wk, 1 wk/yr

Participant, Cultural Heritage, Ethics and Human Rights Conference, Sezin Schools

  • Engaged in lectures and peer discussions on the importance of cultural heritage preservation in the 21st century

  • Collaborated with peers from across Istanbul to co-author a memorandum on cultural heritage and ethics

9thGrade-10th grade, 5 hrs/wk, 20 wks/yr

Sailing Team

  • Part of the Hisar School and later on the Alize sailing team 

  • Participated in the Bosphorus Cup 2023- Youngest Team Award

  • Participated in Canakkale Victory Cup 2024

bottom of page