Aybe Nur Durgun Badat

PhD candidate at the Center for Islamic Theology

Supervised by Prof. Dr. Lejla Demiri, Chair of Islamic Doctrine

Aybe Nur Durgun Badat is currently pursuing a Ph.D. at the Zentrum für Islamische Theologie at the University of Tübingen. Aybe Nur holds a Master's degree in Anthropology from the same institution and a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from Boğaziçi University with High Honors. Her research expertise encompasses ethnographic and qualitative studies in medical anthropology, exploring the epistemologies of traditional healing systems. Additionally, she has engaged in quantitative research, with a specific focus on psychoneuroimmunology.

She has actively pursued certifications in professional development, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), and Traditional Islamically Integrated Psychotherapy (TIIP), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR). With a passion for community service, Aybe Nur has participated in various volunteer experiences, particularly those involving women and children.

Fluent in Turkish and English, German (in listening and reading). She is currently learning Arabic.

Title: “A Path to Planetary Well-being: The Practice of Tafakkur (Contemplation) in Nature”

Beginning: January 2023

Summary: Within the Islamic tradition, tafakkur is proposed as an analogous concept to meditation and mindfulness. However, much of the research on tafakkur practices up to now has been mainly descriptive, with an absence of consensus on operational definitions and structured interventions. The overall objective of Aybe Nur’s mixed methods research project is to explore if, and how the practice of tafakkur (contemplation) in nature, inspired by Islamic theology and modern psychology, contributes to the planetary well-being. Her research project constructs a methodology that combines empirical investigation with a phenomenological approach to develop a systematic programme for tafakkur. The program will integrate tafakkur practices and elements from mindfulness cognitive therapy in a manner that allows for further empirical studies. It may be integrated into educational curricula or implemented as a wellness scheme, with the intention of fostering well-being and healthy aging, and ideally, enhancing nature connectedness and pro-nature behavior.

Supervisors:

Prof. Dr. Dr. h.c. Lejla Demiri, University of Tübingen, Germany

Prof. Dr. Peter Tyler, St Mary’s University, England