Graduate of Pratt Institute, Alihan works as senior research associate in urban planning at Environmental Simulation Center in New York. He also teaches GIS to CUNY faculty part-time. In addition to TED USA, Alihan frequently volunteers with Bilumni, the U.S.-based alumni association of Bilkent University, where he graduated. As anyone who knows him will attest, Alihan loves aviation, photography and spending time with his pet golden retriever, Monty.