CITIES: Embracing Inclusivity Proceedings of the International Conference on Architecture & Design of Built Environment 2024

Rajdeep Routh is an accomplished urban planner, heritage management specialist, and academic leader with over 18 years of experience spanning academia, research, and community-based practice. Currently an Associate Professor and Chair of the Centre for Architectural and Urban Research at Woxsen University, he leads interdisciplinary research, supervises doctoral and undergraduate theses, and drives curriculum innovation in architecture and urban planning. Rajdeep’s expertise encompasses participatory governance, adaptive reuse, planning law, and digital heritage documentation, with a strong focus on GIS and community engagement. He has been Principal Investigator for major research grants, including an ICSSR-funded project on participatory cultural governance in Indian cities, and has represented his institution in international collaborations with organizations such as Tongji University and ICCROM. He has authored numerous peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and policy reports spanning urban planning, heritage management, governance, and craft economies. His interdisciplinary research integrates methods and perspectives from architecture, public policy, digital technology, and social sciences, resulting in innovative frameworks for urban and cultural sustainability. His work has contributed significantly to both academic scholarship and practical advancements in the field, and he remains actively engaged in collaborative research initiatives at national and international levels.

Sonia Gupta has been educated at Jadavpur University Kolkata and Lund University, Sweden. Having been in practice and academics in Kolkata and later Professor and Principal of Amity School of Architecture and Planning, Amity University, Kolkata, she is now Professor and Dean at School of Architecture and Planning Woxsen University, Telangana. Through Centre for Built Environment, a knowledge-based nonprofit professional body in Kolkata, she has sustained her interest in housing issues, rainwater harvesting and sanitation for the urban poor. She has made several presentations in conferences both in India and abroad and is also an active member of the Indian Institute of Architects, West Bengal Chapter. She is a Rotarian and currently Council Member (National- Education) of Women’s Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Water Resources Council and has been the Secretary of Council for Green and Eco-friendly Movement- The Associated Chambers of Commerce of India (GEM- ASSOCHAM) State Chapter.

Joy Sen is a Professor of the Department of Architecture and Regional Planning, Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur, West Bengal, India and Former Head (June 2017 ‐ July 2020). Prior to that, he had been the former Head of Ranbir and Chitra Gupta School of Infrastructure and Design, IIT Kharagpur (Aug 2014 – June 2017).  His areas of research are Community and Regional Planning Analyses & Programming and Architecture and Planning related Heritage Studies and Documentation.  He has a long working experience with the various Environmental Design programs under DFID Government of the United Kingdom (1995‐96) and ISU‐UNDP program (1987‐89) and IR3S (2011‐12) in the University of Tokyo, Japan. He is the recipient of the NCERT/ AISSE Gold Medal for highest marks in SOCIAL SCIENCES in All‐India level; the Institute SILVER MEDAL for Highest Aggregate in Bachelor of Architecture, IIT Kharagpur; and BEST POST‐GRADUATE THESIS AWARD from Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa, USA. He is currently associated with the two mega projects sponsored by MHRD Govt. of India, i.e., the SandHI ‐ Science and Heritage mega initiative (acronym SandHI) and also PI 2 in the Future of Cities. In SandHI, he is the Principal Investigator  (PI) and with Future of Cities as one of the two PIs.