Dr. Debjani Ghosh, Associate Professor at the National Institute of Urban Affairs
Although, especially among young researchers, the “Gender Gap” in science has narrowed in recent years, men are still more present in international research. As a global scientific enterprise, the combination of various perspectives and experiences is vital for MGI. We would like to shed light on this particular topic and therefore we are asking the women of MGI to share their experiences.
Q.: Please tell us about your work. Which activities are you currently occupied with?
I am a social scientist with a Master’s degree and PhD in planning with almost 20 years of professional experience in the field of development planning. Presently, I am working as Associate Professor at the National Institute of Urban Affairs (NIUA) in New Delhi. I am leading the projects related to planning, sustainable development and building capacities.
Some of my key projects at NIUA were aimed at promoting evidence-based research to influence change in urban policies and practice through collaboration and knowledge management. My current projects include capacity building for smart data and inclusive cities in partnership with IDS Sussex, UK; MGSCI with the University of Stuttgart in Germany where NIUA is the local Indian partner with CSML, “Reforms in Urban Planning Capacity in India” for NITI Aayog, GoI and the monitoring and assessment of an Integrated Capacity Building Program as a strategic partner for the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs of the Government of India.
Q.: What does it mean for you to work as a woman in science?
It is a matter of pride for me that I can contribute towards building India’s urban future. Our organization is proud to have over 60% female employees. In my close to 3 decades long career, I have had more positive experiences than negative ones and had the opportunity to engage with various kinds of stakeholders across the world all of whom were contributing to a common goal of improving the quality of life in a sustainable habitat.
