CO-LEAD CITY LAB KOCHI
Amruta Jayawant is an experience architect from India. She is a Master of Science in Smart City Solutions of the University of Stuttgart. As part of MGI, she is the Co-Lead of the City Lab Kochi.
"Being a woman in science can sometimes be challenging. I find myself lucky to have collaborated with many well educated female colleagues throughout my carrier. Working with talented, friendly and supportive women in the MGI team is excellent."
MGI: What is your function within the MGI project?
Within MGI, I am part of the City Lab Kochi. I am primarily responsible for coordinating activities with Fraunhofer Germany and external expert. For example from Fraunhofer India, the National Institut of Urban Affairs (NIUA), the Centre for Heritage, Environment and Development (C-HED) in India, and the Frankfurt School of Finance. Apart of that, reporting and deliverables for the City Lab Kochi are also the main tasks of my job. Since the City Profile and Climate Risk & Resilience Assessment for Kochi were published, I have been involved in the ongoing pilot project development.
MGI: What sparked your interest in climate change, sustainability, and scientific research in the first place? Being an Architect, I have worked in the construction industry for many years in India. Climate change and sustainability were important topics of discussion in my job. I was always inclined toward finding sustainable solutions in my designs. However, after moving to Germany, I focused on expanding my knowledge about the topic. The transdisciplinary approach of my master’s in Smart City Solutions enhanced my perception of the present and future urban challenges. The research in the urban context allows for a deeper understanding of the situation, supports in identifying needs and gaps, and enables us to design action points for a sustainable future. It is a lifelong learning process for everyone.
