XIM UNIVERSITY'S SCHOOL OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS TO ORGANISE ARCS 8.0

ARCS 8.0 International Conference Future of Sustainable Urbanism in the Global South International Center, XIM University Campus 8th – 10th February 2024 Bhubaneswar(07/02/2024): The School of Human Settlements (SHS), XIM University, Bhubaneswar, will organise the ARCS 8.0, their Annual Research on Cities Summit, on 8th- 10th February 2024.

In the last seven years ARCS has emerged as the leading platform for sharing of research and experience in urban development planning and management in India by academics, researchers, policy makers, professionals, and doctoral students.

This year over 100 international and national delegates will present and participate in the ARCS 8.0 International Conference on the ‘Future of Sustainable Urbanism in the Global South’, considering policy, technologies and practice for green transitions in developing contexts.

Authors of the best presentations will be awarded the Annual Urban Research Awards (AURA). The conference includes five themes along six tracks.

SDG polices, Informality, Equity and inclusion, Gender, and Smart & digital applications are the Thematic foci for each of the six sectoral Tracks - Economy and livelihoods, Sustainable infrastructure and services, Environment and ecosystems, Sustainable spatial planning, Inclusive urban regeneration and public spaces, and Governance, capacity building and education.

Over 70 papers will be presented, and 15 Theme Addresses and Panel discussions will be delivered by eminent national and international Speakers.

Hitesh Vaidya, former Director, National Institute of Urban Affairs, New Delhi, will be the Chief Guest of the event, and O.P.Agarwal, Distinguished Fellow-NITI Aayog and Senior Advisor, World Bank HQ, will be the Guest of Honor and deliver the Keynote Address.

Dr.Kajri Misra, Dean, School of Human Settlements will deliver the opening remarks. Three special Plenary Theme Addresses will be delivered on 8th and 9th February 2024.

Alka Misra, Chairperson, Odisha Skill Development Authority, will speak on ‘Urban Economy and Livelihoods’, Prerna V.Mehta, Associate Director-Urban Development, WRI India, will present on ‘Sustainable Cities and Public Spaces’, and S.S.Ray, Director-General, School of Architecture and Planning, KIIT, will talk on ‘Sustainable Built and Cultural Values in South-East Asia’. On 8th February 2024 a Plenary Panel will deliberate on ‘Institutional Strengthening and Capacity Building for Sustainable Urban Development-Lessons from other Countries’.

Frank D’hondt, CTA- UN Habitat, Vietnam and Secretary General, ISOCARP, and Dr.Tania Berger, Head of Social Space Based Research in Built Environment, Department for Construction and Environment, Danube University, Krems, will be the distinguished speakers. On 9th February 2024, Sanjay Deshpande (Director and Head of Operations, Clearford India Pvt Ltd), and Mr.

Sandipan sarangi (Project Lead, Urban Rural Convergence Program, UNICEF India) will speak in the Plenary Panel on ‘Sustainable Sanitation: Challenges and Opportunities in Urban Areas’.

A second Plenary Panel on ‘Urban Governance Tools and Sustainable Development’ will include distinguished speakers Pietro Elisei (President, ISOCARP; President, URBASOFIA, Bucharest), and Ali A.Alrouf, Board Member, ISOCARP, Founder of Urban Lab and Design Studio, Doha and Professor, Hamid Bin Khalifa University, Doha. It is expected that most of the urban growth and future megacities in the world will be in the global South, and thus sustainability transitions are most urgent in these locations.

The ARCS International Conference therefore seeks to elicit and disseminate research and experience which documents, explores, and critically examines sustainability efforts in Southern contexts, and present the views of national and international thought leaders on the subject .