Utpal Sharma is the Dean and Director at the Institute of Architecture and Planning, Nirma University, Ahmedabad. He has more than three decades of experience as an academician and professional in the field of architecture, urban & regional planning and urban design. He has worked on various prestigious urban projects that involve preparation of Master Plans, Regional Plans, Zonal Plans, Housing Policy formulation and Urban Design guidelines. Prior to joining Nirma University in 2014, he was the Dean at the Faculty of Planning in CEPT University. R Parthasarathy is Professor and Director, Gujarat Institute of Development Research, Ahmedabad. Till recently, he was also leading the MEGA Centre at GIDR that worked closely with the Gujarat Metro Rail Corporation in the setting up of Metro Rail in Ahmedabad. His research interests are natural resource management, environmental economics and urban planning. He was earlier a Professor at the Faculty of Planning, CEPT University, Ahmedabad, guiding Masters and PhD dissertations besides teaching Postgraduate and Graduate students. Aparna is an Associate Professor at the Institute of Architecture and Planning, Nirma University, Ahmedabad where she teaches both undergraduate and graduate students. Trained as an architect-planner from CEPT University, she was associated with CEPT-CRDC for research projects related to rural livelihoods, human environment and socio-economic development. She was the founding partner of an architectural practice and worked with different organizations on issues pertaining to social housing processes, environment and sustainable livelihoods.
