Dr Vidya Pancholi
Senior Research AssociateResearch Overview
I am an interdisciplinary development studies researcher with a background in both urban and development studies. My current research focuses on the role of digital technologies in reshaping climate change adaptation practices. In particular, the research explores the interaction between ‘the digital’ and the socio-historical context, the politics of scale, and indigenous knowledge and adaptation practices and the implications these interactions have on our understanding of justice, politics, and forms of resistance.
Career Details
Research Associate. Compound13 Lab/ University of the West of Scotland, Mumbai. March 2022 – May 2023
Teaching Fellow. The Bartlett Development Planning Unit (DPU), UCL, London, England, United Kingdom. September 2017 - August 2018
International Student Support Officer (ISSO). Department of Architecture, the University of Sheffield. July 2016 - June 2017
Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA). Department of Urban Studies, the University of Sheffield. April 2015 - March 2019
Research Associate. School of Planning & Architecture (SPA), New Delhi, India April. 2012 - Sept 2014
Analyst: Public Policies and Reform. IFC Consulting Services, New Delhi, India. October 2011 - March 2012
Senior Associate. Centre for Civil Society (CCS) New Delhi. April 2011- September 2011
Associate. Feedback INFRA, Gurugram, India. July 2007 - September 2009
Qualifications
Doctor of Philosophy – PhD, Urban Studies and Planning (2014-2020). The University of Sheffield, UK
Master of Arts – MA, International Development: Public Policy and Management (2009-2010). The University of Manchester, UK
Master of Technology – M. Tech, Urban and Regional Planning (2005-2007). CEPT University, India
Bachelor of Architecture – B. Arch, Architecture (1999-2004). M.B.M. Engineering College, Jodhpur, India
Additional Information
Fellow of Higher Education Academy (FHEA – Reg. no. PR150383, date 26/07/2018)
Associate Member of the Institute of Town Planners of India since 2009 (AITP – Reg. no. ITPI-2009/142)
Associate member of Council of Architecture, India (CA/2012/57922)
Current Research
The current research titled 'Digital Climate Futures – A Decolonial and Justice Perspective on Digitalised Climate Change Adaptation' empirically investigates digital climate change adaptation initiatives via a global mapping of discourses and practices and a case study in rural India.
The research aims to advance critical adaptation studies, digital justice, and digital/environmental humanities and builds an ambitious dissemination plan targeting wider audiences.
The project has five main objectives wherein I directly contribute to achieving objectives no. 3, 4, and 5.
- Develop a novel analytical framework to conceptualise the justice implications of digital climate adaptation
- Map existing digital platforms for climate services globally
- Investigate how users and communities engage with, co-design, employ, and resist such applications through a case study in rural India;
- Investigate how digital adaptation contributes to reshaping knowledge and power relations at the local level.
- Producing a toolkit for decolonial digital practices in climate adaptation useful for both academics and practitioners