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Dr Vidya Pancholi

Senior Research Associate

Vidya Pancholi

LEC Building

LA1 4YQ

Lancaster

Research 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. 

  1. Develop a novel analytical framework to conceptualise the justice implications of digital climate adaptation
  2. Map existing digital platforms for climate services globally
  3. Investigate how users and communities engage with, co-design, employ, and resist such applications through a case study in rural India;
  4. Investigate how digital adaptation contributes to reshaping knowledge and power relations at the local level.
  5. Producing a toolkit for decolonial digital practices in climate adaptation useful for both academics and practitioners

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