SUSTAINABLE CITIES AND COMMUNITIES
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Nitte University provides an eco- friendly campus, with adequate and appropriate open space. Have community spaces for educational, recreational purposes. Overall Nitte ensures to have sustainable community for the people.
Initiatives Toward Ecosystem Restoration.
The administration of Nitte (DU) has always been conscious of creating eco-friendly campuses and has taken several steps in this direction. The Vision and Mission of the University have aligned with the UN sustainable development goals. Care is taken to minimize the campus infrastructures’ environmental impact by restoring the original habitat as much as possible. The following resources are essential for development of a sustainable city or community eg. Water, Earth, Biodiversity, Air etc.
Activities for sustainable cities and communities:
WATER: The students of the Department of Public Health, KSHEMA, developed a short video titled “Jala” to observe World Water Day on 22nd March 2021; this event was aimed to sensitize the students and public on water conservation and how we can restore the water balance in nature. [Link: A short video titled “Jala” to observe World
Water Day]
AIR: The Institution Innovation Council, Nitte (DU), in collaboration with Project NISHABDA, Department of ENT, KSHEMA, and Nitte Institute of Speech and Hearing (NISH), organized “National Pollution Control Day” in the virtual mode on 2nd December 2021.
EARTH: To restore the green cover and the terrestrial ecology, Nitte University Green Initiative Project (NUGIP) organized a tree planting event on World Environment Day on 5th June 2021.
Biodiversity: Compassion for animals is intimately connected with goodness of character. Sensitizing and creating awareness among people is crucial for protecting animal species. The program was aimed at educating students about the protection of animal species. With the right motivation provided by the University, the NSS Cell of NUCSER conducted an awareness program on the environment and animal rights on 22nd February 2021 at University Auditorium.
Commemoration Of International Days:
The world environment day: Competitions were organized to create awareness about the environment and its current devastations due to anthropogenic activites. On this occasion, owing to the pandemic leading to lockdown and most of the students confined to their homes, a selfiecaption competition was planned for the students based on the UN theme: Reimagine, Recreate, Restore. This activity was not only restricted to the university campus and was actively organized in the various other constituent educational institutes run by the administration at Dr. MRSM English Medium High School. Teaching and non-teaching staff members planted a sapling with an oath to nurture them. The program’s focus was to ensure a greener campus, sustain biodiversity, and, thereby, a better future. The saplings were collected from the Range Forest Office, Moodabidri.
Keeping Our Beaches Clean:
Restoring the terrestrial ecology involves cleaning the environment from human waste. Nitte (DU) actively works towards the terrestrial ecology by
actively supporting and organizing events such as restoration drives and Swachh Bharat Abhiyan conducted at Someshwar beach by the Alumni Association of Dr. NSAM PU College. Both members of the Alumni Association and staff participated in the beach cleaning.
Clean Campus:
As part of the Clean India: Safe India drive, a second program was conducted in which the NSS Unit of NGSM Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, under the banner of Swachh Bharath Abhiyan, the students and faculty members cleaned the campus and its surrounding areas for a month. The waste collected was segregated and adequately disposed. This also supported the nationwide Clean India Drive of the Govt. of India observed from 1st to 31st October 2021 to clean waste, mainly single-use plastic free surroundings. Nitte (DU) strives to keep the surroundings clean and resolves to create a plastic-free campus.
Learning From The Leaders: Sustainable Cities
Apart from the field programs, a national-level scientific discussion and form was conducted by the Nitte Institute of Architecture titled “Ecological Design Thinking.” Dr. Upendra Raval (Muni Bhai) is a distinguished academician and an environmentalist. He has over 30 years of experience working with water systems and wastewater management. He holds a Ph.D. in Zoology, and his doctoral research explored functional anatomy and avian biology. He has lectured and engaged with design and engineering schools across India for over 12 years. The conversation by Dr. Upendra Raval emphasized the need to unravel and understand the molecular complexities of ecological systems to inform the planning scale of human settlements. It reinstated the need to move beyond the anthropocentric paradigms and embrace eco-centric thinking processes. It reflected the parallels between the human body and ecological systems like rivers, wetlands, estuaries, lakes, and oceans. It critically questioned the existing sewage and sanitation models and the need to evolve them further in a decentralized manner to achieve a closed-loop ecosystem.
Building Sustainable Societies:
Capstone Projects: NIA invited the following International Panelists to review the work of Final Year students for their Capstone projects. The panelists worked closely with the students for the duration of the project. The projects were divided into four distinct thematic areas. The first area was Institutions. Miranda Gardiner, Vice President, Sustainable Design Leader, HKS Los Angeles,
Associate of the American Institute of Architects (AIA), Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Fellow, Fitwel Ambassador, and EcoDistricts Accredited Professional did the review for this theme. The second theme was Emerging Typologies in Critical Landscapes. Dr. Nico Tillie, Assistant Professor of Landscape Architecture, Head of the Urban Ecology & Ecocities Lab, TU Delft, and Conference Chair Ecocities World Summit Rotterdam 2021 did the review for the students doing their projects under this theme. The third theme was Urban Interventions. Prof. Piotr Winskowski, Faculty of Architecture Cracow University of Technology and Academy of Fine Arts, Cracow, Poland did the review for this theme. The fourth theme was Evolving Discourses. Prof. Kevin Low, Faculty of Built Environment, University of Malaya, Principal, Small Projects, Kuala Lumpur did the review for this theme. Additionally, Prof. Low delivered a lecture entitled The Individual and Society on the 19th February 2021, discussing the role of the architect in society.
Designing Sustainable Cities For The Future:
The Staff Development Center of Nitte DU in collaboration with Nitte Institute of Architecture conducted an Online Faculty Development Program on the 18th, 19th, and 20th of January 2021. In the session Teaching Technology and Environment and Future Speculations in Architecture, Prof. Ravindra Punde, Director, School of Environment and Architecture (SEA), Mumbai, discussed the importance of defining the characteristics of an ideal outgoing student, and the structuring of a semester using a modulebased system. In the session Architectural Research and Design Pedagogy, Prof. Prasad Shetty, Dean, SEA, Mumbai, discussed the role of an architect as a designer of space, and the role of academia in propagating a ‘western’, ‘colonial’ education in architecture. In the session From Conceptual Seeing to Experiential Seeing, Prof. K B Jinan focused on the current state of education in India, and the de-schooling necessary for students entering architecture schools.
Sustainability: Ecology And Architecture
- A. Master Class by Chitra Vishwanath: The summer school titled “Sustainability Master Class” by architect Chitra Vishwanath was conducted from 7th to 12th August 2021 in online mode. The topic focussed on was City, Play and Nature. The sessions aimed at developing a deeper understanding about the physical environment and the play that happens in the built form. The outcome aimed at understanding “Pause”, “Breathing Space”, and “Playfulness of space” through the traditional Mangaluru design elements and proposing a design intervention. Chitra Vishwanath is a Principal Architect and Managing Director at Biome Environmental Solutions which is a Bangalore-based design firm. The firm focuses on ecology, architecture and water.
Drawing (Out) a place – Masterclass by Shubhra Raje:
NIA organized a Masterclass by architect Shubhra Raje on ‘Drawing (Out) a Place’ from 18th to 21st August 2021. The goal of the workshop was to expand conventional understanding of buildings and their components by altering associations with them through the way one engages drawings. Shubhra Raje is deeply involved in civic, educational and cultural affairs in both Ahmedabad and the Denver metro area investigating the role of cultural and community institutions as the ‘new public spaces’. She has coordinated various workshops across India and USA that encourage young designers to actively participate in issues of social justice and cultural inheritance.
Webinars & Lectures:
Mr. Naga Venkata Sai Kumar Manapragada, Associate Professor, NIA conducted a Webinar on Energy Efficient Building Materials and Equipment in the Kerala Energy Managament Center Online (Custom platform of IITMK) on 6th March 2021.
Mr. Naga Venkata Sai Kumar Manapragada, Associate Professor, NIA delivered an expert lecture on Digital Tools for Informed Landscape Design Decisions, through the online mode for University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia on 25th March 2021.
Ar. Shoumik Desai, Assistant Professor, NIA, delivered a lecture for the National Energy
Conservation Day program organised by NITTEIIC on 14/12/2021.
Ar. Shoumik Desai, delivered a lecture on the topic “Building & Resilience” as part of Sustainable Development Goals Lecture Series organised by NITTE-IIC on 28/12/2021.
Ar. Nikhil Shah, Ar. Shoumik Desai, and Ar. Soumya Hosamani, Assistant Professors, NIA, co-authored a paper titled “Post-Disaster Climate Responsive Indigenous and Local Construction Systems of North Gujarat” for the International Conference on Civil Engineering Trends and Challenges for Sustainability (CTCS2021), conducted by NAMAIT between 19-20 November 2021
Towards Preserving Culture And Heritage
Kannada and Tulu are the native languages of this region and are ancient languages. As part of SDG goals to preserve them, various programs were conducted, such as Karnataka Rajyothsava,
Kanakadas Jayanthi, and Thili Kannada, a certificate course.
Tulu Language was promoted by establishing a certificate course to learn Tulu Tulu Teriyonuga; a digital collection of Tulu words in the form of a dictionary was also released.
Learning Sustainable And Traditional Agricultural Practices:
The native form of cultivation is vanishing and is a dying art. This form of rice cultivation was promoted with hands-on field experience. Dr. NSAM PU College, Mangalore’s NSS unit, organized a visit to the paddy field located at Chembugudde, Thokkotu on 13th July 2021. the present generation is not aware of the cultivation of paddy, and the purpose of this visit was to enhance knowledge of traditional cultivation. Around 30 NSS volunteers actively participated in planting the seedlings and got a hands-on experience in conventional cultivation.
Promoting Digital / Online (Off-Campus) Teaching
Nitte Institute of Architecture invited prospective students and parents to join a virtual tour of its campus and facilities on 17th July 2021 at 11 AM. This event allowed the participants to learn more about the BArch program at NIA. The open house received 130 registrations from interested
candidates and was successfully conducted for students hailing from different locations in the country and abroad. The session was also live streamed on NIA’s YouTube channel and can be viewed on https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=veqzFA5GkJI. The online session included a presentation from Prof. Vinod Aranha, Ar. Arul Paul and Ar. Palaksha Shetty, regarding the BArch program at NIA. Participants got their queries answered in the Q&A Session by the Director, Prof. Vinod Aranha, and the faculty team.
On July 1st 2021, Nitte Institute of Physiotherapy in association with University of Santo Tomas, Philippines organized a virtual webinar titled “Virtual Reality and Exergaming in Physiotherapy” . Dr. Saumya Srivastava, IQAC coordinator, delivered an illuminating preamble. An exuberant welcome address was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Dhanesh Kumar K U, Principal, NIPT. A percipient and enlightening keynote address was delivered by Prof. (Dr.) Satheesh Kumar Bhandary, Vice Chancellor, Nitte DU. The Resource Person for the session was the zestful and dynamic Dr. Donald Manlapaz, Assistant Professor in Physiotherapy from University of Santo Tomas. He elucidated the participants on the importance of Virtual Reality and Exergaming and its importance in Physiotherapy. The vote of thanks was proposed by Mr. Nityal Kumar Alagingi, Asst. Professor, NIPT who was the coordinator for the webinar. A total of 490 participants had registered for the webinar.
The students of BA (final semester) of Nitte Institute of Communication (NICO), as part of their studies in Event Management, organised and hosted a digital event - Ummeed - Ek Nayi Subah Ki, on Google Meet on Saturday, 26th June 2021.The two-hour-long event had games, songs, videos that the students had planned and also a small tribute to all the frontline workers for their dedicated service during the pandemic. In addition to current students and faculty, invites were also sent out to alumni of NICO who participated enthusiastically in the event. This being the first time students were organising an entertaining digital event, it was also a learning experience for them.
Peter Rich is the principal architect of Peter Rich Architects situated in Johannesburg, South Africa. His prolific architectural career is defined by his commitment to producing work that is rooted in culture and community. His architecture is deeply influenced by his spatial studies among the indigenous communities during the apartheid era combined with his understanding of the African vernacular architecture, modernist background, and the socio-economic context of the African continent. In one of the projects conducted in the Masterclass, the students designed a new house as an extension to the house they had documented and studied earlier. This project focused on designing a built environment with an understanding of life in a home where landscape and cultural practices become an integral part. Another project by the students sensitively intervened in Sujirkar’s tile factory with the individual proposals. Students incorporated their understanding of local youth culture and public space. They also tried to connect it to communities across the river and connect the city to the river.
Research Publications
- Valleesha NC, Kiran KD, Punnath K, Rajeshwara NA, Suchetha NK, Gowda DC. Epidemiology of malaria during pregnancy in Mangaluru city in the southwestern coastal region of India. Research Journal of Biotechnology. 2021 Jun;16(6):103-8.
- Rai T, Rai M, Dsa J, Rai S, Sushith P, Bhandary R. Impact of Seasonal Variation in Association with Other Factors on Vitamin D Status among Mangalorean Population. Journal of Evolution of Medical and Dental Sciences. 2021 Mar 1;10(9):589-95.
- Preeja PP, Kumar SH, Shetty V. Prevalence and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus from communityand hospital-associated infections: a tertiary Care Center Study. Antibiotics. 2021 Feb 18;10(2):197.
- Baisil S, Rashmi A, Kundapur R, Alex P, AU S, George GM, HN H, Rakesh Maiya G, Dineshbhai FK, Queen Nesan SC. Module based health education on stress & depression–effectiveness and feasibilitvy
- study among schools in Dakshina Kannada: a pilot study. Journal of Indian Association for Child & Adolescent Mental Health. 2021 Jul 1;17(3).
- Shetty A, Yelapure M, Hegde M, Devadiga D, Bhat R, Reddy U. Prevalence of Musculoskeletal Pain among Dentists in Dakshina Kannada, Karnataka: A Crosssectional Study. World Journal of Dentistry. 2021 Jul 15;12(4):339-44.
- Alva AB, Hegde R. Assessment of various domains in quality of life of the rural elderly population of Karnataka. xisdxjxsu.asia. 2021 17; (12): 346-360
- Other Research paper presentations & book publications.
- Arul Paul, Associate Professor, NIA, coauthored a book chapter titled “Lucknow Unrestrained: Palimpsest of Incongruous Possibilities” in the book Radical City: Imagining Possibilities for the Indian City, edited by Pithamber R. Polsani, and published by SAGE Publications India.
- Arul Paul, Associate Professor, NIA, presented
- a paper at the 2021 Society of Architectural Historians (SAH) Annual International Conference, held virtually between 14th - 18th April 2021.
- Arul Paul’s paper titled “Queering Academia” was published as part of the Research Symposium Proceedings, edited by Kush Patel and Soumini Raja, for the conference on Gender and Academic Leadership in Architecture in India, published by Avani Institute of Design, Calicut.
- Naga Venkata Sai Kumar M., Assistant Professor, NIA, is the primary author of a paper titled “Advanced Approach to Assess Urban Rooftop Solar Farm Energy Generation”, presented at the Resilient & Liveable City Planning Conference conducted by the School of Planning and Architecture Vijayawada, and published by Springer.
- Naga Venkata Sai Kumar Manapragada and Ar. Shoumik Desai co-authored a paper titled “Performance Evaluation of ECBC
- Prescribed Building Envelope Under Climate Change Scenario for Warm Humid Climate of Chennai, India”, presented at the International Conference on Built Environment Science and Technology conducted by the SRM Institute of Science and Technology, Chennai.
- Nikhil Shah, Shoumik Desai, and Soumya Hosamani co-authored a paper titled “Heritage Based People-centric Development: Community Perspectives on Sustainability and Resilience for Surat, India” for the IDoBE International Conference organised by the London South Bank University on 22-24 Nov 2021.
- Shoumik Desai co-authored a paper titled titled “A Study of Mould Growth Using HAMT Energy Plus Simulation Method in Warm and Humid Climate of Mangalore, India” for The 3rd Built-Environment Research Forum organised by UNSW Sci-Forum on 01/12/2021.