2nd International Conference cum Workshop on Urban Livability 2025

Navigating Climate Extremes In The Global South

3rd & 4th November, 2025

Organised by
Department of Architecture & Planning
Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology, Bhopal

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About Our Organization

The Department of Architecture and Planning at Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), Bhopal, has been a prominent institution in architectural and planning education since its establishment in 1963. With a legacy spanning over five decades, the department initially launched the Bachelor of Architecture (B.Arch) program with an intake of 15 students, which has now grown to 80 students annually. Over the years, it has expanded to include two Master of Planning (M.Plan) programs with specializations in Urban Planning and Housing, each admitting 18 students. To further meet the growing demands of urban development, the Bachelor of Planning (B.Planning) program was introduced in 2007, with an intake of 40 students per year. The department is not only known for its academic rigor but also for its robust research environment. More than 43 doctoral degrees have been awarded, and 21 PhD scholars are currently pursuing research across diverse areas. Graduates from the department have achieved successful placements and admissions into leading institutions in India and abroad, with many contributing significantly as professionals and academicians. The department's vision focuses on promoting creative and original thinking, staying attuned to social, economic, and market trends, and fostering user-centric, context-sensitive design approaches. It emphasizes sustainability, community-oriented planning, and the integration of environmental concerns in design and development. By equipping students with skills in policy formulation, research, evaluation, and communication, the department aims to shape professionals capable of addressing contemporary challenges and influencing positive change in the built environment. The continuous evolution of its curriculum ensures that students remain at the forefront of innovation, ready to contribute to a better, more inclusive, and sustainable future.

About COUL 2025

It is our pleasure to Inform you that Maulana Azad National Institute Of Technology (MANIT) Bhopal is organising the 2nd International Conference on Urban Livability 2025 : Navigating Climate Extreme Events in the Global South (COUL 2025). COUL 2025 is scheduled for 3rd November 2025 and 4th November 2025.

COUL 2025 provides an inter-disciplinary platform for researchers, academicians, and policy-makers to deliberate and share evidence-based research to understand the extreme impacts of climate change in the Global South.

The conference will also host a Workshop - Multi-stakeholder Dialogue on 'Climate Resilient Action Plan for Low-Income Communities' - November 4, 2025. The workshop invites discussions focused on enhancing the resilience of low-income communities to extreme climate events, placing their experiences and stories at the forefront. The workshop aims to foster inclusive dialogues around vulnerability and adaptation by these communities to extreme events. Additionally, vulnerability assessment maps and community perceptions will be visualized on an interactive dashboard to support data-driven decision-making and strategic planning.

Conference will also host a Panel Discussion on Climate Resilience moderated by Dr Yasemin Didem Aktas, UK with Key stakeholders.

Co-Funded by

EPCO Logo EPCO Logo

Patron Committee

Chief Patron

Prof. Karunesh Kumar Shukla

Prof. Karunesh Kumar Shukla

Director, MANIT Bhopal

Patron

Prof. S.P.S. Rajput

Prof. S.P.S. Rajput

Dean ID & IR

MANIT Bhopal

Co-Patron

Dr. Nakul Dhagat

Dr. Nakul Dhagat

HOD, Department of Architecture & Planning

MANIT Bhopal

Conference Chairperson

Prof. Manmohan Kapse

Prof. Manmohan Kapshe

Department of Architecture & Planning

MANIT Bhopal

Conference Secretaries

Prof. Alka Bharat

Prof. Alka Bharat

Department of Architecture & Planning

MANIT Bhopal

Prof. Yogesh K. Garg

Prof. Yogesh K. Garg

Department of Architecture & Planning

MANIT Bhopal

Dr. Surabhi Mehrotra

Dr. Surabhi Mehrotra

Department of Architecture & Planning

MANIT Bhopal

Conference Sessions & Speakers

INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE CUM WORKSHOP ON URBAN LIVABILITY 2025 : NAVIGATING CLIMATE EXTREMES IN THE GLOBAL SOUTH

AGENDA OUTLINE: DAY 01

Time Session Details / Speakers
09:00 – 10:00 hrs. Registration
10:00 – 10:45 hrs. Inaugural Session • Lighting of the Lamp
• Welcome Address
• Inaugural Address
• Address by Director MANIT
• Guest of honor – Director General, EPCO Bhopal
• Chief Guest - Additional Chief Secretary UDHD M.P
• Vote of Thanks
10:45 – 11:15 hrs. Inaugural Keynote Prof. Dev Niyogi, The University of Texas, USA
11:15 – 11:30 hrs. High Tea
11:30 – 12:00 hrs Plenary Keynote 1 Dr. Akhilesh Surjan, Charles Darwin University, Australia
12:00 – 12:30 hrs Plenary Keynote 2 Prof. Rajshree Kotharkar, Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology (VNIT) Nagpur
12:30 – 14:00 hrs Oral Presentations - Parallel Session of Theme - 01
Extreme events and Built Infrastructure		 Plenary chairs:
Dr. Saswat Bandopadhyay, CEPT University
Dr. Bhaskar Sinha, IIFM Bhopal
Dr. Rama Pandey, SPA Bhopal
Dr. Manmohan Kapshe, MANIT Bhopal
Oral Presentations - Parallel Session of Theme – 02
Disaster Risk Mapping and Coping Mechanisms		 Plenary chairs:
Dr. Jyoti Sarup, MANIT Bhopal
Dr. Mohammed Firoz C., NIT Calicut
Dr. Naveen Prashar, MANIT Bhopal
14:00 – 14:45 hrs Lunch break
14:45 – 15:15 hrs Plenary Keynote 3 Dr. Arpita Mondal, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay
15:15 – 15:45 hrs Plenary Keynote 4 Dr. Mohammed Firoz C, National Institute of Technology, Calicut
15:45 – 17:15 hrs Oral Presentations - Parallel Session of Theme - 03
Public Health, Travel Behaviour and Vulnerabilities to Climate Extremes		 Plenary chairs:
Dr. Bivina G R, MANIT Bhopal
Dr. Alka Bharat, MANIT Bhopal
Dr. Anuj Jaiswal, MANIT Bhopal
Oral Presentations - Parallel Session of Theme - 04
Technology/Approaches for Building Urban Resilience		 Plenary chairs:
Dr. Vikas Poonia, MANIT Bhopal
Dr. Sourabh Ojha, SPA Bhopal
Prof. Yogesh Garg, MANIT Bhopal
Dr. Rutuja M. Chavan, MANIT Bhopal
17:15 – 17:30 hrs. Closing Remarks Feedback and takeaways
18:30 hrs onward Cultural and Networking Dinner

AGENDA OUTLINE: DAY 02

Time Session Details / Speakers
06:30 – 09:00 hrs Morning excursion Visit to Upper Lake and Van Vihar
10:00 – 10:15 hrs Inaugural Session & Workshop Introduction
10:15 – 10:30 hrs Keynote Speaker 1 Dr. Seema Javed, Climate Journalist
10:30 – 11:15 hrs Keynote Speaker 2 Ms. Meghna Malhotra, Deputy Director - Urban Management Centre
11:15 – 11:45 hrs Participatory Mapping on Climate Extreme in Bhopal & Fiji Grace Tudreu and Dr. Surabhi Mehrotra, MANIT Bhopal
11:45 – 12:00 hrs High Tea
12:00 – 12:30 hrs Keynote Speaker on Climate extreme events & Policies Dr. Yasemin D Aktas, CEGE, University College London, UK
12:30 – 14:00 hrs Oral Presentations - Parallel Session of Theme - 05
Adaptation and mitigation strategies for Heat Resilience		 Plenary chairs:
Dr. Saurabh Popli, SPA-Bhopal
Mr. Prateek Barapatre, WRI India
Dr. Rajat Soni, MANIT Bhopal
Oral Presentations - Parallel Session of Theme - 06
Climate Change Policies and Governance		 Plenary chairs:
Mr. Lokendra Thakkar, EPCO, Bhopal
Dr. Anurag Bagade, SPA Vijaywada
Prof. Preeti Onkar, MANIT Bhopal
14:00 – 14:45 hrs. Lunch Workshop: Multi-stakeholder Dialogue on ‘Climate Resilient Action Plan for Low-Income Communities’
14:45 – 15:15 hrs. Keynote Speaker 3 Dr. Flora Szkordilisz, MD, Specialist Kft., Hungary
15:15 – 15:45 hrs. Keynote Speaker 4 Dr. Saswat Bandopadhyay, CEPT University
15:45 – 17:00 hrs. Panel Discussion
Accelerating Climate Action in low-income communities
Panel Moderator – Prof. Alka Bharat		 Dr. Seema Javed, Climate Journalist
Shri. Lokendra Thakkar, EPCO, Bhopal
Commissioner, BMC, Bhopal
Dr. K.K. Dhote, MANIT Bhopal
Dr. Subhashish Banerjee, ITPI MP Chapter
Mr. Saurabh Kumar Singh, Deputy Director, MP State Disaster Management Authority
Dr. Rama Pandey, SPA Bhopal
17:00 – 17:30 hrs Interactive Feedback Session + Nukkad Natak
17:30 onwards Felicitations Conclusion + Tea

Contact: Student Co-ordinator: +91 98047 27419, +91 82753 86296   |   Website: conf.manit.ac.in/CoUL2025/

Conference Theme

Research Papers, Reviews, commentaries and case studies are invited for following themes but not limited to:

Extreme weather events and Built Infrastructure

  • Built Infrastructure
  • Urban planning
  • Resilient design

Public Health, Travel Behaviour and Vulnerabilities to and Climate Extremes

  • Livelihood risk and vulnerabilities
  • Gendered impact of heat stress
  • Flood impacts

Technology Innovations and Approaches for Urban Resilience

  • Digital twin
  • AI tools
  • Remote sensing and GIS
  • Prediction models

Disaster Risk mapping and Coping mechanism

  • Climate risk mapping
  • Heat action plan
  • Adaptation plans

Adaptation and mitigation strategies for Heat and flood Resilience

  • Mitigating Carbon emissions
  • Green infrastructure
  • Blue and grey infrastructure

Climate Change Policies and Governance

  • Green Financing
  • Governance
  • Action plans

Main Events

The conference includes following segments:

1

Plenary Sessions

Expert sessions featuring distinguished speakers and industry leaders

2

International Workshop

Workshop on Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment

3

Panel Discussions

Extreme Climate Events - Way forward to Mitigation and Adaptation

4

Research Paper Presentations

6 Technical sessions (hybrid mode)

5

Research Projects and Poster Presentation

Showcase of innovative research projects and poster presentations

Important Dates

11th October 2025

Paper Decision

18th October 2025

Paper Acceptance Notification, Registration Starts and Camera Ready Paper

11th October 2025

Early Bird Registration Starts

20th October 2025

Early Bird Registration Ends

21st October 2025

Regular Registration

3rd November 2025

Registration Close

3rd – 4th November 2025

International Conference cum Workshop

Conference Registration

Call for Papers Paper Submission Link Registration link Payment Portal
Category Early Bird Registration
(Till 20th October 2025 )		 Standard Registration
(21st Oct to 3rd Nov 2025)
Students/ Researchers 2000 3000
Academicians/ Scientists 3000 5000
Industry professionals 4000 6000
Foreign Academicians/ Scientists $100 $150
Foreign Students/ Researchers $50 $75
Only workshop and Co- Authors 1000 1500

* Presentation of paper may be in person /online mode (hybrid)

Conference registration includes conference proceedings, access to workshops, conference kit, and tea & lunch for two days.

Publication Information:

  • All accepted and presented papers will be published with an ISBN and assigned a DOI number.
  • Selected high-quality papers will be considered for publication in the IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science (EES), a Scopus-indexed proceedings volume.
  • Publication charges may apply after paper acceptance.

For International Participants:

  • Foreign delegates have the option to present online.

Submission Guidelines

  1. Platform for Submission

    Authors must submit their full papers through the “Morressier” submission platform.
    https://www.morressier.com/call-for-papers/68501d8e1c56e317a8271a81

  2. Account Registration

    If you do not have a Morressier login ID, you can create a new account by registering with the required details.

  3. Paper Format Templates

    Full paper submissions must strictly follow the prescribed formatting guidelines. Templates are available in both Word and LaTeX formats and can be downloaded here: Download Templates

  4. Formatting Requirements

    Please adhere to the specified format in terms of font size, line spacing, paragraph indentation, referencing style, and table/figure design as provided in the templates.

  5. Length of Paper, Word, Table & Figure Limitations

    There are no specific limits on the number of pages, words, tables, or figures.

  6. Figure Resolution

    All figures and illustrations must be clear, high-quality, and embedded within the paper at a minimum resolution of 300 dpi.

  7. Plagiarism Policy

    All submitted papers will undergo a plagiarism check. Submissions with high similarity scores (>15%) may be rejected without review.

  8. Review Process

    Full papers will be evaluated through a double-blind peer review process. Authors should ensure anonymity in the manuscript by removing identifying information.

Manuscript Format Guidelines & Author Guidelines Paper Submission Portal

Contact Us

Conference Website: conf.manit.ac.in/CoUL2025/

Student Coordinator: +91-98047 27419, +91-82753 86296

Email: coul.manit2025 @gmail.com

Submission Portal: https://www.morressier.com/call-for-papers/68501d8e1c56e317a8271a81