معرفی
Mittul Vahanvati is a Senior Lecturer in the Sustainability and Urban Planning discipline at RMIT University's School of Global, Urban and Social Studies (GUSS). She is a Chief Investigator in the 'Solomon Islands Shelter Guide' project and a lead member of the 'Climate Resilient Honiara' initiative funded by the UNFCCC Adaptation Fund. Her work emphasizes bridging short-term disaster shelter needs with long-term resilience strategies, particularly for vulnerable communities in informally settled areas across Australasia and the Pacific.
Education:
- Bachelor of Architecture from CEPT University, India (2000)
- Masters in Sustainable Development from UNSW Sydney (2005)
- PhD in Architecture from RMIT University (2012)
Research Interests:
Mittul's research focuses on disaster resilience in housing and urban systems, climate change adaptation, and participatory methodologies like co-design and knowledge co-production. She explores how government programs and grassroots community actions can synergize to enhance risk-informed decision-making, with a particular emphasis on vulnerable populations in developing countries. Her work spans architectural practice, sustainable urban design, and policy frameworks for equitable recovery.
Industry Collaborations:
- UN bodies: UN-Habitat, UNEP, UNFCCC
- Australian Government: DTP, DECCA, Loddon Shire Council, Merri-Bek Council, Campaspe Shire Council
- Pacific Island Government: Ministry of Land, Housing and Survey (MLHS), Honiara City Council (HCC)
- Nonprofits: Habitat for Humanity, Red Cross
- International Universities: Solomon Islands National University (SINU)
Research Trends:
Her recent publications (2022–2025) highlight cross-cultural comparative studies of post-disaster housing recovery, nature-based solutions for climate resilience, and socio-spatial conflicts in urbanization. A key theme is the integration of community-led approaches with policy design to ensure equitable and sustainable outcomes, particularly in flood-prone regions like Bihar, India, and the Chancay-Lambayeque subbasin in Peru.
Awards:
- 2022: Best Paper Awards at World Building Congress in Future-Proof Cities and Urban Resilience
- 2021: C40 International Competition Winning Student Team Supervision
- 2015: Best PhD Research Paper Award at Building Resilience Conference
- 2012: RMIT PhD Scholarship
- 1999: CEPT Scholarship for ZHW Exchange Program
Advising & Grants:
Mittul currently supervises six PhD candidates investigating topics like socio-spatial disorders in Indonesia, flood mobilities in India, and climate adaptation strategies in Peru. She has secured grants for projects such as 'Climate Resilient Honiara' (since 2018) and co-developed climate resilience action plans with Victorian communities. Her teaching includes core urban design courses for Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) accreditation.
Labs & Teams:
Mittul co-leads RMIT's Climate Change Transformations Research Group and collaborates with the Centre for Urban Research and Circular Economy Hub. These platforms drive interdisciplinary research on resilient urban systems, fostering partnerships between academia, governments, and NGOs to address climate challenges.
