Category: Research

Dr. Woiwode publishes article on Adaptive Governance, Pericene Project

IGCS is thrilled to announce publication of research article by our Research Associate Dr. Christoph Woiwode with former IGCS Area Coordinator Sudhir Chella Rajan and 3 other collaborators from Indian Institute of Technology, Madras on the topic- ‘Identifying Entry Points for Adaptive Governance in Peri-Urban Chennai (India): A Multi-Dimensional, Multi-Level, and Multi-Scalar Approach.’

The paper explores Chennai’s fast-growing peri-urban areas and explores how to better respond to the unprecedented impacts of climate change and rapid urbanization. Chennai faces significant climate risks like floods, droughts, and extreme heat, especially in the expanding peri-urban regions, which are areas that transition from rural to urban. These regions are crucial for the city’s future resilience.

The paper proposes a framework for “adaptive governance” that focuses on flexible, multi-level approaches to managing these challenges. It identifies key areas where changes in governance could make a big difference—particularly in water management, agroecological practices (like using land for sustainable farming), and improving coordination between local, state, and national authorities. The study highlights the importance of learning from traditional practices, such as local water management, while also introducing innovative solutions to build resilience. This approach is part of a larger effort, the #PeriCene project, which looks at how peri-urban areas around the world are being affected by climate change, and how they can adapt to it.

This research underscores that while the challenges are complex, there are already promising efforts in Chennai to create more sustainable and resilient systems.

You can read the full article here:
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/sustainable-cities/articles/10.3389/frsc.2024.1368240/ful

IGCS’ Dr Alsouleman visits University of Oxford

IGCS Postdoc Dr. Khulud Alsouleman is currently visiting University of Oxford.
Read more about her exciting stay here:

“I am pleased to announce that I have been awarded the Oxford Berlin Research Partnership Early Career Researcher Mobility Fellowship. This exceptional opportunity has enabled me to join the Energy Storage and Carriers group, led by Dr. BINJIAN NIE, at the Department of Engineering Science, University of Oxford.

Collaborating with Dr. Binjian Nie and his distinguished team has allowed me to explore new perspectives, contribute to ongoing projects in the field of renewable energy systems and investigate new avenues of collaboration between Oxford and TU Berlin to strengthen research partnerships and explore the potential for future collaborative projects.

Oxford enriches my experience, providing me the opportunity to immerse myself in the rich academic traditions of this prestigious university while surrounded by centuries-old architecture.

I look forward to deepening my contribution to this esteemed community and continuing the work we have initiated.”

New Project for IGCS Focus Area Landuse

Focus Area Landuse introduces ARiSE Chennai – Agroecology, Resilience, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship.

IGCS announces an exciting Focus Area Landuse, Urban/Rural Development project. Funded with Rs. 20 Lakhs under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) by our partner company Solverminds Technology Solutions Pvt. Ltd., Chennai. This 18-month-long project addresses one of humanity’s key grand challenges at the interface of rapid urbanization, particularly, how to make food production and consumption more sustainable, secure, just, and resilient.

Together with our partner organisation, Chennai Resilience Centre, we are looking forward to implementing the overarching objective of the project, which is to develop a strategic vision of peri/urban agroecology for the metropolitan region of Chennai that enhances climate risk resilience and sustainable development through an entrepreneurial approach, with the longer-term vision to create an urban food council. This project further builds on previous research in the Peri-Cene project by the IGCS Landuse area, which identified agroecology as a high-potential, sustainable, adaptive development pathway to address climate change and disaster risks.

Decorative Image: Focus Area Landuse

Furthermore, the workshop “Exploring Food System Transformation in the Chennai Region” laid the seeds for creating a stakeholder network. Additionally, this was built on a research collaboration with Die Agronauten, Freiburg, in Germany, including a co-authored IGCS Research Brief outlining several recommendations.

Contact IGCS’ Dr. Christoph Woiwode (woiwode@igcs-chennai.org) for further information.

About IGCS Cooperation

IGCS is a source of inspiration and skills for proactive sustainability transformation in research and teaching activities. The sustainable use of resources in times of climate change and forthcoming societal challenges is a pressing task. The centre offers valuable human capital and solutions for various global challenges. It equips international talents from German and Indian universities. It collaborates with companies and NGOs to accept this challenge. IGCS welcomes liaison with new partners to tackle the present global challenges together.