Alumnae Lecture Series
The Department of Geography of Loreto College, Kolkata, organized an engaging Alumnae Lecture Series on 31st October 2025, combining academic enrichment with creative participation. The day featured two distinguished alumnae of the department, Ms. Sunetra Banerjee, Research Assistant at the International Initiative for Impact Evaluation and Ms. Upasana Gangopadhyay, Associate Consultant at Deloitte India. Both speakers, now established researchers in their respective fields, delivered insightful lectures on "Placemaking in Urban Design" and "People-Centred Smart Cities".
They emphasized the growing importance of smart cities in shaping the future of sustainable urban living, highlighting how efficient urban planning and design can lead to improved quality of life, better resource management, and stronger community engagement. The speakers explained how cities such as Ahmedabad, Pune, and New Town, Kolkata the only officially recognized smart city in West Bengal have adopted different models of smart urban development suited to their local contexts. Through these examples, they demonstrated how geography plays a vital role in analyzing spatial patterns, land use, population distribution, and infrastructural planning essential for sustainable growth.
The alumnae also shed light on how urban designing forms the backbone of city planning, combining technology, geography, and human-centric thinking to create spaces that are both functional and inclusive. They discussed how people's participation in urban planning and their sense of belonging in "people-centred smart societies" are crucial for the success of such initiatives. A well-planned city, they noted, must not only focus on technological innovation but also ensure social inclusivity, environmental responsibility, and participatory governance. The interactive session encouraged students to reflect on the role of geographers in smart city planning and how spatial knowledge, research, and fieldwork can contribute to creating more resilient and adaptive urban spaces. Overall, the lecture series proved to be an inspiring and intellectually enriching experience, motivating students to understand geography not just as an academic discipline but as a key tool in addressing real-world urban challenges. The session ended with an insightful interactive session where young geographers asked meaningful questions to the alumnae and gained knowledge about the topic.
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