CEPT University | India
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🎓 Early Academic Pursuits
From a young age, Dr. Dhaarna’s educational path reflected both depth and diversity. She began her academic journey at St. Francis Senior Secondary School, Hathras, and continued her secondary education at Delhi Public School, Aligarh, before moving to Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for her Senior Secondary schooling. She pursued a Bachelor's in Architecture from ZHCET, AMU, where she also served as the Cultural Secretary. Her curiosity for planning led her to CEPT University, Ahmedabad, for a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning, where she was elected Academic Secretary and awarded a GATE scholarship. She then earned her Ph.D. from IIT Roorkee, focusing on Water-Energy-Food (WEF) Nexus planning for the Bundelkhand region, supported by MHRD and the Newton Bhabha Scholarship.
🏛️ Professional Endeavors
Dr. Dhaarna is currently an Assistant Professor at CEPT University, where she teaches urban planning studios and engages students in foundational and developmental planning frameworks. Previously, she served as an Assistant Professor at NICMAR University, Pune, where she not only taught a wide array of sustainability and planning subjects but also spearheaded the setup of the B-Arch program and led cultural initiatives. Her early career included critical field roles at Urban Management Centre, working on the Government of India’s NAMASTE program, and HCL Foundation’s Project Samuday, focusing on rural WASH and GIS-based development. She also held research roles at IIT Roorkee and interned with Hathras Municipality and Incubis Consultants.
🔬 Contributions and Research Focus
Dr. Dhaarna’s core research centers around the Water-Energy-Food Nexus, urban heat islands, policy planning, systems thinking, GIS applications, and sustainable urban-rural development. She uses an interdisciplinary approach to address complex spatial and environmental challenges. Her publications span high-impact journals such as Elsevier’s Information Sciences (Q1), Springer-Nature, Blue-Green Systems (Q1), and Environmental Research, Engineering and Management (Q3). Additionally, she has contributed to several Springer-Nature book chapters on environmental governance and system-based research methodology.
🏅 Accolades and Recognition
Dr. Dhaarna's excellence has been recognized through numerous awards and fellowships. She received the Best Teaching Practices Award at NICMAR University in 2024 and was conferred Individual Honorary Membership by IUCEE in 2025. Her innovative teaching earned her certification from the International Society for Engineering Pedagogy, Austria. During her Ph.D., she won the Best Research Poster Award at IIT Roorkee’s Research Day and was selected for the prestigious Newton Bhabha Ph.D. Placement Programme hosted at the University of the West of England, UK.
🌍 Impact and Influence
Through her teaching, Dr. Dhaarna has influenced future architects and planners to embrace sustainability, equity, and systems-based thinking. Her interdisciplinary lens—blending architecture, policy, and regional planning—has empowered students and researchers alike to address real-world challenges. Her contributions to WASH programs, climate resilience, and urban policy have impacted both grassroots communities and academic spheres.
🌱 Legacy and Future Contributions
With a deep-rooted passion for sustainability, planning, and social equity, Dr. Dhaarna is poised to continue shaping India’s environmental and planning discourse. Her legacy lies not only in academic excellence but also in nurturing creative, ethical, and inclusive minds. Looking ahead, she envisions contributing to global environmental governance, expanding the frontiers of WEF Nexus research, and integrating storytelling and science to foster wider public understanding.
Publications
📄 Water Security Modeling in Low-Income Regions in India: A System Dynamics Approach
Authors: Dhaarna, Anil Kashyap
Journal: Environmental and Sustainability Indicators
Year: July 2025
📄 Matrix representation of the graph model for conflict resolution based on intuitionistic preferences with applications to trans-regional water resource conflicts in the Lancang–Mekong River Basin
Authors: Dayong Wang, Xiaoying Lai, Dhaarna, Xiaowei Wen, Yejun Xu
Journal: Information Sciences
Year: February 2025
📄 A Systematic Review and Trend Analysis of Urban Heat Island
Author: Dhaarna
Journal: NICMAR Journal of Construction Management
Year: 2025
📄 A Descriptive Analysis of Human-Environment Interactions in the Suburban Area of Pune City
Author: Dhaarna
Journal: Environmental Research, Engineering and Management
Year: October 2024
📄 Water, Energy and Food Nexus for Sustainable Development of the Bundelkhand Region
Authors: Dhaarna, Varuvel Devadas
Book: Sustainable Future Cities
Year: March 2023