Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen

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SHORT BIOGRAPHY

Mansee Bal is into her PhD research at Erasmus University since September 2009. Her research on “Governance of Urban Lake Systems in India: Towards Sustainability”, takes a diagnostic approach towards the values of governance that affect sustainable/ unsustainable urban lakes systems. The foundations of her research are based on the concepts of governance, sustainability and natural resource management developed by Elinor Ostrom. Her PhD research is funded by Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies IHS, Erasmus University, Rotterdam.
Over the years, Mansee has developed her specialisation in the field of public open space- design, planning and management; of which she is keen to study water systems such as lakes and ponds. Her Urban Design thesis (CEPT University, India, 1999) was on ‘Open Spaces in Urban System: Lakes as an opportunity. A case study of Thaltej and lakes of Ahmedabad’; Land Economics thesis (Cambridge University, UK, 2006) was on ‘An assessment of the case for increase in public amenity and space: A case study of Vastrapur Lake Development Project in Ahmedabad’; and Urban Management and Development thesis (IHS, The Netherlands, 2008) was on ‘Perceptions, Planning and Principles of Public Open Space: Realities of Cape Town and Kosovo Informal Settlement, South Africa’.
Mansee strives for a balance of academia and practice in her career. In addition to her PhD, she is currently involved in education in Master of Science in Urban Management course at IHS (www.ihs.nl). The international course is attended by participants with diverse academic background and culture from every corner of the world. She is one of the founder members of the consultancy firm namely, Environmental Design Consultants, EDC, at Ahmedabad, India (www.edc.org.in). EDC undertakes ‘urban design and environmental design’ consultancy and supervision of wide range of ecological, housing, institutional, recreational, industrial development projects. As a member of a multidisciplinary professional group at EDC since 1995, she has led her team to the completion of many projects in India.
Mansee was involved in research, teaching and international exchange program at CEPT University, Ahmedabad (www.cept.ac.in). She is also actively involved in lectures and presentations on ‘public open space management and governance’ to several academic and professional groups.

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