Ankur Jyoti Dutta, Assistant Professor at the School of Architecture, centres his research on the dynamic interplay between nature and culture in the context of the Anthropocene. His key areas of interest include Landscape Urbanism as a tool for advancing climate justice and promoting gender inclusivity. His ongoing doctoral research delves into the influence of religious traditions on India’s riverine landscapes, examining how these sacred ecologies have evolved over time.

At Anant, Ankur’s teaching and research focus on the intersection of urban landscapes and the built environment, emphasising sustainable development and ecological conservation within urban settings. His work seeks to bridge cultural heritage, environmental resilience and inclusive urbanism.

Ankur holds a Master’s in Landscape Architecture from the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi. He is pursuing his PhD as a part-time scholar in the Socio-cultural Diversity of Riverine Landscapes at the same institution. In addition to his academic qualifications, he has completed specialised certificate courses in Lake Rejuvenation and Revitalisation from ATREE and BIOME, as well as in Gender Inclusivity, further broadening his interdisciplinary understanding of ecological and social dimensions in landscape studies.

Before joining Anant, Ankur was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Landscape Architecture at the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), Delhi and Guwahati College of Architecture and Planning. During his tenure at SPA Delhi, he actively contributed to pedagogical advancements in the postgraduate curriculum and worked towards strengthening the presence of landscape architecture within the professional sphere. He also served as an Internal Faculty Expert on the Advisory Committee, where he played a key role in conceptualising and establishing a dedicated Landscape Laboratory at the university.

Ankur has also gained significant professional experience as a landscape architect. At Margosa Landscape Design, New Delhi, he contributed to the comprehensive landscape master plans for prestigious institutions such as IIM Jammu and IIT Jammu. In Guwahati, he worked with Design and Development as an architect on the redevelopment of the Brahmaputra Riverfront and proposed landscape conservation strategies for the historic gardens of Rang Ghar under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).

Ankur has also been associated with the Urban Design Lab, initially as an Architectural Research Intern and later as a contributor to their UDL Thesis Seminar, focusing on urban landscape and management. Additionally, he served as a Landscape and GIS Expert for the Kalonda Village Redevelopment Project under the Ministry of Panchayati Raj in collaboration with AITSAP, Greater Noida.

Beyond academia, Ankur has actively engaged in editorial and advocacy roles. He served as Guest Editor for the journal Floriculture Today and has volunteered with organisations such as the Naz Foundation and TARSHI, both dedicated to promoting gender equality and inclusivity. He was also appointed as a designated contact person for the UN COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, contributing to the theme of nature and urban biodiversity. Additionally, he has co-edited the proceedings of ICoMABE 2024, further reflecting his commitment to interdisciplinary scholarship and global environmental discourse.