Aya is an Architect and Urban designer interested in Sustainable Urban Development. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree (BA) in Architecture from the University of Khartoum.

 Her Degree Project (DP) consisted of an Environment-Friendly Urban Design study focusing on Tuti Island, her thesis was noted by an international research team working on urban sustainable development (SDG11) in Sudan during a workshop in Khartoum in January 2020, where she presented a synopsis of her research. This has resulted in her current involvement as a research assistant in the project Resilience in Urban Sudan (RUS), hosted by Malmö University and carried out in collaboration with Lund University and Khartoum University.

Aya is a climate change activist that has participated in many events like Khartoum Climathon event -which was jointly organized by GCCA+ and Climate-KIC and funded by the European Union- aiming to solve Khartoum’s city local climate challenges and make it more resilient to climate change, she also participated as a consultant with COOPI - Cooperazione Internazionale organization in a Disaster Risk Reduction training program to Enhance climate change resilience of the most vulnerable residents of the Mayo Slums.

Bassant graduated from Ain Shams University, the architectural engineering department with a major in urban planning and design in August 2021. Right after graduation, she started working as a T.A in the department of urban planning, in the faculty of engineering. 

During studying in the undergraduate years, she managed to participate in multiple events. She joined ‘Manifesto for a just city’ -program offered by TU Delft-, which focuses on socio-spatial justice and its challenges, also joined ‘Environmental pioneers program’ -offered by UN volunteer and YLE foundation-, and "Sustainability ambassadors" initiative -provided by the ministry of planning and economic development and multiple sustainability specialists-.

It is during those events, she was inspired to observe the socio-spatial dynamic in her surrounding urban context, Cairo, her hometown, and search for new solutions to develop sustainable just communities out of the local disprivileged ones.

And Through the IUSD program, she hopes to gain the perfect hands-on experience and depth in addition to new knowledge.

Danielli graduated from Santa Catarina State University in Architecture and Urban Planning (Brazil) in 2017. During her bachelors, as a volunteer, she worked assisting and developing projects in impoverished communities and did internships in the private sector as well as in public institution. Furthermore, after graduating, Danielli worked as an architect and urban planner at the Planning Department of her home town, where she had the opportunity to participate in urban problem solving. Danielli aims to create better cities for the residents – more inclusive, sustainable, healthier.

Emmanuelle is a Masters’ student in the IUSD program. She received her Bachelor Degree of Science in Architecture Engineering from the Faculty of Engineering, Ain Shams University in 2021. Currently, she is a Demonstrator at the Urban Planning Department at the same Faculty. During her undergraduate studies, she participated in the International Festival of Architecture Schools (IFAS) in 2019 in Corinth, Greece, where international architecture students worked together on the enhancement of the historical region of the Isthmus of Corinth, applying sustainable approaches. Not only that, but she also had a training experience in various architectural firms and contracting companies during these years. Presently, as a student in the Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design program, her primary research goal intends to relate integrated, sustainable and holistic solutions to the urban challenges we face nowadays. More specifically, she tends to explore how the implementation of sustainable architectural and urban designs serves and improves local communities, while emphasizing on their unique identities.

I am a Master of Science Student in Integrated Urbanism & Sustainable Design at Ain Shams University graduated from the department of Architecture Engineering from Future University in Egypt, with the academic and professional backgrounds in both architecture and urban planning.

Cities rely on urban planning to remain functional, grow in population, and attract businesses. Every crucial aspect of an urban environment is under the effect of how its layout is planned. This includes key infrastructure, transportation, and city area layout and density. 

This reason fostered me to join IUSD where studying there will enable me to become one of those international knowledgeable, famous, and highly respected Urban Planners.

Laura Medhat was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1996. She graduated from architectural engineering at October University for Modern Sciences and Arts. During her bachelor study, she managed to join elective courses in green architecture, restoration, and resettlement of informal settlements. Her final graduation project focused on the agricultural problem in Nubia, Egypt by bringing back its cultural legacy to the younger generations where her vision was to enhance Nubians’ life quality by providing a place equipped with all needed technological systems that develop new techniques in agriculture. After graduation, she took part in winter school training held by Ezbet project in Ain Shams University and underwent appropriate training as a junior architect in Takween integrated community development, where she had worked on rediscovering Esna’s cultural heritage asset. Recently, she is a junior landscape architect with one year, six months of experience in landscape architecture where it has given her the exceptional opportunity of learning by working on exciting large-scale projects. Her interest in sustainable urbanism and landscape planning has inspired her to pursue the IUSD program to explore ecological solutions for urban challenges and develop a holistic view of urban planning.

Luis is a civil engineer, local from Medellín, Colombia.He is focused on roadways, transit and transportation (public, active and cycling mobility), Luis is passionate about territories, planning and sustainability. He has leadership and experience in projects and challenges in his field. He loves urban cycling, is an empirical musician and an amateur swimmer. Also, Luis promotes a lifestyle based on the respect of the species around.
One phrase that could explain the vision of Luis is:

"The knowledge about nature is the most important tool to transform and adapt our civilization for the future. Planners are the dreamers that must drive this revolution.” 

I've graduated from Landscape Architecture program in Ain Shams University with an accumulative GPA 3.43, and with an A+ grade in my graduation project. I work as a landscape architect at "Nature for Engineering Consultancy" since graduation and as a parttime teaching assistant at Ain Shams University in construction design studios, and sustainable design studio courses. I've applied during my third year in college in the summer school in Reggio Calabria to work on a memorial pavilion for the families killed by the mafia in the early ages in Rosarno, where it changed my way of thinking completely regarding the sustainable methods in designing, I attended lectures to the Italian architect Valerio Morabito, who influenced the way I design landscape. Throughout all the courses that I studied I found myself interested the most in all the sustainable architectural, landscape, urban and construction courses, and the environmental and sustainability related courses. My age-long ambition has always been to become a unique landscape architect who has her own fingerprint in all her designs and to become a professional able and prepared to deal with and to manage complex projects with advanced environmental performance, in order to enhance the quality of the territory.

Marco Zaki is an Architect born and raised in Cairo, Egypt. December 8, 1994. From an early age, was attracted to all fields of Art. He had his Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from Misr International University Class of 2018. Worked as an Urban Planner and Landscape Designer for one and half year at Integrated Development Group (IDG). He in an active community member. Since 2012, he was serving as a scouts member and troop leader with children and youth, along with community service in church. Also was a volunteer member in different organizations and projects such as "Architecture and Children" Egypt, which hosts activities for children teaching them about Architecture and Cities. He participated in the renovation of the "House of the Egyptian Architecture" in Darb El Labana, and "Beit Yakan" in Souk El Selah. He is currently studying MSc at IUSD to know more about Integrated approaches for solving different challenges on various scaled projects, and how to apply sustainable fundamentals in Design. Willing to implement and apply them to solve societal and communal challenges in Egypt, and to have a positive impact in people's life. Believing that Architects are there to make other's life easier.

Maria Jose Palacio is from Bogot , Colombia, graduated as Architect from the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.
In 2014 she travelled to Germany to learn the language and after it, she did her internship at P+ Architekten, participating in the realization of residential projects. Her bachelor thesis was focused on creating an educational centre including permacultural design strategies, for people
displaced from the countryside to the capital due to the country's internal war. After graduating in 2016 she worked on residential design and urban plans. She was a part of the Habitarte strategy, a Master plan led by the Mayor’s Office of Bogotà, focused on the social and aesthetic intervention of houses in deprived areas of the capital.
As a volunteer and community coordinator, she is involved in projects that aim to spread awareness about human trafficking in Nepal, encourage single traveller women to fight against harassment while travelling, document the everyday experiences of racism, spread the Colombian culture and create a community of Colombian Life Defenders.
Today, the combination of these experiences with her interests in sustainability, well-being, nutrition and physical and mental health, have led her to be interested in creating spaces connected with nature that consciously generate a positive impact on the individuals who inhabit it.

Maria Paula is an architect from Pontifical Xavierian University in Bogotá, Colombia, with experience in the development of social housing master and partial plans, and the construction of social housing buildings with detailed processes of pilotage, deep foundations, concrete and masonry structures control, steel quantities control, budgets and units, construction's preliminaries development, construction license procedure and urban license procedure.

Also, she was involved in technical advisory for current and new pocket construction projects in the metropolitan and expansion area for Bogotá. In Integrated Urbanism and Sustainable Design Master's program, her aim is getting skills in order to work with urban situations such as uncontrolled urban sprawl, informal settlements and the conservation of cities fringes. 

An Architect graduated from the German University in Cairo. She has done her bachelor project in Stuttgart University in 2018. After Graduation in 2019, she joined Hassan Allam Company Graduates Program and has been working in the company since then. She has joined IUSD in 2021 to complete her studies in Sustainable Buildings. Her future goal is to become a self-employed design and build firm owner.  She intends to have the firm specialize in Sustainable projects and green buildings. Her hobbies include video gaming, horseback riding, and skiing.

I’m graduated from environmental architecture department, environmental urbanism track 2020, at faculty of engineering Ain Shams University, through my academic study I’ve learned more about eco and sustainable design, and I’ve attended ‘’Health & sustainability in architecture’’ workshop in Italy.

I’m now working as a coordinator and researcher assistant in the smart and future cities laboratory (SFCL), and I’ve been an instructor in the Digital Fabrication workshop, beside my work at SFCL I’m a teaching assistant at faculty of engineering ASU.

After graduation I started working in several projects as the Cairo urban AI charter, and now I’m a part of the team of ‘’The local area development plans in two areas in Cairo -participatory infrastructure project’’, and in the team of project ‘’ preparing the urban character guidelines on the urban district level-Cairo Governorate ‘’. 

I’m interested in smart city concepts and how we could integrate Urban AI with Urban sustainability, therefore I enrolled in the Maker Diploma where I learnt more about sensors, circuits and integrated it with my field of study in the final project ‘’Smart enclosed outdoor space‘’.

Patricia Gamal, born in 1998, obtained her bachelor's degree in Urban Planning and Design in 2021 from Ain Shams University, Cairo. Patricia was appointed as a teaching assistant in the same department and has continued to work there ever since, where she has thoroughly enjoyed her academic career and teaching juniors. During her working period, Patricia took part in the TU Delft Autumn School "Planning and Design for the Just Transition." She also took part in an international competition called "15-Minute City," which was organized by the Busan Architecture Festival Organizing Committee. During her undergraduate studies, she attended several workshops organized by NOUH on urban upgrading and development. Patricia has gained experience and research interests in the fields of urban development, social inclusion and justice, and participatory planning as a result of her workshops and studies. Further, her research interests are focused on the correlation between environmental psychology and urban planning and design.

Samjhana graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from the Institute of Engineering (IOE), Tribhuvan University in Kathmandu in 2017. As an architecture student, she became aware of the urban vulnerabilities when the massive earthquake hit Nepal in 2015 and exposed the risk of unplanned settlements and cities. However, it also provided her with an opportunity to reevaluate our urban infrastructures, open spaces, and development tendencies as a developing nation. Post the earthquake, Samjhana volunteered as a Technical Advisor in the construction of temporary shelters in the severely affected areas with the team of Aashraya Nepal. In the following years, she also volunteered in redevelopment of rural communities facilitated by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).

Following my graduation, Samjhana worked for over 3 years at an Architectural and Planning Consultancy, Urban Park Pvt. Ltd. As an architect, she has worked on several projects in the field of Architecture, Interior Design, Urban Planning, and Landscape Design. The experiences have helped her comprehend the significant role that planning plays in shaping both the physical and social aspects of a sustainable community which led her to pursue my Masters with IUSD. Her career goal, post IUSD, is to work in the field of urban development and create design and planning solutions that can positively impact the urban communities by making them more livable, equitable, and resilient.

Vishal Kumar (1995, Meerut, India) graduated from School of Planning and Architecture, Bhopal with Bachelors in Architecture in 2018. During his bachelors, he developed interests in the role of built environment in disaster resilience, participatory design and social housing. It led him to his final thesis work on disaster resilient resettlement design for Rohingya refugees on a cyclone and flood prone- riverine island in Bangladesh. His thesis work was ranked among top 3 at the international built4Humanity competition (2018) in Lisbon, Portugal.

Later, he worked with multiple non-profits for 3 years on projects with focus on energy efficiency and disaster resilience in the built environment for the marginalized communities in rural and urban contexts. He was part of SEEDS Technical Services team for the development of Artificial intelligence model for disaster vulnerability assessment using satellite imagery to generate hyper-local advisories at household level, which was piloted at multiple live cyclone and heatwave events in 2020 and 2021 in Odisha, Maharashtra and New Delhi.

At IUSD, he is motivated to further develop his skills in research and understanding of complexities of inclusivity and resilience in varied urban contexts.