Imon Chowdhooree
Postgraduate Programs in Disaster Management (PPDM)
As a culturally competent architect and social planner Dr. Imon Chowdhooree has intensive academic and research experiences in disaster management and urban development planning in Palau, Vietnam, Portugal, Australia, and Bangladesh. He has been teaching in Brac University since 2006. After finishing his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology he was appointed as a faculty member in Ahsanullah University of Science and Technology, Dhaka for a semester. After that he joined Brac University as a lecturer in its Department of Architecture. From 2008 to 2010 he was on study leave for conducting his master degree at the University of Hawaii in USA under Asian Development Bank-Japan Government Scholarship Program. He finished his second master degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 2012. He has received his PhD degree from Queensland University of Technology, Australia in 2018.
Dr. Chowdhooree has been serving as an Associate Professor of the Department of Architecture and Postgraduate Programs in Disaster Management (PPDM) of the School of Architecture and Design since July, 2022. Additionally, he has been serving as the Assistant Director and Director (Acting) of the Postgraduate Programs in Disaster Management (PPDM) of the School of Architecture and Design since June 2022. He established the Cell of Adaptation, Resilience, Security, and Humanitarian Assistance (CARSHA) at the School of Architecture and Design and has been serving as its Executive Director since July 2021.
Dr. Chowdhooree led the Curriculum Revision Committee for updating and revising the Master of Disaster Management degree program of PPDM, and the revised Master of Disaster Management degree program with specialization in five streams (Disaster Risk Reduction; Social Safety and Community Based Adaptation; Human Security and Humanitarian Crisis Management; Climate Change Adaptation and Sustainable Development; and Public Policy and Organizational Strategies) was approved by the University Grant Commission (UGC) of the Government of Bangladesh in 2022. PPDM has been running the revised curriculum since the Fall 2022 semester. https://www.bracu.ac.bd/sites/default/files/Program.pdf.
Dr. Chowdhooree led the Curriculum Development Committee for developing the Bachelor of Disaster Management degree program for the Department of Disaster Management and Resilience Design as a new department under the School of Architecture and Design. The Bachelor of Disaster Management will be offered in three majors: Humanitarian crises management; Climate change study; and Environmental risk reduction technology. The proposal for this degree program received approval from the University Quality Assurance Committee (UQAC) and the Academic Council of BRAC University in 2024. It is in the process of receiving final approval from the University Grant Commission (UGC) of the Government of Bangladesh.
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2018 |
PhD, School of Civil Engineering and Built Environment |
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Queensland University of Technology, Australia |
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Thesis title: Impacts of Structural Mitigation Measures on Perceptions of Community Flood Resilience: Experiences from Haor Communities of Bangladesh |
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2012 |
Master of Urban and Regional Planning |
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Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
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Thesis Title: Development of a River-side Urban Poor Settlement for Enhancing Community Flood Resilience: Roles of Different Actors |
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2010 |
Master of Urban and Regional Planning |
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University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA |
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Research Title: Policy and Legislation for Mitigating Earthquake: A Case-study of Dhaka |
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2010 |
Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance |
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University of Hawaii, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA |
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2010 |
Leadership Certificate |
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East West Center, Honolulu, Hawaii, USA |
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2006 |
Bachelor of Architecture |
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Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh |
Books
Chowdhooree, I., & Ghani, S. M. (Eds.). (2020). External interventions for disaster risk reduction : Impacts on local communities (Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements). Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4948-9
Chowdhooree, I., & Faizunnisa, A. (Eds.). (2010). Food: A celebration. Honolulu, Hawaii, USA: East-West Center Participants Association (EWCPA). Retrieved from https://www.eastwestcenter.org/publications/food-celebration
Book Chapters
Chowdhooree, I. (2020). External interventions for enhancing community resilience: An overview of planning paradigms. In Imon Chowdhooree & S. M. Ghani (Eds.), External Interventions for Disaster Risk Reduction. Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements. Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4948-9_1
Chowdhooree, I., Dawes, L., & Sloan, M. (2020). Dependency on external supports: An addition to community vulnerability. In Imon Chowdhooree & S. M. Ghani (Eds.), External Interventions for Disaster Risk Reduction. Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements. Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4948-9_3
Baidya, E. U., Mahboob, F., Polin, F., & Chowdhooree, I. (2020). Designing spaces with victims of humanitarian crisis: Action research on spaces for children at Rohingya camps in Bangladesh. In I. Chowdhooree & S. M. Ghani (Eds.), External Interventions for Disaster Risk Reduction. Advances in 21st Century Human Settlements. Singapore: Springer. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-4948-9_6
Journals
Poudel, S., Wickramasinghe, D., Mukherjee, M., Chowdhooree, I., Chimi, C., Mishra, B., Abhinay, K., Mitra, S., & Shaw, R. (2024). The status and prospect on nature-based solution in South Asia: A policy-based analysis. PLOS Climate, 3(3). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000289
Zaman, K. M. U. A. B., Tumpa, R. T., & Chowdhooree, I. (2024). An integrated framework for waterfront development to recognize nature-based solutions (NBS) in urban areas: evaluating the condition of two projects in Bangladesh. Blue-Green Systems, 6(2), 198–216. https://doi.org/10.2166/bgs.2024.102
Rashid, M. J., Chowdhooree, I., Aziz, T., & Hossain, M. (2024). Determining the climate adaptive capacity of urban actors: a case study of Mongla port-townin Bangladesh. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 15(4), 617–635. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-02-2023-0044
Chowdhooree, I., Aziz, T., Rashid, M. J., & Hossain, M. (2024). Climate change adaptation through nature-based solution: examining the case of Thakurani Khal of Mongla Port Municipality, Bagerhat Bangladesh. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 15(3), 474–493. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-02-2023-0014
Chowdhooree, I., & Islam, I. (2024). External intervention and responsive adaptation by the community: Experiences of improving house quality in an urban slum. Journal of Flood Risk Management. https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.13013
Chowdhooree, I., & Aziz, T. (2023). Re-naturing cities through water-centric development: evaluating a canal restoration project in Narayanganj City, Bangladesh. Blue-Green Systems, 5(2), 57–74. https://doi.org/10.2166/bgs.2023.003
Mukherjee, M., Wickramasinghe, D., Chowdhooree, I., Chimi, C., Poudel, S., Mishra, B., Ali, Z. F., & Shaw, R. (2022). Nature-based resilience: Experiences of five cities from South Asia. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(19). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph191911846
Chowdhooree, I., & Das, K. K. (2022). Indigenous knowledge of mud architecture: experiences of surviving against multiple natural hazards. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 13(4), 451–469. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-12-2020-0128
Chowdhooree, I., Dawes, L., & Sloan, M. (2020). Scopes of community participation in development for adaptation: Experiences from the Haor region of Bangladesh. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101864
Chowdhooree, I., Sloan, M., & Dawes, L. (2019). Community perceptions of flood resilience as represented in cognitive maps. Journal of Flood Risk Management, 12(4). https://doi.org/10.1111/jfr3.12478
Chowdhooree, I. (2019). Indigenous knowledge for enhancing community resilience: An experience from the south-western coastal region of Bangladesh. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101259
Chowdhooree, I., & Islam, I. (2018). Factors and actors for enhancing community flood resilience: An experience from a river-side settlement in Bangladesh. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 9(2), 153–169. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJDRBE-12-2016-0056
Conferences
Chowdhooree, I., & Das, K. K. (2012). Vernacular earthen huts of Chittagong, Bangladesh: Status and prospects of resisting hazards. In Proceeding of IXth International Conference on the Study and Conservation of Earthen Architecture Heritage. Lima, Peru: Pontificia Universidad Católica del Perú (PUCP).
Chowdhooree, I., & Das, K. K. (2008). Present morphological trends of Hindu temples of Bangladesh: Study of some selected cases of Sylhet. In Proceedings of the 4th International Seminar on Vernacular Settlement. Faculty of Architecture. Ahmedabad, India: CEPT University.
Chowdhooree, I., & Das, K. K. (2007). Urban mass transportation of Chittagong and potential of present rail tracks. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Architecture for the Economically Disadvantaged. Dhaka, Bangladesh: BUET.
Ara, Y., & Chowdhooree, I. (2007). Blessing or blight? Impacts of Khilgaon flyover on its vicinity. In Proceedings of the International Conference on Emerging South Asian Urban Practices + Paradigms. Colombo, Sri Lanka: Center for Housing Planning and Building.
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Sessional Academic Staff n(2015-17)
Science and Engineering Faculty
Queensland University of Technology
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Visiting Faculty (Sep-Oct, 2012)
University of Evora, Portugal
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Summer Intern (June-Aug 2010)
The United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNISDR)
New York, USA
Courses of the Department of Architecture
- ARC 101: Design I
- ARC 102: Design II
- ARC 401: Design VII
- ARC 402: Design VIII
- ARC 501: Design IX
- ARC 502: Design X
- ARC 511: Seminar I
- ARC 512: Seminar II
- ANT 103: Society and Development
- ARC 224: History of Art and Architecture III
- ARC 225: History of Art and Architecture IV
- ARC 393: Building for Disaster
Postgraduate Programs in Disaster Management
- DMG 512: Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Strategies
- DMG 612: Community-based Approaches to Disaster Risk Management
- DMG 615: Emergency Response and Humanitarian Assistance
- DMG 616: Disaster Communication, Media, and Journalism
- DMG 624: Human Right and International Humanitarian Law
- DMG 626: Anti-terrorism Awareness and Strategies
- DMG 628: Field Visit and Study
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14 May 2024
Presented a research paper at the UK Shelter Forum
22 November 2023
Delivered a lecture on Rohingya Refugee Crisis Management in Bangladesh at the headquarter of AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Authority, Ministry of Interior, Republic of Turkey) in Ankara, Turkey
13-15 January 2020
Presented a research paper at the 9th International Conference on Building Resilience, organized by the Institute Technology of Bandung, Indonesia, and Global Disaster Resilience Centre of University of Huddersfield, UK at Bali, Indonesia.
14-18 January 2019
Presented a research paper at the International Conference on Capacity Building for Research and Innovation in Disaster Resilience and ASCENT Festival 2019, organized by the University of Moratuwa, Sri Lanka and the University of Colombo, Sri Lanka at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka
07-09 September 2016
Presented a research paper at the 6th International Conference on Building Resilience, arranged by Massey University and University of Auckland at Auckland, New Zealand.
05-08 July 2016
Delivered a lecture at the Council of International Students Australia (CISA) National Conference at Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia.
14-17 February 2008
Presented a research paper at 4th International Seminar on Vernacular Settlement, arranged by the Faculty of Architecture, Center for Environmental Planning and Technology - CEPT University, Ahmedabad, India.
10-12 November 2007
Presented a research paper at the International Conference on Architecture for the Economically Disadvantaged, arranged by the Department of Architecture, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
07-09 June 2007
Presented a research paper at the Asia Link-Urbs: Emerging South Asian Urban Design Practices & Paradigms Conference, arranged at the Centre for Housing Planning and Building, Battaramulla, Colombo, Sri Lanka.
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Awarded the Samsunnahar Khanam Gold Medal for securing the highest CGPA in the Bachelor of Architecture degree from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology in 2006
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Received Asian Development Bank and Japan Government Scholarship for conducting the post graduate study in USA from 2008 to 2010
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Received Endeavour Post Graduate Scholarship from the Government of Australia for conducting doctoral studies in Australia from 2014 to 2017
- Recognized as an 'Young Scientist' involved in Disaster Management by Research Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) in 2017
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Research Interests
Resilient Built Environment and Sustainable Development
Disaster Mitigation and Climate Change Adaptation Planning
Urban Design and Urban Planning Policy Analysis
Humanitarian Assistance and Refugee Crisis Analysis
Community Resilience and Vulnerability
Research/ Project Grants
2024
Research grant from the Ministry of Social Welfare of the Government of Bangladesh for Evaluation of Social Allowance Services of the Ministry of Social Welfare using the Mobile Banking System.
Role: Principle Investigator
2023-2024
Department of Architecture Research Award (DARA) of BRAC University for conducting research, titled “From Hills to the Sea: Outcomes of Housing and its Systems Linkages in the Bhashan Char Rohingya Refugee Resettlement Program, Bangladesh”.
Role: Principle Investigator
Research Partner Institution: University of Newcastle, Australia
2023-2024
Research Support Grant 2023-2024 from the Department of Disaster Management, Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief of the Government of Bangladesh for conducting the research on Sustainable Urban Development and Nature-based Solutions in Dhaka.
Role: Principle Investigator
2023- Present
Bangladesh Preparedness Partnership (BPP) Program (Second Phase) of Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (The Foundation)
Role: Co-Principle Investigator
2023-2024
2023 BRAC University Research Seed Grant Initiative (RSGI) for conducting the research on Climate-Induced Displacement to Urban Slums through the Lens of Sustainable Adaptation: A Case of North-Western Bangladesh
Role: Co-Principle Investigator
2022-2023
Development of local guidebook on Compound and Cascading Disaster Risk Management in Bangladesh” of the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES), Japan, funded by the Ministry of Environment (Japan).
Role: Co-Principle Investigator
Research Partner Institution: Department of Disaster Management, the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief, Government of Bangladesh
2022-2023
BRAC Grant for Designing the content and curriculum of the Certificate Program on Humanitarian Crisis Management
Role: Chief Coordinator and Expert
2022
Grant from the Cyclone Preparedness Program (CPP) of the Government of Bangladesh for Reviewing Training Modules for CPP (Cyclone Preparedness Program of the Ministry of Disaster Management and Relief) Volunteers
Role: Chief Reviewer
2021-2022
2020 BRAC University Research Seed Grant Initiative (RSGI) for conducting the research on Investigating Spatial Attributes of Urban Vulnerability using Climate Change Hotspots (CCHs) Mapping Approach
Role: Co-Principle Investigator
Research Partner Organization: ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability South Asia, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
2018-2023
Bangladesh Preparedness Partnership (BPP) Program (First Phase) of Asian Disaster Preparedness Center (ADPC), funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (The Foundation)
Role: Co-Principle Investigator
2010-2011
Grants from UNDP for building safer habitat in Cyclone Alila affected areas of Bangladesh Project.
Role: Co-Principle Investigator
Research BRAC, Bangladesh.
2012
EMMA-WEST Erasmus Mundas Grant for research at Doctoral Level
Role: Principle Investigator
Research Partner Organization: University of Evora, Portugal
Other Collaborative Research Works
2022-2023
Studying Policy documents on nature based solutions in 5 South Asian Countries: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka
Role: Co-Principle Investigator
Research Partner Organization: Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India; Indian Institute of Technology, Guwahati, India; University of Colombo, Sri Lanka; Royal University of Bhutan, Phuntsholing, Bhutan; Science Hub, Kathmandu, Nepal; and Keio University, Fujisawa, Japan.
2021-2022
Studying policy and practices of nature based solutions in 5 South Asian Cities: Barisal (Bangladesh), Phuntsholing (Bhutan), Gurugram (India), Kathmandu (Nepal) and Colombo (Sri Lanka).
Role: Co-Principle Investigator
Research Partner Organization: Indian Institute of Technology, Roorkee, India; University of Colombo, Sri Lanka; Royal University of Bhutan, Phuntsholing, Bhutan; Policy Research Institute, Kathmandu, Nepal; and Keio University, Fujisawa, Japan
2010
Developing economic development strategies for Quy Nhon city in central Vietnam
Role: Co-Principle Investigator
Research Partner Organization: University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA
2009
Studying sustainable land use and environmental design strategy for the state of Airai, Palau
Role: Co-Principle Investigator
Research Partner Organization: University of Hawaii at Manoa, USA