Staff profile

Dr Debadayita Raha


Lecturer in Environmental Social Science and Programme Leader BSc Environmental Sustainability

Deb wearing a blue sweater with a pink striped shirt, smiling, outdoors

Subject

Social Sciences

College

College of Science and Engineering

Department

School of Built and Natural Environment

Research centre

Environmental Sustainability Research Centre

ORCiD ID

0000-0002-9683-0652

Campus

Derby Campus

Email

D.Raha@derby.ac.uk

About

As an environmental social scientist, my core expertise lies in embedding sociological, developmental and multidisciplinary perspectives to study challenges that affect people's lives. I undertake critical analyses of interlinkages between humans and the environment, and resource management, in urban and rural contexts. Key aspects of my work have been looking at opportunities and questions about the implications of policy mechanisms on people's lives and the practice of sustainable development.

Before joining the University of Derby, I completed my PhD at the University of Reading looking at 'Gender and Rural Development Dynamics, Case study of a Public Private Partnership in Rajasthan, India'. After which, I was part of a multi-million pound UK-India research consortium funded by the EPSRC-DST project as a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the School of Geography, University of Nottingham. My work package in the bioenergy project looked at the whole systems analysis of Rural Hybrid Energy Enterprise Systems (RHEES).

Teaching responsibilities

Within the School of Environmental Sciences, I currently teach on the BSc (Hons) Geography and Environmental Sustainability courses. 

Module Leader for:

Teaching Contribution to: 

Undergraduate

Postgraduate

Professional interests

Time For Geography Team https://timeforgeography.co.uk/about/team/

Fair-trade Directory of Supporting Academics https://www.fairtrade.org.uk/get-involved/universities-and-colleges/fairtrade-directory-of-supporting-academics/

Research interests

My research interest lies in solution-focused interdisciplinary issues that affect urban and rural contexts. I try to identify gaps in policy discourse and implementation processes by working with a participatory bottom-up approach to problem-solving. 

Research areas include (not restricted to):

PhD Supervision (Current)

Daniel Koomson 2018 - 2021: Adaptation and Resilience of Coastal Communities to Climate Change.

Membership of professional bodies

Qualifications

Recent conferences

Experience in industry

I have previously worked as Senior Executive - Community Development, Corporate Social Responsibility, TVS Motor Company Limited.

TVS Motor Company is a very reputed multinational company and is the third-largest motorcycle manufacturer in India. As a senior member of the Corporate Social Responsibility team (CSR), I was in charge number of CSR activities the company undertook both for its employees and the extended communities within which it was embedded. CSR activities were funded by Ford Foundation and from within the company for both urban and rural projects. From water management around factories, income-generating activities for women, health and sanitation, and improvement of primary education to temple renovation as the centres of tradition, culture, and faith.

International experience

I have been previously awarded International Scholarships for my academic training: Felix Scholarship 2005 (MSc); Felix Scholarship 2007 (PhD). My core research context has been in Asia specialising in India, however, my research now has expanded to Africa specifically Ghana.

Working together to secure the future of lagoons

Why Lagoons need our attention?

Lagoons provide resources that are essential to the livelihood, wellbeing and health of the  communities around them including the source of water for washing, fish for food and market and wood for use as building material and cooking fuel. 

Resilient Lagoon Network

Additional interests and activities

Aurora Programme (2019-2020) Aurora is Advance HE's leadership development initiative for women

Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee

In the media

Recent publications

Further details of my publications are available on my Researchgate profile.