Urban Ethnographers

✨ Meet Soumen! ✨ We’re thrilled to welcome Soumen to our team as an Instructional Designer! A Commerce graduate with a solid foundation in accounts and finance, Soumen brings a unique blend of expertise and curiosity to the table. His passion for financial analysis and exploring market trends aligns perfectly with our commitment to delivering impactful learning experiences. Beyond work, Soumen is an advocate for sustainable practices and corporate social responsibility—values that resonate deeply with our mission. When he’s not designing engaging content, you’ll find him reading books or experimenting with flavors in the kitchen. 🍳📚

As we step into the New Year, Urban Ethnographers reaffirms our commitment to driving meaningful change through thoughtful research, innovative solutions, and impactful partnerships. Together, let’s create a future that’s inclusive, sustainable, and full of possibilities. Wishing you a year filled with success, joy, and new opportunities. 🎉 Happy New Year from all of us at Urban Ethnographers! Dr Padmini Ram | Tanya Toshali | Aditi Saha | Nandini M. | Shreya Sajeev | Shivani Sharma | Neha Aggarwal | Simran Bhattarai | Gayathri A N Mahasweta (Srimaal)Chatterjee|

#hiring At Urban Ethnographers, we’re all about creativity, impact, and social development! We take pride in fostering a supportive, dynamic, and spirited environment where ideas flow freely, and every team member's input is valued. 🌟 Position: Instructional Designer 📍 Location: Remote Here’s why this role is exciting: 🎯 Your work will be steeped in creativity, from designing interactive content like scenario-based learning, case studies, and videos to developing self-learning materials for online platforms. 📚 You’ll also gain hands-on experience with research and analysis in the social sector, shaping impactful training programs and helping uplift communities. We’re looking for someone with excellent communication skills, a keen eye for detail, and a love for working in a collaborative, deadline-driven environment. If this sounds like the perfect fit for you, we’d love to hear from you! Send your resume, cover letter, and samples of your work to hr@urbanethnographers.org and cc neha.aggarwal@urbanethnographers.in

𝗘𝘅𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗶𝘂𝗺 𝗼𝗻 𝗨𝗿𝗯𝗮𝗻 𝗘𝘁𝗵𝗻𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗽𝗵𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗕𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲 We are thrilled to announce that Dr Padmini Ram. Padmini Ram, Director of Urban Ethnographers, has been invited as a discussant for a thought-provoking symposium on Urban Ethnography and Bangalore. This event is organized by The Ethnography Lab at Vidyashilp University, in collaboration with The Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC), Bengaluru. The symposium, scheduled for 12th December 2024, will explore the vibrant and diverse urban landscapes of Bangalore through an ethnographic lens. Key sessions will feature insightful presentations from renowned artists and researchers who will discuss various aspects of the city—from the smells of Bengaluru to the cultural narratives of its peripheries. We are proud to have Dr. Padmini Ram contribute her expertise to the "𝗦𝗲𝗻𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗶𝘁𝘆" session, where she will engage in discussions around urban spaces and their intricate social dynamics. 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗴𝗿𝗮𝗺𝗺𝗲 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 Session 1: Sensing the City Discussant: Dr. Padmini Ram, Director, Urban Ethnographers Chair: Prajwal Nagesh, ISEC 𝗙𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝗱 𝗦𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗧𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗰𝘀: ☑️ Indu Antony (Independent Artist):  𝘝ā𝘴𝘢𝘯é - 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘮𝘦𝘭𝘭𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘉𝘦𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘳𝘶 ☑️ Lakshmi Nagaraj (Independent Artist):  𝘔𝘢𝘱𝘱𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘔𝘦𝘮𝘰𝘳𝘪𝘦𝘴: 𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘰𝘴𝘵 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘠𝘦𝘭𝘢𝘩𝘢𝘯𝘬𝘢 ☑️ Maya M (Christ University):  𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘵𝘰𝘳𝘺 𝘰𝘧 𝘢 𝘏𝘪𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘵𝘰 ‘𝘜𝘳𝘣𝘢𝘯 𝘗𝘦𝘳𝘪𝘱𝘩𝘦𝘳𝘺’: 𝘈𝘯 𝘌𝘵𝘩𝘯𝘰𝘨𝘳𝘢𝘱𝘩𝘪𝘤 𝘈𝘤𝘤𝘰𝘶𝘯𝘵 𝘰𝘧 𝘚.𝘎. 𝘗𝘢𝘭𝘺𝘢, 𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦 ☑️ Sharmila Vaidyanathan (Freelance Writer & Independent Researcher):  𝘉𝘢𝘯𝘨𝘢𝘭𝘰𝘳𝘦'𝘴 𝘛𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘪 𝘞𝘢𝘭𝘬𝘴: 𝘉𝘳𝘪𝘯𝘨𝘪𝘯𝘨 𝘍𝘰𝘰𝘥 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘗𝘦𝘰𝘱𝘭𝘦 𝘛𝘰𝘨𝘦𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 ☑️ Namrata Narendra & Jayavartheni Krishnakumar (Wageningen University, IIHS & WRI):  𝘛𝘢𝘭𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘛𝘸𝘰 𝘞𝘩𝘦𝘦𝘭𝘴 We look forward to a dynamic exchange of ideas and perspectives that will deepen our understanding of urban spaces and their cultural significance. A big thank you to Vidyashilp University, ISEC, and all the speakers for extending the kind invitation. Let’s come together to celebrate and learn about the urban fabric of Bangalore! #UrbanEthnography #BangaloreSymposium #UrbanSpaces #Ethnography #ISEC #VidyashilpUniversity #UrbanEthnographers #CitySensing #BangaloreCulture #SocialResearch #AcademicCollaboration

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝗰 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆: 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗔𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 We are excited to share that our Founding Director, Dr Padmini Ram, recently delivered an eye-opening lecture at NITTE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING & DESIGN Through this session, Dr. Ram explored how public policy acts as a blueprint for development, addressing some of the most pressing challenges in governance and urban systems. She encouraged students to think critically about questions like: ✅ Who decides funding priorities for development? ✅ How do we measure the impact of urban interventions equitably? ✅ What role does policy play in solving underutilization of funds and driving systemic change? The lecture resonated with the department's entrepreneurial mindset—bridging their core disciplines of architecture, planning, and design with public policy. By introducing policy analysis and decision-making frameworks, Dr. Ram showcased how these students can amplify their professional impact and contribute to creating sustainable, inclusive urban futures. A huge thank you to the forward-thinking faculty at NITTE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE, PLANNING & DESIGN SAPD, particularly Asmita S., for fostering such significant dialogues. Let’s continue to bridge disciplines, spark ideas, and shape the blueprint for a better tomorrow! #UrbanEthnographers #PublicPolicy #Architecture #Planning #Design #SocialImpact #Sustainability #InclusiveDevelopment

Bengaluru's Textile Recovery Facility is a powerful example of what happens when circularity centers people, not just materials. Through the impactful work of Circular Apparel Innovation Factory (CAIF), Hasiru Dala, Sambhav Foundation, and Saamuhika Shakti, the city is showing us what inclusive sustainability looks like—where waste pickers earn dignified livelihoods as integral contributors to the green economy. Kudos to everyone involved in creating a model that uplifts lives while diverting over 1,31,000 kgs of textile waste from landfills in just one year. This is the circularity we need - One that repurposes materials and uplifts communities. 🔗 Read the full report here: https://lnkd.in/gquFuPqh #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #InclusiveGrowth #GreenEconomy #Livelihoods

We're #hiring a new Instructional Designer in India. Apply today or share this post with your network.

#hiring Urban Ethnographers is looking for a Research Associate to join our team and support the development of impactful grant proposals for social development and public policy projects. Are you passionate about research, proposal writing, and making a difference in the social sector? This entry-level position is a great opportunity for fresh graduates eager to contribute to meaningful projects! Please note: We are a women-first organization and will give preference to women seeking to restart their careers after a break. Key Responsibilities: 📌 In-depth literature reviews and desk research 📌 Drafting and revising grant proposals 📌 Supporting impact evaluation efforts 📢 Apply now! – Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. For more details, check out the full JD attached. #hiring #researchassociate #grantwriting #developmentconsulting #urbanethnographers #opportunity

#hiring We are still on the lookout for Instructional Designers. However, applications are welcome only from candidates with a commerce background. If you have a knack for creating engaging learning content and simplifying complex concepts, this role is for you. Join us in designing impactful experiences that drive results!

Meet Somya, who has joined as a Research Associate! 🌟 A gold medalist in M.A. Economics from Aligarh Muslim University, Somya honed her research expertise during her stint at the Reserve Bank of India, where she delved into governance, sustainability, and CSR. Beyond her professional pursuits, Somya is passionate about volunteering for social causes, having worked with the Dor Foundation to support free higher education for disadvantaged students. 📚 When she's not analyzing data or exploring research methodologies, you’ll find her immersed in philosophical texts, writing, or cooking up her favorite dishes. Welcome to the team, Somya! 💼✨ #MeetTheTeam #ResearchAssociate #Welcome