Architecture

PATHWAY TO RESEARCH CULTURE

COLLOQUIA 7

USING PARTICIPATORY PHOTOGRAPHY METHOD IN HOUSING RESEARCH

On Wednesday, January 18, 2023, at 3:00 PM, the Seminar and Workshop Organizing Committee, Department of Architecture, AUST hosted a lecture session titled "Using Participatory Photography Method in Housing Research." by Ar. Dr. Ashraful Alam, as part of the colloquia series, Pathway to Research Culture: Colloquia 7.

Ar. Dr. Ashraful Alam is a Faculty in Planning at the University of Otago, New Zealand, where he leads the Master of Planning Program. He is interested in migrant politics of housing in cities in Australia, New Zealand and South Asia.  He is also the New Zealand lead of the Social Science and Humanities Research Council of Canada SSHRC-funded project exploring migrant retention capacities of small- and mid-sized cities in Australia, Canada and New Zealand.

‘Participatory Photography’ is a popular form of user-centered research method which enables community members to talk about their issues by using photographs as prompts. The lecture session was focused on what is meant by participation in participatory photography and how to approach photography as an effective research tool in planning and design decision-making. The session showcased one particular form of participatory photography method called ‘photo-response’ that the presenter has extensively used to examine housing infrastructure needs in marginalized urban settings. The presentation was very insightful and thought provoking especially in the research arena.

Honorable Vice-Chancellor, Professor Dr. Muhammad Fazli Ilahi, Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Mohammed Mahbubur Rahman, Head (In-Charge), Department of Architecture Professor Dr. Md. Mahmudur Rahman, Heads of other departments, distinguished faculty members and a great number of students of Architecture Department attended the talk.

Following the talk, faculty members and students enthusiastically engaged in a question-and-answer session where many interesting topics were raised. Finally the session ended with the Crest Giving ceremony to the presenter Dr. Ashraful Alam by the Honorable Vice-Chancellor and Pro-Vice Chancellor.

The session was moderated by Ar. Naimul Aziz, Convener of the Seminar and Workshop Organizing Committee, Department of Architecture, AUST. The event was arranged by the committee members Ar. S. M. Arafat Hossain, Ar. Farjana Rahman, and Ar. Ishrat Momtaz Badhan as well as a number of student volunteers.