Vikas Chand Sharma, an Associate Professor at Chandigarh University and a researcher at Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, brings 13 years of experience in architectural design, urban planning, and research. He specializes in sustainable urban design strategies for historic cities, combining phenomenological approaches with digital mapping. His foundational research on religious spatial patterns and new urbanism was published in 2016. He serves on the Scientific Committee for Contesti. Città, Territori, Progetti and is a member of the Editorial Board for several international journals. His work appears in the International Journal of Construction Education and Research, Journal of Architecture & Urbanism, and Landscape Research.
Dr. Anurag Varma, an academician, architect, and consultant, brings over 25 years of diverse professional experience. Currently, as the Executive Director of the Liberal Arts and Humanities cluster at Chandigarh University, he concurrently leads his self-owned design and planning consulting firm. His expertise spans spatial planning, urbanism, heritage conservation, and architectural design, showcased in leadership roles at a top-100 ENR rated International Design Firm and a leading workshare firm. His academic journey includes Doctoral research from TERI School of Advanced Studies, focusing on sacred cultural heritage and its intersection with urban planning in pilgrimage towns, alongside interests in sustainable built environments, architecture pedagogy, and advancements in education.