MSU Interior Design’s Linda Nubani leads efforts for 50th Annual Environmental Design Research Association Conference
Linda Nubani, assistant professor of ID in the SPDC at MSU, was elected as chair-elect of Board of Directors of the Environmental Design Research Association. She was also elected as chair of the Conference Program Committee of its 50th Annual Conference.
Linda Nubani, assistant professor of interior design in the School of Planning, Design and Construction at Michigan State University, was elected as chair-elect of Board of Directors of the Environmental Design Research Association last August, As part of her duties she was also elected as chair of the Conference Program Committee of its 50th Annual Conference in Brooklyn, NY, May 22-26, 2019.
Founded in 1968, EDRA provides a collaborative, multidisciplinary community to connect theory, research, teaching, and practice to recognize, create and advocate for environments that are responsive to diverse human needs, with a particular eye for those who have typically been underserved by society.
“I am honored and humbled to serve as the 2018-2019 chair-elect for the association and the chair of its 50th annual conference,” Nubani said.
“I have been attending and presenting my research findings at EDRA’s annual conference since I was a graduate student in 2000,” Nubani said. “EDRA has helped me connect, work and network with peers with similar research interests from all over the world,” she said.
Nubani said that this is a special year for EDRA as they celebrate the 50th anniversary in New York with the theme “EDRA50 Sustainable Urban Environments: Research, Design, and Planning for the Next 50 Years.”
They have introduced a special session, called EDRA50/50: The Past 50 years, the Next 50 years, where researchers are asked to reflect on the past 50 years, and consider the next 50 years. Close to 900 submissions were received this year.
“I am also pleased to say that the registration for the conference have close to 700 attendees from over 30 countries,” she said.
In addition to the special session, the keynote speaker will be Jan Gehl (Master of Making Cities for People). Plenary speakers include Mindy Fullilove (Place-Based Observance: 400 Years of Inequality and Urban Sustainability) and Dennis Johnson (Advocacy as a Path to Stewardship).
Michigan State University has been an institutional member of EDRA since 2018.
“I am pleased to see that a few of our graduate students from both the PhD and master programs have been accepted to present their research at this event. This will be a great opportunity for them as I am confident EDRA will give them the same opportunities it gave me when I was a graduate student,” Nubani said.
For the first time, EDRA50 is introducing two professional development opportunities through a partnership with Michigan State University. The National Charrette Institute is offering training on how to apply the NCI Charrette System™, and the Remote Sensing and GIS Center is hosting a Drone Workshop focused on using low-cost drones to generate inputs for architectural and landscape design.
“Although I know that I will be very busy in the operation of the conference this May, I will try my best to keep some time to attend some of the exciting sessions we will have this year. Because of my involvement with the Call for Proposals and the Abstract Submissions, I have already noted some sessions that are close to my research interest.” Nubani said.
“EDRA50 is going to be a one-of-a-kind networking opportunity,” she said.
