Today, Dr. Sandeep Agrawal joins In Development for a very special episode. The conversation kicks off by exploring Dr. Agrawal’s interesting journey into the Planning profession and academia. The audience learns about Dr. Agrawal’s experiences spearheading programs at two prominent Canadian universities. For the first time ever, this episode also features audience-generated questions, in which Dr. Agrawal provides his professional insight on topics such as climate, culture, equity, zoning policies and more.

Dr. Sandeep Agrawal is a Professor in the Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences. He was an Associate Chair in the department and Inaugural director of the School of Urban and Regional Planning between 2013 and 2023. During his tenure as director, he led the development of MSc Planning and PhD specialization in urban planning, and established the School in 2018. Prior to moving to the University of Alberta, he was Associate Director and Founding Graduate Program Director of the School of Urban and Regional Planning at Toronto Metropolitan University (formerly Ryerson).

Dr. Agrawal has a diverse array of research interests that encompasses sustainable urban and rural planning, energy transition, Indigenous issues, and human rights. Among several national and international grants he has received, the most recent one is $98.6M CFREF grant, in which he is the project lead from the University of Alberta. As an accomplished author with over a hundred articles and professional reports and three books, Dr. Agrawal has contributed to planning practice and affected city bylaws and planning policies and legislation, with a lens on human rights and equity. The most recent book is entitled Rights and the City: Problems, Progress and Practice. His new book Municipal Boundary Battles will be published soon.

Dr. Agrawal is a recipient of the Canadian Institute of Planners’ national academic award for his significant contribution to planning education and research in the country.