MRC AT A GLANCE
Mridha’s Research Center (MRC) was established in 2018. MRC’s vision is to craft sustainable & adaptive solutions for urban society, and its targets are to develop itself as a cutting-edge research and academic institute in Bangladesh, working in the fieldsn Bangladesh working in the field of urban climate, physical science, and natural resources management. MRC has extensive expertise in urban climate change adaptation, mitigation, loss and damage, urban natural resource management, knowledge sharing, capacity building, Remote Sensing, GIS and databases, policy advocacy, and governance etc.
Since its establishment, MRC’s primary goal as an academic research institute has been to generate new knowledge, share it with other stakeholders, and influence policymakers. All research activities are heavily dependent on students, who lead and conduct the core research efforts under faculty guidance, fostering a student-centric approach to innovation and discovery. MRC adheres to the principle of “Leave No One Behind.”
Along with research activities, MRC has expertise in formulating national policies and plans with a strong urban focus. It has been involved in the formulation process of several policy documents, including the Urban National Adaptation Plan (UNAP), 2023-2030; the updating of Urban Nationally Determined Contribution (UNDC), 2021; Bangladesh Urban Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan (BUCCSAP), 2009; Bangladesh Urban Climate Change Gender Action Plan (BUCCGAP), 2022 and Sector Action Plan on “Urban Environment & Climate Change”, 2022, etc.
In addition to this, MRC has a capacity-building unit from where it provides capacity-building training on Urban climate change vulnerability, Urban Disaster Management, Gender Mainstreaming Guidelines in Urban Contexts, Access to Green Climate Fund (GCF) for Urban Projects, Urban Climate Finance, and Proposal Development Process, etc., and so far, the Centre has provided numerous trainings to the government officials, NGO, INGOs, youth, children, practitioners, researchers, and academicians, etc.
MRC WORKING DOMAIN
At present, Bangladesh is facing severe urban environmental degradation, which is driven by high population growth rates in cities, unplanned urban development and inappropriate technology use. Human activities are largely responsible for urban water quality deterioration, soil erosion in peri-urban areas, air pollution in metropolitan zones, deforestation around cities etc. These impacts are leading to extreme biodiversity degradation and ecosystem disruption in urban settings. In addition, impacts of anthropocentric activities are triggering greater climate variability in cities, as well as negatively impacting the existing natural capacity to deal with urban environmental disaster events. MRC aims to address these issues head-on to help the country prepare and deal with urban climate and environmental issues. The following describes the working domain of MRC.
- Urban Climate Change Adaptation
- Nature-based solutions integrated into city planning.
- Urban Climate Change Mitigation
- Urban Loss and Damage, Urban Nature-Based Based Solution
- Knowledge Management, Capacity development & Advocacy
- Information Technology for Urban Planning Urban Policy
- Institution & Governance
- Urban Disaster Risk Reduction
- Locally Led Urban Advocacy
- Urban Climate Finance
- Gender Inclusion in Urban Contexts
- Increasing nature-based solutions in cities.
- Achieving the objectives of BUCCSAP Pillars
- Food security, social protection, and health in urban areas
- Students in a research lab environment
- Comprehensive urban disaster management
- Infrastructure resilience in cities
- Environmental science students at work.
- Urban research and knowledge management
- Mitigation and low-carbon urban development
- Capacity building and institutional strengthening for urban sustainability
OUR URBAN-RELATED ACTIVITIES
Revitalizing Urban Communities
We’re breathing new life into cities! Using AI and GIS, we map urban food deserts and combat challenges like soybean blight with our hybrid CNN-GNN models, ensuring community health. Our AI-driven health diagnostics, such as breast cancer detection via imaging, address urban disparities. Electrical innovations power community hubs with efficient microgrids, creating vibrant, inclusive neighborhoods ready to thrive amid growth.
Building Disaster-Resilient Cities
Safety is our priority! Our GIS and remote sensing predict urban floods and cyclones, while our 2022 Kurdish Studies project (DOI: https://doi.org/10.53555/ks.v10i1.3996) transforms Dhaka’s corridors into smart shelters. In Narayanganj, IoT and AI monitor infrastructure, with electrical systems ensuring backup power, fortifying cities against urban crises with innovative design.
Enhancing Urban Infrastructure
Cities that endure! We design IoT-powered roads, bridges, and utilities, using GIS and AI to tackle Narayanganj’s urban heat with green corridors. Our BNBC-aligned, low-carbon projects integrate renewable energy and advanced electrical grids, building durable, eco-smart urban networks that support growth and sustainability.
Promoting Green Urban Living
Sustainable cities start here! We use GIS and AI to identify solar and wind sites, with electrical engineering optimizing energy for urban biogas and solar homes. Our phishing-secure platforms protect green tech, while eco-friendly designs and efficient electrical systems reduce urban emissions, creating livable cityscapes.
Strengthening Urban Talent & Collaboration
Growing urban leaders! Our workshops teach GIS, AI, and electrical engineering skills, while consulting on projects like the 2025 Narayanganj water report builds capacity. Led by talents like Shahriar Hasan Mridha Ratul, we mentor innovators, forging partnerships that enhance urban development with cutting-edge technology.
Sharing Urban Knowledge
Ideas that shape cities! With over 50 papers, including our 2022 urban renewal study, and webinars like “AI in Urban Planning,” we share insights via Google Scholar. Our heritage conservation efforts, like Bibi Mariam, inform urban policy, with AI and electrical data enhancing knowledge dissemination for Bangladesh’s cities.
