Binita Mahato

Binita Mahato is an assistant professor in Auburn University’s Community Planning Program. She has a Ph.D. in urban and regional planning, a master’s degree in community planning from the School of Planning, University of Cincinnati, and a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Indian Institute of Engineering Science and Technology (IIEST), India.

Mahato has worked as an architect for two years and has work experience with the Cincinnati Area Geographic Information System (CAGIS), Niehoff Urban Studio, and the Institute of Policy Research at the University of Cincinnati. She has been a research fellow for the Communication in Urban Environments (CUE) research initiative by the Fruth and Gemini Foundation, University of Cincinnati. Alongside, she has worked as an editorial assistant for the Journal of Children, Youth, and Environment and has taught urban planning and urban design studios at the School of Planning, University of Cincinnati.

Mahato’s research interest lies in investigating the relationship between space and society using qualitative and interpretive research methods. Her dissertation focuses on the manifestation of social class relations over the use of public spaces in Kolkata, India. She has also worked on several other research projects on measuring the robustness of neighborhood business districts and the diversity of urban parks in Cincinnati. She has urban design and GIS certificates and likes to use her design and GIS skills to illustrate complex urban phenomena through communicative visuals.