Join the Department of Social Sciences for this Great Problems, Great Minds seminar series event featuring guest speaker Jan Nijman, a professor in the Department of Geography, Planning, and International Development Studies at the University of Amsterdam and and distinguished university professor and director of the Urban Studies Institute at Georgia State University. The event will take place on November 4 at 12:40 p.m.

According to the Indian census, about one-third of all urban growth in recent years is concentrated at the lower echelons of the urban system, where the country witnesses a rural-urban transition. At the same time, there is evidence of a massive employment shift out of the agricultural sector across the country, one that likely affects an estimated 200 million people. This presentation will focus on two key questions. The first is about the nature of this alleged process of urbanization and how it aligns, or not, with established urban theory. The second question concentrates on the major challenges of this rural-urban transition for people’s livelihoods and what they mean for India’s development strategies.

“India’s Rural-Urban Transition” event will take place on Google meet at this link.

The event is part of the Great Problems, Great Minds seminar series which explores the major problems facing humanity as we move into the heart of the 21st century. To see the full schedule and videos from previous events, visit the seminar series page. 

For more information, contact Assistant Professor of Social Sciences Hao Huang at hhuang48@iit.edu.