Concrete Choices, Real Futures: Students Explore Urban Climate Challenges Through an Engaging Workshop

Assam Don Bosco University hosted an insightful and highly interactive workshop titled “Concrete Choices: Urban Climate Futures Workshop” on 7 April 2026 at the New Conference Hall, Azara Campus, organized jointly by the Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering Departments. The session was led by Hardika Dayalani, Director of the Anant Fellowship in Sustainability and Built Environment from Anant National University, and offered students a unique opportunity to engage with the pressing realities of urban climate stress through an immersive roleplaying activity. Designed to develop systems thinking, decision-making, and collaboration skills, the workshop placed participants in a simulated urban crisis where they had to respond as different stakeholders, including urban planners and technical experts, elected representatives and municipal bodies, community organizations and NGOs, and private sector actors such as developers, industries, and philanthropy groups. After being introduced to the concept of systems thinking and the rules of the exercise, students worked in groups to analyze the crisis, frame solutions, defend their interests, and negotiate with other groups to arrive at balanced and practical outcomes. The negotiation stage brought the activity to life, as students debated, exchanged perspectives, resolved conflicting priorities, and discovered the importance of compromise and cooperation in addressing real-world urban challenges. The final agreement process, marked by signature collection, reinforced accountability, teamwork, and shared responsibility. Throughout the session, students remained actively engaged and enthusiastic, gaining a deeper understanding of how interconnected urban systems are and how thoughtful, sustainable decision-making is essential in times of climate stress. Overall, the workshop proved to be an enriching and meaningful learning experience that combined awareness, practicality, and participation, leaving students with valuable lessons on sustainability, governance, and collaborative problem-solving.