Dr. Chitra V

Biography

Chitra V holds a PhD in Anthropology from Johns Hopkins University, along with a Master's degree in Visual Communication from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay and a Bachelor's degree in Architecture from KRVIA. Her professional journey has cultivated a profound interest in visual storytelling, particularly in the context of environmental sciences and the changing world of plants, animals, and insects. Her graduate studies provided her with essential skills to integrate drawing with her research interests, leading her to fieldwork in low-income housing in Mumbai, India. Chitra's research focuses on the intricate connections between fish, water, garbage, and urban infrastructure, emphasizing the importance of technical drawings in coastal management. Her book, "Drawing Coastlines: Climate Anxieties and Visual Reinvention of Mumbai's Shore," employs ethnographic accounts and technoscientific images to explore the construction of coastal futures. She is keen on investigating human-environmental relationships, including emerging insect industries, and aims to expand the channels of research communication through visual arts. Chitra's ongoing research trajectory is informed by pressing climate issues, as she seeks to draw differently and foster forms of care in response to these challenges.

Research Interests