Amidst the present scenario of unprecedented growth and change across all levels of urban settlements, especially in our part of the world, the need for increased networking and dialogue between the participants of such change becomes imperative. The emerging directions of change and developmental choices as witnessed all around us today raises immense challenges and possibilities towards a dynamic and contributory role of the urban design profession within different societal conditions. It is at this significant juncture that the Institute of Urban Designers India (IUDI) as a national level association of urban design professionals, academicians and practitioners operate.

IUDI holds various conferences, meets, exhibitions, lectures and congresses to discussion and exchange views and for the exposition of any matters affecting or relating to the practice and/or theory of Urban Design or any allied subject.

This year, as we mark and celebrate 50 years of Urban Design in India, with immense pleasure IUDI announces the Second Urban Design National Conference (IUDI NATCON 2023) to be held in Panaji, Goa between 29th-30th September and 1st October. The conference aims to bring together practicing architects and urban design professionals, students, academician, bureaucrats and elected representatives to discuss and deliberate upon ways, means and processes to make Indian cities resilient to the emerging climate crisis. The conference also provides opportunity to its participants to networking and develop professional relationships. IUDI NatCon 2023 will bring together over 350 delegates, speakers and thinkers of National and International repute to share their experiences and thoughts on resilience of cities and the climate crisis. For 3 days the participants of the conference will discuss and deliberate on the theme and the way forward for our cities.

The Indian City is a Resilient City. Through Centuries, its fabric has withstood wars, battles, turmoil, disasters, for us to create what we see (and use) the City of Today. Over all these years, the geography of this sub-continent… with deserts, coasts, mountains, rivers, plateau, plainlands have been susceptible to a host of changes that, over time, also affects cities that are part of them. So "natural" disasters like storms, cyclones, floods, avalanches, earthquakes, etc. become part of our "natural" landscapes that also demand attention. Also, the question.... how "natural" are our "natural disasters" is being asked more often now, more than ever before. This is an urban design quest - one which cuts across many disciplines and themes. This question and many other related queries, our national conference hopes to explore within the domain of Urban Design for the Indian City and through that, urban centers across the globe.

The Indian City has lasted... through centuries and millennia. There surely would be something worthwhile as lessons of Resilience to learn about, from our own City.