The Comfort At The Extreme (CATE) conferences began in 2019 as a broader extension of the Windsor Conferences.
The first CATE conference was held on 10th and 11th April 2019 at Heriot-Watt University in Dubai to facilitate knowledge exchange on energy, economy, and climate. Scientific works and talks that instigate thought on how buildings, cities, and shelters could provide not only comfort but also thermal safety and deliver occupant health in a warming world were encouraged for participation.
The 2021 CATE Conference was held from 24-26 October 2021 at the College of Engineering, Sultan Qaboos University, Oman. This conference stressed the urgent need for and importance of researching the best pathways to adapt to the impacts of changing climates. It also focused on research surrounding energy systems and societal pressures on the sustainability and resilience of built environments, ecosystems, and countries.
The following year CATE conference was held in Edinburgh on 5-6 September 2022 (https://comfortattheextremes.com/). In the wake of the pandemic, the conference initiated discussion on ways in which the pandemic has altered design decisions surrounding buildings. With the tagline- ‘Climate Change, COVID and Ventilation’, it invited the exchange of scientific knowledge on emerging research, new thinking, and innovative design developments to keep people safe, healthy, and affordably comfortable in built environments.
Established in 1962, CEPT University is a premier Indian institute imparting education and conducting research in the areas of designing, planning, constructing, and managing human habitats. Situated in the university campus area at the heart of Ahmedabad city, it is designed as envisioned by Pritzker Architecture Prize winner- Dr. B.V. Doshi. The campus has a pleasant balance between exposed brick-concrete buildings, green landscapes, and open courtyards. The built and open interact fluidly to create an environment of multi-disciplinary learning. Along with courses in Planning, Architecture, Technology, Design, and Management, the University has a dedicated Research and Development Foundation (CRDF). The Foundation manages several research centers that undertake impressive research projects, advisory assignments, and capacity-building initiatives.
Centre for Advanced Research in Building Science & Energy (CARBSE), managed by CRDF at CEPT University specializes in energy efficiency in built environments and energy resource management at large. It undertakes research in the fields of energy-efficient building design & construction processes, sustainable materials, and resource audit and management. The Center also works in the realms of climate mitigation, climate adaptation, and climate resilience in buildings. Some of the key initiatives of the Center include performance evaluation of thermos-physical-optical properties of building materials, occupant comfort studies and climate-specific thermal comfort models, low energy cooling technologies, and technical assistance for the development and enforcement of building codes and construction. The Center houses a state-of-the-art research infrastructure accredited by National Accreditation Board for Laboratories (NABL). It has also designed and operates a Net Zero Energy Building (NZEB), a living laboratory that functions as the Center’s office.
The Centre has been awarded the status of a 'Regional Energy Efficiency Centre' on Building Energy Efficiency by the USAID ECO-III program and a 'Center of Excellence' by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Government of India. CARBSE is supported by Gujarat Energy Development Agency, industry, and various philanthropic organizations.
Dr. Yashkumar Shukla is Principal Researcher and Centre Head at the Centre for Advanced Research in Building Science and Energy (CARBSE). He has more than seventeen years of experience in high-performance buildings. He has led several ground-breaking research projects, including low-energy cooling and ventilation systems in Indian residences, evaluation of innovative cooling technologies, and benchmarking of Indian buildings. He is also associated with the Master of Technology in Building Energy Performance (MBEP) program at the Faculty of Technology, CEPT University, where he offers courses and guides capstone projects.
Chirayu Bhatt is an Architect-Urban Planner with extensive experience working at the confluence of urban planning, urban design, and public policy. He serves as the Deputy Provost (Academics) and the acting dean of the Faculty of Management at CEPT University. His key responsibilities include transforming teaching and learning at CEPT, to prepare students to meet future challenges, both national and global. He holds a Master’s Degree in City and Regional Planning from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture from CEPT University.
Aanal Shah is a civil engineer with expertise in reinforced concrete structures and alternative building materials and structural systems for sustainable building construction. She serves as the Acting Dean of the Faculty of Technology at CEPT University. She teaches theory courses and design studios related to building structural systems, as well as serves as Program Chair of Structural Engineering Design. She holds a Master’s degree in Structural Design and a PhD in the domain of building structures and Geo-Polymer Concrete from CEPT University.
Shivangie Akhaury is Head of Human Resources at CRDF; additionally, she spearheads the Branding and Communications outreach for CRDF & the corresponding Centers. She hones a decade of experience within various complex cross-functional environments, and her varied skillset in designing and deploying HR strategies has enhanced organisational effectiveness and better-managed employee relations. She is an Alma-mater of Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur and Indraprastha University along with Delhi University. She has also been associated with research institutions like the Center for Social Research, India Infrastructure and academic institutions like CEPT University and UPES.
Architect Bhavya Pathak is a Research Associate at CARBSE, CEPT University. Her research is focused on dealing with the impacts of climate change in the Indian Residential sector. Her work lies in the sphere of climate adaptation in the form of thermal comfort in affordable residential buildings, as well as climate mitigation and climate resilience by understanding embodied energy and carbon associated with common Indian construction materials and techniques. She holds a graduate degree in Architecture from the City University of New York, USA with a focus on energy-efficient and high-performance buildings.
For any queries please email cate2023@cept.ac.in.