His current research is oriented towards socio-architectural research, study of socio-cultural and behavioural attributes of vulnerable age groups within built environment, impacts of social spaces and open spaces in well-being and healthy ageing for elderly, integrated development of rural communities and improvising the living conditions and adopting sustainable design features and practices in community development proposals, urban housing and quality of life, experiential aspects of architecture, vernacular architecture, climate responsive architecture and heritage area developments all pertaining towards achieving SDGs.

Keywords : 
Social Architecture; social design; social sustainability; community design; vulnerable populations; public health;  participatory design; social impact evaluation; cultural preservation; biophilic design; environmental psychology.

Shanta Pragyan Dash is an Architect and presently Associate Professor at Manipal School of Architecture and Planning (MSAP), Manipal Academy of Higher Education (MAHE), Karnataka, India. He is pursuing his PhD at School of Architecture (KSoA), Tamil Nadu. He had completed his Post graduate with specialisation in Advanced Design (2018) from Faculty of Architecture, Manipal University, Karnataka and under graduation, B.Arch. (2011) from Piloo Mody College of Architecture, Cuttack, Odisha. 

2022- till date Associate Professor at Manipal School of Architecture and Planning, Karnataka
2017-2022    Assistant Professor- Senior Scale at Manipal School of Architecture and Planning, Karnataka
2015 -2017    Assistant Professor at Faculty of Architecture, Manipal University, Karnataka
2013- 2015    Practicing Architect at Sarchis Consultants Pvt. Ltd, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
2012-2013    Practicing Architect at Urban Elegance Pvt. Ltd, Bhubaneswar, Odisha
2011-2013    Research Associate and visiting faculty at Piloo Mody College of Architecture, Cuttack, Odisha

Awards and recogntion:

2023    Best Researcher Award for Highest number of publications in 2022.
2019    Best Teacher Award 2019 by Institute of Scholars, Bangalore.
2018    Best Research Paper Award in ICHTR, Manipal.
2018    Best Thesis & Batch Topper (in academics- First Class with distinction) in M. Arch
2017    Best Research paper: 1st prize for research paper presentation in Manipal Research Colloquium
2011    Best Thesis & Batch Topper (in academics) in B.Arch.

• 2020-21: Co-PI in project entitled “Gram Panchayat Spatial Development Proposal for Karnataka, 2020-21” (Govt. funded project by Ministry of Panchayat Raj, Government of India (MoPR).
• 2018-2019: Co-PI in Anganwadi Project entitled “Engaging with rural communities using Integral Design Futures Framework (IDF) to sustain the culture of building: the case of Anganwadi, Ajjarkad, Udupi (Collaborative project with Deakin University, Australia).

Reviewer of International Journals : 
2023    Housing Studies 
2023    IIP proceedings
2022    Journal of Asian Architecture and Building Engineering
2021    International Journal of Basic and Applied Sciences.
2021    IPCC (Intergovernmental panel on Climate change).

Membership in Academics : 
2023 Coordinator and Founder of Research Centre at MSAP named  "Centre for Socio-Architectural Studies (CSAS)"
2023    Member of BOS (Board of Studies), Manipal School of Architecture and Planning
2023    Program Coordinator for UG Program- B.Arch. at Manipal School of Architecture and Planning
2023    Coordinator for Curriculum Committee for UG Program- B.Arch. at Manipal School of Architecture and Planning
2021    Member of Institutional Scientific Committee, Research and Collaborations, Manipal School of Architecture and Planning