On March 27, Mykolas Romeris University (MRU) invites you to two exceptional public lectures delivered by internationally renowned architecture experts – OBE Dr. Sumita Singha (United Kingdom) and Hansel Bauman (United States).
At 11:00 AM in Room C-II-230, OBE Dr. Sumita Singha will present the lecture "Women in Architecture: Why Justice Matters to the Profession?", discussing the importance of justice in the architectural profession and the consequences of its absence for organizations and society. The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals Progress Report indicates that women still face significant inequality in the labor market: they earn, on average, 23% less than men and perform three times more unpaid household and caregiving work. Moreover, research reveals that violent crimes and conflicts are more prevalent in countries where women's rights are restricted.
About the Speaker: OBE Dr. Sumita Singha is an architect, lecturer, and writer recognized for her significant contributions to the International Union of Architects (UIA), UNESCO, and Women in Business initiatives. Based in the United Kingdom (UK), she has undertaken projects in multiple countries worldwide. She founded the RIBA equality forum Architects for Change, serving as its long-time chair, and is currently an elected member of the RIBA Council as well as a trustee of the RIBA Board for Education and Learning. Additionally, she is a trustee of the UK Architects Benevolent Society and the founder of Charushila, a non-profit organization focused on environmental design. With over 25 years of experience, Dr. Singha has lectured on architecture and led professional practice programs at various universities and institutions. She is the author of several books and publications on architecture, healthcare design, and sustainability.
At 1:00 PM in Room C-II-230, Hansel Bauman, a Gold Award-winning architect from the International Universal Design Association, will deliver the lecture "DeafSpace: Cultural Origins, Current Practices, and Future Directions in Inclusive Design for All." He will introduce the DeafSpace project – an inclusive design concept developed for deaf individuals. The lecture will highlight innovative architectural solutions implemented at Gallaudet University (USA) that foster a sense of community and accommodate not only people with hearing impairments but also those with visual impairments or neurodivergence.
About the Speaker: Hansel Bauman is the director of Hansel Bauman Architecture + Planning. He previously served as campus architect and DeafSpace project director at Gallaudet University in the USA, where he received the Gold Award from the International Universal Design Association for the Gallaudet DeafSpace Design Guidelines. He has lectured at universities worldwide, and his work has been exhibited at the Cooper Hewitt Museum in New York and the Museum für Gestaltung in Zurich, as well as featured in major international design publications. Bauman has also advised the U.S. Green Building Council on the LEED Pilot Credits for Inclusive Design initiative. More recently, he founded the successful Sensory Design Studio at JSAMIXdesign in New York.
These distinguished speakers were invited to MRU by Prof. Dr. Agota Giedrė Raišienė, professor at the Faculty of Public Governance and Business and head of the Social Inclusion and Leadership Research Laboratory at the Science and Innovation Center. Researchers at this laboratory analyze issues related to workplace adaptation, the implementation of universal design, and employee well-being at work.