About Us

The people behind
STEAM Research Centre

A research and capacity-building institution based in Kathmandu, Nepal — guided by an international advisory team spanning artificial intelligence, environmental science, social work, and sustainable development.

Leadership

Executive Director

Namrata Gautam, Executive Director of STEAM Research Centre

Namrata Gautam

Executive Director, STEAM Research Centre

Namrata Gautam is the Executive Director of STEAM Research Centre, a research and capacity-building institution based in Kathmandu, Nepal. She leads the Centre’s work across STEAM education research, NGO capacity-building, and institutional development, bringing a rare combination of academic rigour and practical leadership to building the Centre’s training programmes and partnerships.

Under her leadership, STEAM Research Centre has developed active collaborations with leading development and academic organisations, with a continued focus on strengthening Nepal’s education and NGO sectors through evidence-based training and research.

STEAM Education Research NGO Capacity-Building Institutional Development
Our Advisors

Advisory Team

Researchers and academics from across the Asia-Pacific, North America, and Europe who guide the Centre’s research direction and academic standards.

Shantanu Chakraborty, PhD

Shantanu Chakraborty, PhD

AI, Operations Research & Energy Systems

Dr. Shantanu Chakraborty is an accomplished researcher and innovator with decades of experience in artificial intelligence (AI), operations research, software engineering, and machine learning. His expertise spans the energy and Internet of Things (IoT) sectors, with contributions across industry, academia, and international research collaborations. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE Power & Energy Society (SMIEEE), has authored more than 70 scholarly publications, holds 15 patents, received research grants exceeding USD 100,000, and has accumulated over 1,400 citations on Google Scholar.

Dr. Bidur Dhungel

Dr. Bidur Dhungel

Environmental Science & Sustainable Development

Dr. Bidur Dhungel holds a PhD in Environmental Science and is an accomplished researcher with expertise in environmental science, social work, and sustainable development. His research focuses on the relationships between environmental change, social vulnerability, and community resilience, particularly among marginalized communities. By combining environmental science with community-based research, he develops practical, evidence-based solutions that promote environmental sustainability and social equity. Dr. Dhungel currently serves as the Research Director at the Southwestern Centre for Research and PhD Studies and as the Chief Editor of the Journal of Advanced Academic Research (JAAR), where he supports interdisciplinary research, academic collaboration, and the use of research to inform policy and practice. His key areas of interest include environmental justice, climate change adaptation, sustainable development, public health, urban sanitation, and community resilience.

Dr. Rita Dhungel

Dr. Rita Dhungel

Social Work & Participatory Action Research

Dr. Rita Dhungel is a faculty member at the School of Social Work, University of the Fraser Valley, Abbotsford, British Columbia, Canada. Originally from Nepal, she is a researcher and educator whose work focuses on participatory action research, community engagement, and social justice. As a Principal Investigator (PI) and Co-Principal Investigator (Co-PI), she has led and contributed to community-based research involving immigrants, refugees, trafficking survivors, and people living with HIV in both local and international contexts. Through participatory approaches such as photovoice and street drama, Dr. Dhungel empowers communities to become active partners in research and social change. She is committed to promoting equity, inclusion, and community transformation through engaged pedagogy in teaching, research, and service.

Dr. Sahadev Sharma

Dr. Sahadev Sharma

Mangrove Ecology, Agriculture & Agroforestry

Dr. Sahadev Sharma is an environmental scientist with expertise in mangrove ecology, agriculture, and agroforestry systems. His research focuses on ecosystem restoration, carbon stock assessment, climate-resilient land management, and sustainable natural resource management. He has contributed to research and academic initiatives that promote sustainable agriculture, agroforestry, climate adaptation, and community-based conservation, connecting scientific research with policy and rural development. With international experience across the Asia-Pacific region, the United States, and Japan, Dr. Sharma has led projects on blue carbon, ecosystem monitoring, and nature-based solutions. He also has extensive experience in teaching, research supervision, and academic leadership, supporting the development of future professionals in environmental and agricultural sciences.