Dr Bobby Nisha
School of Geography and Planning
Senior 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ Teacher
Full contact details
School of Geography and Planning
Geography and Planning Building
Winter Street
Sheffield
S3 7ND
- Profile
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A fascination with the built environment led me to pursue a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture (B.Arch), followed by international experience as an architect in Dubai. Recognising the need to bridge the gap between architecture and urban planning, I completed a Master’s in Urban Design (MArch) at the 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ of Nottingham. My academic career began as a Graduate Teaching Associate at the 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ of Bolton, where I taught while pursuing a PhD focused on design decision-making. I also completed a Postgraduate Certificate in Higher Education (PGCHE) in Teaching and Learning in HE. I joined the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at the 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ of Sheffield in 2014.
In addition to my teaching and research, I am a trained SEED (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) leader, having completed my training in the USA. I have co-designed and delivered the UK SEED Project at the 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ of Sheffield—an innovative, sector-leading professional development programme that promotes equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) for staff across the institution.
National SEED Project: Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity
I am a trained SEED leader (trained in USA), I design and co-deliver the UK SEED Project here at the 9 1Ãâ·Ñ°æÏ of Sheffield, is a sector-leading equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) professional development programme for members of staff across the university.
- Research interests
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My research focuses on the use of immersive technologies—particularly Virtual Reality (VR) and Augmented Reality (AR)—to transform urban design practice, participatory processes, and design education. I explore how immersive environments can open up new ways for communities to engage with design ideas and spatial proposals. By enabling people to step into future spaces, my work supports more meaningful and inclusive participation in shaping the built environment. A core strand of my research involves using eye-tracking analytics within VR to understand how people perceive, navigate, and focus on spatial elements. This helps deepen our understanding of the user–space relationship and provides a powerful tool for evaluating and improving design proposals based on real-time visual behaviour.
My funded projects include a HEIF-supported initiative on community engagement for the redevelopment of Shirebrook Market, using VR and eye-tracking to inform participatory design. With HEFCE funding, I led curriculum innovation projects embedding immersive technologies in urban design education. I’ve also received ESRC funding to exhibit pedagogic research at the Winter Gardens during the Festival of Social Sciences, and TESS funding to foster intercultural competence in design education.
As a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow and Co-Investigator on the EU H2020 RISE ‘MakEY’ project, I have worked with international collaborators on digital literacy, design thinking, and the role of makerspaces in early education. My work bridges practice, pedagogy, and research—demonstrating how emerging technologies can foster dialogue, challenge assumptions, and lead to more thoughtful, inclusive urban design outcomes.
Recent research projects (Lead investigator):
HEIF Higher Education innovation funding Community Engagement with Virtual & Augmented Reality: Shirebrook market redevelopment project to engage in participatory design of community spaces with immersive visualisation. virtual reality enabled community engagement with eye tracking in controlled virtual environments, mapping and keeping track of the participants gaze. To inform and widen our understandings of user/space relationship. (March 2019)
HEFCE Higher Education Funding Council England - To embed immersive virtual reality and augmented reality in urban design. Leading innovative pedagogic practice of learning with immersive Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality; taking forward the urban Design teaching at UG & PG level to new technological realms. . (November 2016 – April 2018)
ESRC Economic and Social Research Council: Urban Extravaganza: The city as a lived experience with VR- research fund to exhibit pedagogic research work at Winter Gardens in ESRC Festival of Social Sciences; (May 2017)
TESS Teaching Excellence in Social Sciences: Fostering Intercultural Competence and Promoting Integrated Learning Experience. (Jan 2016)
Recent research projects (Co-investigator):
EU H2020 Research and Innovation Staff Exchange (RISE) - ‘Makerspaces in the early years: Enhancing digital literacy and creativity’, led by Prof. Jackie Marsh. MakEY fellow and Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellowship.
Research team member of As a Marie Sklodowska-Curie Fellow, undertaking research on creative design skills, design thinking, immersive technology engagement, role of makerspaces and collaborating with academics from across the globe.
- Teaching activities
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My teaching approach centres on respecting students' individuality to foster creative thinking. I engage students in contemporary debates to highlight the interdisciplinary nature of urban design.
I currently teach:
- TRP 114 Cities and Urban Design
- TRP210 Urban Design and Place-Making
- TRP493 Planning Place and Design Studio
- TRP483 Masterplanning Studio
- TRP495 Extended Reality (XR) Design and Place-Making
- TRP6424 Design Dissertation
Through this range of modules, I combine theoretical foundations, hands‑on technical skills, global perspectives, and research mentoring. My goal is to cultivate reflective, skilled, and adaptable urban designers ready to meet contemporary challenges.