How can an architectural thesis help to overcome the

plight of humankind? What types of thesis topics could

be used as remedy for social problems?
I get this kind of question around thesis time every year. So I guess I must write this
down now. Hope my explanation is a good starting point.
I liked the point about reducing the plight of mankind. Though it sounds very ambitious,
frankly that is where all such work need to first aspire for. Then let nature whittle it
down as needed. In that process of whittling your work will be placed at the right level of
usefulness and value in this world.
So go ahead and wish to make great changes in the world. Don't get dissuaded by those
who tell you, you are being too ambitious. If you keep that spirit and determination and
allow the whittling to happen, your work will reach its natural destination.
Many youngsters are frightened on how they would be perceived when they propose
something ambitious. Differentiate between your own self and your work. Your work
should aspire for greater heights. Whether you are perceived as being boastful or proud
or whatever by others should not concern you.
Some are hassled by the whittling (critiquing) that happens. So they select very "safe"
thesis topics. For example in some colleges students would shirk from those building
typologies and areas of knowledge which the professors of the department are known to
be involved. That is foolish. One would be wasting this precious opportunity if one would
be wanting to please some superficial perceived attitude of others. More on this at the
end.
So what is a thesis?
A thesis is sometimes taken to be the short form of hypothesis.
A hypothesis is something that is not yet proved. However humankind's progress require
various hypothesis to be put forward. Some of them may be discarded. That means some
can get whittled away completely.
The correct way to put forward a hypothesis is to recognise three parts in it.
First is the problem that you are trying to solve, why it is important and why it would
make a difference. Also make summary statements such as "this way of designing would
solve it" or "if we do this a, b etc. and then do this design in this manner then it would
ameliorate the problems I had identified" etc
The second part is very important: in this section you need to describe the tests that can
prove or disprove your hypothesis and how do we know if our approach would yield the

results we claimed it can. So in this section you would make statements such as "I claim
that issues due to overcrowding in Varanasi could be reduced by such xyz strategies.
Why I claim that is that I did some pqr tests and could see similar results." Or " here are
some social experiments that were conducted in an unbiased manner and here are their
results which tells me that this approach can yield results".
This second part is what is often missing in various thesis that I have seen. People just
claim some positive points of their thesis without convincing anyone why their basic
foundational premises are correct.
In this section it is also important to point out where the approach you are
taking will NOT yield results. Karl Popper had told that only if a theory is
falsifiable can it be valid. If we claim that what we are out to do will solve
the problems ALL the time in ALL situations would be very hard to accept.
Knowing where it won't work is a sign of maturity.
The third part is where you actually do the design and showcase iterations of the designs
too. How you moved from one design cycle to the next one and refined your work is very
useful.
Then stand back for the whittling that is bound to happen. We need to place our work in
front of our peers and elders in the field. Make sure that it is critiqued by many so that
you can reduce personal biases and idiosyncrasies of your jurors.
The above sequence is based on my understanding of the "scientific method". In any
hypothesis perusal it is important that the testing criteria are known to the
researcher before doing the experiment. Else how will we know of the experiment has
passed or failed?
Regarding your point about how to select a thesis topic (social or otherwise) ... Well that
is something I refuse to comment on. I strongly believe that thesis time in architecture is
when the student gets that chance to introspect and come up with original work. You
need to reflect quietly on all that you learned previously and ask yourself where is it that
YOU want to contribute. Not ape someone else. But contribute.
Life will take you on a whirlwind tour very soon. I did my thesis back in IIT in 1983 and
1984. I still fondly remember the meditative mode I got into. It set the pace for the rest
of my life. Spurred me on. I am convinced that what you do in your thesis along with the
how and the why will leave a lasting effect. Don't waste time asking others opinions on
what your topic should be. You already know it deep inside but you may not have
verbalised it. Think deeply within yourself and you can eliminate the ones which have
narrow focus and let the one that can serve as much of humanity as possible win.
Lots of magnificent work has happened during thesis time. Many important works in
this world came up because of students thinking deeply and working sincerely for their
thesis. Google is one famous example which came due to deep thinking during this
period.

All the best. Go and change the world and don't be dissuaded by silly adults who have
screwed up this world. The world can become a better place only because of the youth.