The link between disability, design and engineering tells a complex story. Host Guru Madhavan welcomes two people who have thought deeply on the subject: Dr. Ashley Shew , is associate professor of Science, Technology & Society at Virginia Tech, and specialises in disability studies and the ethics of technology. Dr. Rory A Cooper is founder and senior researcher at the University of Pittsburgh Human Engineering Research Labs, and a world-renowned expert in wheeled mobility. New episodes - co...
Jan 10, 2025•25 min•Season 4Ep. 50
What happens when a bridge collapses? Or a space mission ends in tragedy? You call in forensic engineers to investigate. Host Anna Ploszajski contemplates the nature of failure with Dr Sean Brady , who uses scientific and engineering principles to study structural collapses around the world, and who has acted as an expert witness numerous times. New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday. Find podcast transcripts on our website . Follow @QEPrize on Tw...
Dec 27, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 49
Over decades of space exploration, thousands of rockets have launched, resulting in a sea of debris circling the Earth. It's estimated that there are 30,000 objects over 10 cm, 500,000 marble-sized debris, and 100 million smaller than that. Episode host Anna Ploszajski bravely goes into the unknown, in conversation with: Mike Lindsay , Chief Technology Operator at Astroscale, a start-up seeking to make space more sustainable by pioneering clean-up tech. Hugh Lewis , Professor of Astronautics at ...
Dec 13, 2024•31 min•Season 4Ep. 48
When you have your morning shot of caffeine, do you stop to savour the engineering involved? Chemistry and mechanics are vital to the growing, roasting, grinding, brewing, and pouring ... Host Guru Madhavan - a tea drinker by trade - chairs a caffeinated conversation with: Professor Tonya Kuhl , chemical engineer and Co-Director of the UC David Coffee Center. Professor Jonathan Morris , author of Coffee. A Global History and host of the A History of Coffee podcast. New episodes - conversations a...
Nov 29, 2024•26 min•Season 4Ep. 47
First described in sci-fi writing in the '50s, the revolutionary dream of 3D printing became a basic reality in the 1980s. One field that is truly has transformed today is that of assistive tech and prosthetics. Host Roma Agrawal is joined by: Willy Allègre , biomedical R&D engineer at Electronic Lab of Kerpape Rehabilitation Center. Enzo Romero , inventor and researcher building prosthetics that incorporate haptic feedback. New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better ...
Nov 15, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 46
It's been a year of elections around the world. How do engineering and design choices affect the candidates running and results generated in our elections? And why do we have far more channels to rate our Uber drivers than we do our politicians? Host Guru Madhavan chairs a political summit with: Charles E. Phelps , provost emeritus of the University of Rochester and expert in health economics. Eswaran Subrahmanian , research professor at Carnegie Mellon University and expert in decision support ...
Nov 01, 2024•24 min•Season 4Ep. 45
Super shoes are reshaping distance running. Thanks to innovative materials and construction, this new type of footwear is engineered to help runners go quicker with less effort. So how fast can we go in the future? And is it cheating?! Ready? Set ... Go! Host Roma Agrawal races through a fascinating conversation with: Jared Ward , long distance runner, Olympian, and BYU professor. Wouter Hoogkamer , researcher at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, who studies human locomotion and biomecha...
Oct 18, 2024•27 min•Season 4Ep. 44
Stronger than steel, more robust than concrete, more flexible than wood? Is bamboo the construction industry's new miracle material. And do bamboo buildings really perform better in earthquakes? Host George Imafidon constructs a fascinating conversation with Seb Kaminski , a structural engineering specialising in bamboo and seismic design. New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday. Find episode transcripts on our website . Follow @QEPrize on Twitter ...
Oct 04, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 43
How might flocks of birds, nests of ants, and swarms of bees influence the future behaviour and self-organisation of robots? Welcome to the world of swarm engineering, where sci-fi meets bio-mimicry. George Imafidon hosts a soaring conversation with Dr. Razanne Abu-Aisheh , a robot swarms expert from Bristol University. New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday. Find episode transcripts on our website . Follow @QEPrize on Twitter , Instagram , and Fa...
Sep 19, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 42
Robotic spacecrafts? Manned missions to Mars? Affordable tourist trips to the stars? New life found? What is the likely future of space flight? Host Guru Madhavan pilots a soaring, speculative conversation with: Charles F. Bolden Jr. , who in 2009 was appointed NASA Administrator by President Obama, making him only the second astronaut to hold that position. Professor Dava Newman , aerospace engineer, director of the MIT Media Lab, and holder of the Apollo Program Professor of Astronautics chair...
Sep 06, 2024•31 min•Season 4Ep. 41
Could the creation of reversible glue unlock a new future for the way we recycle plastic bottles and their labels? Host George Imafidon gets stuck into a sticky conversation about glue with: Professor Mark Geoghegan , Roland Cookson Professor of Engineering Materials at Newcastle University Dr Adriana Sierra Romero , a nanotechnologist with a focus on polymer and polymer nanocomposites New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday. Find episode transcrip...
Aug 23, 2024•20 min•Season 4Ep. 40
Cement production creates around 7% of man-made carbon emissions. Meanwhile, in the UK crumbling concrete is forcing schools to close ... So how big a problem is concrete, exactly?! George Imafidon gets in the mixer to discuss it with: Prof. Kevin Paine , Director of the Centre for Climate Adaptation and Environment Research at the University of Bath, focussing on the development of smart and innovative concrete technology. Dr Cyrille Dunant , Principal Research Associate at the University of Ca...
Aug 09, 2024•31 min•Season 4Ep. 39
The way we make music is changing. AI songs are everywhere - even The Beatles used the technology last year. So what does a digitised, computerised future mean for the fate of artists and their acoustic instruments? Episode host Anna Ploszajski - a materials scientist and keen trumpeter - faces the music with: Lex Dromgoole , audio engineer & CEO of Bronze AI . Tom Fox , instrument maker, music hacker, & creative director of Hackoustic . New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild ...
Jul 26, 2024•30 min•Season 4Ep. 38
Why do we fixate on plastic as the main waste issue of our time? Is all plastic bad? Have we got Bags For Life and paper straws totally wrong? Anna Ploszajski - materials scientist and storyteller - assembles her first edition of Create The Future with: Dr Alicia Chrysostomou , polymer consultant and author of Plastics: Just A Load Of Rubbish? Dr Kat Knauer , polymer scientist and CTO of the BOTTLE Consortium, who are focused on developing new chemical upcycling strategies for today's plastics a...
Jul 12, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 37
From AR shopping to new age sustainable materials to wearable AI, the world of fashion tech is starting to look very vibrant. Host Roma Agrawal weaves together a seamless conversation with: Louise Katzovitz , clothes designer & mechanical engineer. Tanya Saha Gupta , fashion-tech entrepreneur empowering fashion brands with access to circularity. New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday. Find podcast transcripts on our website . Follow @QEPrize o...
Jun 28, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 36
What happens after we flush? Sanitary engineers might just be the unsung heroes of civilisation, ensuring the safe disposal of waste water and assuring a supply of safe drinking water. Host Guru Madhavan gets his hands dirty, discussing sanitation systems with: Pam Elardo , former Deputy Commissioner for New York's Bureau of Wastewater Treatment Andrew Russell , science historian and Provost at Suny Poly New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday. Fin...
Jun 14, 2024•26 min•Season 4Ep. 35
Graphene is the world's thinnest, super-strong, super-flexible material. It could have dramatic applications in everything from engineering tissue to making new technological devices. George Imafidon discusses the possibilities - and the possible drawbacks - of this wonder material with James Baker, CEO of the Graphene Engineering Innovation Centre (GEIC) at the University of Manchester. New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday. Find episode transcr...
May 31, 2024•21 min•Season 4Ep. 34
In February, the 2024 Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering was awarded to Andrew Garrad CBE and Henrik Stiesdal for their achievements in advancing the design, manufacture and deployment of high-performance wind turbines. Host Roma Agrawal talks to them about the political barriers they've faced, and the future of wind energy in the face of the climate crisis. New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday. Find episode transcripts on our website . Follo...
May 17, 2024•23 min•Season 4Ep. 33
In the future, virtual models of our organs could aid the development of personalised medicine. These digital twins can be experimented on to identify the best possible treatment, without you having to go near a pill or surgeon’s knife. Host Roma Agrawal gets to the heart of the matter with: Roger Highfield , Science Director at the Science Museum, and author of Virtual You: How Building Your Digital Twin Will Revolutionize Medicine and Change Your Life . Dr Jazmín Aguado Sierra , the first eng...
May 03, 2024•25 min•Season 4Ep. 32
What does the UK national anthem have to do with fire safety? And who is responsible for preventing fires of the future? Guru Madhavan - senior director of programs of the US National Academy of Engineering - chairs his first edition of Create The Future. His red hot guests are structural fire engineering expert Professor Luke Bisby , and fire safety engineer Professor Jose Torero Cullen . Follow @QEPrize on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook for more info. New episodes - conversations about how...
Apr 18, 2024•29 min•Season 4Ep. 31
Have you ever paused to think about the maths, physics, and engineering behind your favourite piece of sporting equipment? Be it BMX, football boot, shuttlecock, or snowboard? Could engineers be the driving force behind the new sports of the future? What is Sports Engineering anyway?! George Imafidon - Extreme E race engineer - kicks-off a conversation with: Godfather of Sports Engineering Steve Haake , and Editor of Sports Engineering journal Thomas Allen . Follow @QEPrize on Twitter , Instagra...
Apr 05, 2024•27 min•Season 4Ep. 30
Space telescopes don't just observe space, they’re located in space. The Hubble Telescope (1990) and the James Webb Space Telescope (2021) marked major turning points in our quest to unravel the mysteries of the universe. So just how big, how far, how powerful can the next telescopes go? Host Roma Agrawal zooms into this topic with the help of: Garth Illingworth , recipient of the 2016 American Astronomical Society Lancelot M. Berkeley New York Community Trust Prize for his work on the most-dist...
Mar 22, 2024•32 min•Season 4Ep. 29
Cameras are so integrated into our existence - via smart phones - that it's easy these days to give them little thought. But the technology is changing - and fast. From AI-powered cameras to 3D imaging and virtual reality experiences, the possibilities are endless. Roma Agrawal hosts a snappy conversation to get a snapshot of the future with: Geoff Belknap , historian of photography and Keeper of Science & Technology at National Museums Scotland. Abhijeet Ghosh , professor of Graphics & ...
Mar 08, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 28
Do you know how to fix a kettle? Or your smartphone? Or a lightsaber, for that matter? Professor Mark Miodownik (UCL Mechanical Engineering) believes we urgently need a "repairability revolution" to reduce the vast quantities of electrical and electronic waste produced each year. He chats to host Roma Agrawal MBE. Follow @QEPrize on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebook for more info. New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday. Hosted on Acast. See acast...
Feb 23, 2024•33 min•Season 4Ep. 27
The invention of timepieces was arguably more significant for humanity than the printing press or the wheel. So, how has timekeeping evolved over 40,000 years? How has it shaped society? And how will we keep track of time when our species starts to live on Mars? Do make time for this whistle-stop journey through the evolution of time-telling. Watchmaker and historian Rebecca Struthers , author of 'Hands of Time' speaks to host Roma Agrawal MBE. Follow @QEPrize on Twitter , Instagram , and Facebo...
Feb 09, 2024•24 min•Season 4Ep. 26
What innovations from F1 impact our daily lives? Just how far can engineers push race cars? Is the motorsport industry the fastest and most effective R&D lab in the world? Our podcast host George Imafidon is a Performance Engineer with Team X44, Sir Lewis Hamilton's electric race team, as well as a board member at The Hamilton Commission. Joining George for a pitstop and a chat are: Wavey Dynamics ' Jahee Campbell- Brennan, an Automotive Engineer. Dr Kit Chapman , science historian and autho...
Jan 26, 2024•39 min•Season 4Ep. 25
Made exclusively with renewable power, green hydrogen is emerging as a promising alternative to polluting fossil fuels. Is green hydrogen the fuel of the future? And what are the potential pitfalls? Joining host George Imafidon are: Caroline Hargrove , CTO for Ceres Power, who were awarded the 2023 MacRobert Award by the Royal Academy of Engineering for " ground-breaking fuel cell technology that promises to make a major contribution to decarbonising the world at the scale and pace required to s...
Jan 12, 2024•36 min•Season 4Ep. 24
Is there a foolproof way of ensuring your checked baggage doesn't get lost in transit? How might drones revolutionise air travel? How long until the UK embraces Vertiports for electrical vertical take-off? Mohammad Taher aka Mo T aka The Airport Guy is an Aerodrome Systems Engineer at Heathrow. He discloses some airport secrets to host George Imafidon . Fasten your seatbelts, sit back, and enjoy the ride ... New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday....
Dec 29, 2023•29 min•Season 4Ep. 23
How does listening to the rhythms of a city improve urban design and planning? Is music as important a resource as clean water or electricity? And what exactly is a Musical City? Tuning-up for a fascinating conversation with host Roma Agrawal are: Shain Shapiro , founder of the nonprofit Center for Music Ecosystems, and author of 'This Must Be The Place: How Music Can Make Your City Better'. Dr Sara Aditya , an urban designer, and author of 'Musical Cities: Listening To Urban Design & Planni...
Dec 08, 2023•35 min•Season 4Ep. 22
We often think of engineering as buildings, bridges, boats ... but what can the ordinary small objects that we put in our mouths teach us about an engineer's process? And why is breaking things just as important as making? British artist and materials engineer Zoe Laughlin opens up the doors to her Institute Of Making , a research club for those interested in the made world. Roma Agrawal M.B.E hosts. New episodes - conversations about how to rebuild the world better - every other Friday. Follow ...
Nov 24, 2023•32 min•Season 4Ep. 21
