About the Event
How a Nail Built the World
Presented by Roma Agrawal, Engineer | Author | Presenter
Join Roma Agrawal, an engineer, author and broadcaster based in London, UK, to find out how small and seemingly simple inventions: the nail, spring, lens, and string were invented, evolved, and have had a deep and lasting impact on humanity. Roma will explore these magnificent pieces of engineering, and through stories and examples, show how the nail led to the world’s tallest skyscrapers, how the clothes we wear emerged thanks to Neanderthals, and how the humble lens enabled her to become a mother. Roma will reignite your curiosity for how the world works, explore the history of human creativity, and reinforce the importance of understanding our technology for the sake of our planet.
About the speaker
Roma Agrawal is an engineer, author and presenter who is best known for working on the design of The Shard, Western Europe's tallest tower. She studied at Imperial College London and the University of Oxford. Roma has given lectures to thousands at universities, schools and organisations around the world, including TEDx talks. She has also presented numerous TV shows for the BBC, Channel 4 and Discovery, and hosts her own podcast, Building Stories. Her first book, BUILT (2018) won an AAAS science book award and has been translated into eight languages.
Roma is passionate about promoting engineering and technical careers to young people, particularly those from minoritized groups, and has won international awards for her technical prowess and for her advocacy for the profession, including the prestigious Royal Academy of Engineering's Rooke Award. She was appointed an MBE in 2018 for services to engineering.
About the event
Doors open at 5.30pm
Speaker introduction at 6.00pm
Question time following
Refreshments 7.30-8.00pm
Background of the Hopkins Lecture
The Hopkins Lecture encourages discussion of engineering within the profession and public understanding of engineering issues. The inaugural lecture was held in 1978 with Professor HJ Hopkins himself as speaker. It covers broad and social engineering issues rather than being purely technical. The Hopkins Lecture is jointly hosted by the University of Canterbury's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Canterbury Branch of Engineering New Zealand.
This event will be livestreamed on: www.youtube.com/@UCCivil
