What can robots teach us about the human body and how to teach engineering?
In this episode of Podcast or Perish, I talk with Dr. James Smith of the Lassonde School of Engineering at York University. A mechanical engineer and innovative educator, Dr. Smith designs robotic models of the human cervix and quadrupeds to study how biological systems move and adapt. We explore how biomimetic design challenges traditional engineering assumptions, why hands-on learning matters, and how his “renaissance engineering” philosophy connects creativity with technical rigor.
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Full transcript, photos, and related resources:
https://www.podcastorperish.ca/episodes/episode-023-james-smith
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Podcast or Perish is about academic research and why it matters. Hosted by Prof. Cameron Graham.
