SOLD OUT - you can still join the waiting list by clicking on the blue button to the right.

Please reserve tickets for everyone participating in the workshop, adults are very welcome to take part!

Navigating the Physical World: The Essential Role of Robots

Saturday 29 March, 50min sessions at 10am, 11am, 1pm and 2pm.

Visit Newnham College to discover how robots are designed using influences from the natural world around us. Dr Chapa Sirithunge, Narges Khadem Hosseini and Dr Yue Xie will explain and demonstrate how robots are evolving to look, feel and behave in ways that mimic nature.

Robots are set to become an essential part of our future, assisting us in our homes, workplaces, and even hospitals. These robots are not only becoming more useful but also more relatable, as scientists design them with human-like features and responses. Increasingly, robots are being developed to look, feel, and move in ways inspired by the natural world. Through bio-inspired design, researchers can create robots that mimic the movements and adaptability of plants and animals, enabling them to interact more naturally with their surroundings and perform tasks that were once challenging for machines.

We invite children and young people aged 12 to 18 years and their parents to take part in our 50min workshops. Booking is essential and parents must stay with their children (and are encouraged to take part themselves too).

In this interactive session at Newnham College, Dr Chapa Sirithunge, Narges Khadem Hosseini and Dr Yue Xie will introduce you to the exciting world of bio-inspired robots. Participants will explore soft robotics hands-on, experimenting with robots and materials designed to feel and respond with a “softness” similar to what we encounter in nature. Through engaging workshop activities, participants will conduct experiments to better understand how humans perceive softness and why this understanding is crucial in creating robots that feel and react in helpful, approachable ways.

Activities will showcase how plant and animal processes influence robot design, and you will gain insights into how mimicking nature can lead to breakthroughs in robotics.

Additionally, the team will share their experiences as researchers, discussing the essential role of robots in the future and offering guidance on pursuing STEM paths. They will highlight the field of robotics as a promising and accessible path, especially for young women interested in STEM, encouraging them to explore how to thrive and innovate in robotics.

This workshop offers an inspiring environment to learn about the science of robotics and experience how nature’s influence shapes the evolving look, feel, and behaviour of robots. Join us for an exciting exploration of soft robotics, bio-inspired design, and the potential robots hold for our future.

Directions

Please enter the College via the Porters' Lodge on Sidgwick Avenue. The College is best accessed on foot, bike or by public transport. Limited pay and display on-street parking is available on Sidgwick Avenue. Parking for people with disabilities can be arranged, please contact us when you make your booking and we can arrange this.

We are collecting your information for the sole purpose of registering and informing you about this single event. Data will be retained for no longer than 1 year. For our Privacy Policy please see: Data Protection Statement | Newnham College