MLK Visiting Professor Kristen Dorsey discusses developments in soft mechanical sensors, 3D printed textiles & culture change in academia.

MLK Visiting Professor Kristen Dorsey discusses developments in soft mechanical sensors, 3D printed textiles, and more; the need for culture change in academia to support a more diverse generation of engineers.

Specifically:

(I) Soft mechanical sensors are poised to unlock exciting new applications in healthcare, robotics, and human-computer interaction. Prof. Kristen Dorsey will discuss recent work in collaboration with the Space Enabled and Tangible Media groups at the Media Lab. Presented projects will include origami-patterned stretchable sensors, 3D printed textiles, and 3D printed, bio-inspired actuators. She will conclude this part of the talk with a vision and excitement for the future of this area.

(II) Diversity, equity, and inclusion have become pressing topics in STEM and academia. Prof. Kristen Dorsey will present a framing for why it is necessary to change culture as well as programming and support within academia. She will also suggest concrete steps that participants can employ in their own interactions.

About the speaker

Prof. Kristen Dorsey is an associate professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering and the Department of Physical Therapy, Movement, and Rehabilitation Sciences in the Bouvé College of Health Sciences at Northeastern University. Dr. Dorsey is also currently an MLK Visiting Associate Professor in the Media Lab at MIT, and previously was a President’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the University of California, Berkeley and the University of California, San Diego. Dr. Dorsey graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering and earned her Bachelors of Science in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Olin College. Dr. Dorsey’s current research interests include the design and fabrication of reconfigurable soft sensors for soft robots and wearable medical devices. In 2019, Dr. Dorsey was awarded an NSF CAREER grant.

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This event will feature ASL interpretation. Please email rornitz@mit.edu with accessibility requests.

The event is hosted both in person and via zoom. Select an option when you register. In-person space is limited.

Attendees who will be joining us for an in person experience must adhere to MIT COVID-19 safety protocols. We will be using Tim Tickets for contact tracing purposes.