Best The National Academy Of Engineering Podcasts (2025)

1
School Leader Profile: Career Readiness Starts Now - Lessons from Kristy Venne’s Journey 31:33

2M ago31:33

31:33

In this episode, Hans Meeder speaks with Kristy Venne, a veteran public educator from central Ohio, about her inspiring journey from visual arts teacher to high school administrator and district leader in career-connected learning. Kristy shares how she led the design and launch of an innovative, non-traditional high school focused on flexible path…

1
Preparing Tomorrow's Workforce - Chapter 1, Part 1 34:54

3M ago34:54

34:54

Episode 302 In a world transformed by AI and automation, many young people struggle to find careers that fit their strengths and goals. Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce by Hans Meeder with JoLynn Fletcher explores how students can build essential Career Navigation Skills and how schools can support them through Career-connected Learning. This chapter…

1
School Leader Profile: Pamela Carr, Principal, Seacoast School of Technology 33:13

3M ago33:13

33:13

EPISODE 301 In this episode, we sit down with Pamela Carr, Principal of Seacoast School of Technology in Exeter, New Hampshire. With over 30 years in education, Pamela shares her journey from business and computer science teacher to her current role as a leader in career-connected learning. She reflects on the powerful impact that real-world experi…

1
Community, Excellence, & Service: The CEO for the National Society of Black Engineers (NSBE), Janeen Uzzell, comes to MIT - EP 17 46:42

4M ago46:42

46:42

The CEO of the National Society of Black Engineers, Janeen Uzzell, heads to the lab at MIT to chat about her early years at NC A&T, the NSBE mission, programs, leadership, and family. We also hear about the upcoming NSBE 50th celebration in Chicago and check-in with a few students and alumni. Janeen is awesome - she also lectured for our 2.009 stud…

1
Professor Ely Sachs on Guided Discovery, Plus a Trip to Lobby 7 - EP 16 51:54

8M ago51:54

51:54

We take our mobile studio to Lobby 7 and kibitz with students, while Bill recruits unsuspecting visitors (with mixed results). MIT Professor Ely Sachs, the pioneer in 3-D printing, then spends time with us in the lab talking about education, learning, and his over two decades developing Guided Discovery - his pedagogy that has been foundational at …

1
Stories of Success 31:32

12M ago31:32

31:32

Pursuing diversity, equity, and inclusion is hard work. It seems like no effort is ever good enough. In this last episode of Engineering the Future: Diversity Dialogues, we’ll share what success stories look like. At the end of every previous episode, our host Wanda Sigur asked each guest for two stories. She asked them to share a time when the div…

1
Dealing with Challenges & Why Perspectives Matter 28:04

12M ago28:04

28:04

Meritocracy is the best way to get the best people, right? Surely, the best people will always win out! Sadly, our history and our present shows that’s not true. Because becoming the best isn’t a matter of raw talent and hard work. It’s about opportunities and talent development and even luck. In this episode, host Wanda Sigur will speak with Dr. N…

1
Opportunities: Building Inclusion 30:14

12M ago30:14

30:14

The data are clear: Diverse teams make better decisions 66 percent of the time, and if you include diversity of age and geography, diverse teams make better decisions 87 percent of the time. And yet, diversity in engineering itself is lacking. How do we make engineering more inclusive? In this episode, host Wanda Sigur will speak with Megan Smith, …

1
Teamwork Overcoming STEM biases 27:47

1y ago27:47

27:47

Good engineers know that nothing gets done without a team. The best teams are those with diverse points of view, working toward the same goal. But not every group of people is a team. What makes a team truly inclusive and successful? In this episode, host Wanda Sigur will speak with Dr. Latonia Harris, senior director at the Janssen Pharmaceutical …

1
Changes that Work: Mentoring 28:54

1y ago28:54

28:54

Every successful engineer has had at least one mentor that has guided them in their careers. Most have had several mentors they credit with their success. How do we foster those mentoring relationships to promote inclusion? In this episode, host Wanda Sigur will speak with Dr. Angela Byars-Winston, professor of internal medicine at the University o…

1
Changes that Work: Effective Workforce Practices 28:06

1y ago28:06

28:06

So often when we hear about DEI initiatives, we hear about the ones that fail. This episode, it’s time to focus on what works. In this episode, host Wanda Sigur will speak with Dr. Wanda Austin, the CEO of Makingspace, Inc, and Dr. Ivuoma Onyeador, assistant professor in the Management and Organizations Department at the Kellogg School of Managemen…

1
Pathways to Inclusion 32:04

1y ago32:04

32:04

Achieving equity in engineering means having a team that includes everyone. Where do you find that team? It’s not longer time to think about an engineering pipeline. We need to think of pathways instead. In this episode, host Wanda Sigur will speak with Lieutenant General Tom Bostick, a strategic advisor at Gingo Bioworks and the 53rd Chief of Engi…

1
Engineering Solutions that Benefit from Diversity 29:26

1y ago29:26

29:26

Engineering has changed our lives in so many ways. Those changes were driven by people–by human knowledge and creativity. And that creativity gets a boost when diverse perspectives, skills and backgrounds are included in the conversation. This is Engineering the Future: Diversity Dialogues, a podcast from the National Academy of Engineering. Our ho…

1
Introducing Engineering the Future 1:47

1y ago1:47

1:47

Technology moves fast, powered by the unparalleled creativity of engineers, leaders and their teams. Together, we envision the future and bring it into being. Meeting our next innovation challenges will require the ideas and engagement of everyone. How can we shape that future? Join our host, celebrated engineer Wanda Sigur, for the first season of…

1
Create Inclusive Paths to Leadership 40:13

1y ago40:13

40:13

Women of color are underrepresented in tech but even less represented in tech leadership. How can tech companies ensure that everyone has the opportunity to train, grow, and offer their best ideas for leading your business to success? In this last episode of Transforming Tech, host Jamika Burge speaks with Rocío Medina van Nierop, the CEO and co-fo…

1
Create a Culture that Welcomes Everyone 30:21

1y ago30:21

30:21

When a workplace culture results from nothing more than a bunch of people sharing an office, that culture can make certain people feel welcomed and others feel isolated. How can tech companies develop a workplace culture that is inviting to everyone they hire? In this fourth episode of our five-part series, Jamika Burge speaks with Marisela Martine…

1
Retaining Diverse Talent Through Listening 30:06

1y ago30:06

30:06

Overall, tech companies work hard to achieve inclusive hiring but can be dismayed when new hires from diverse backgrounds don’t stick around. What factors impact how employees feel about the workplace environment, and whether your company is the right place for them? In this third episode of our series, host Jamika Burge speaks with Joan Williams, …

1
Talking with the Engineer About Poetry: L.S. McKee on Creature, Wing, Heart, Machine and a Dept Head PSA - EP 15 52:16

1y ago52:16

52:16

L.S. McKee joins us in the lab to talk about her new collection of poetry, Creature, Wing, Heart, Machine. Laura and I taught 2.009 together for a few years before she moved down south. Laura was a lecturer in the Writing, Rhetoric, and Professional Communication Program at MIT before moving on to UGA, Athens, where she is Coordinator for Writing A…

1
Recruiting with an Eye Toward Equity 24:32

1y ago24:32

24:32

Finding new employees from diverse backgrounds can seem challenging if you don’t know where or how to look. But there are many talented people out there who could help transform your company — and if you don't hire them, your competition might. In this second episode of our five-part series, host Jamika Burge speaks with computer science professor …

1
Transform Your Recruitment! 26:48

1y ago26:48

26:48

Recruiting, retaining, and advancing diverse individuals in the tech field can feel complex. Every company wants to have the most competitive, creative, and, most importantly, inclusive team. Do you want actionable solutions to achieve this ideal workforce? Welcome to Transforming Tech, A guide for diversifying your technology business's workforce.…

1
Introducing Transforming Tech 1:13

1y ago1:13

1:13

Despite years of efforts to increase diversity in the tech workforce, women of color have remained underrepresented. Even in cases where some groups of women of color may have higher levels of representation, data show that they still face significant systemic challenges in advancing to leadership positions. To address these challenges, the Nationa…

1
Sudden Cardiac Arrest and the Avive Story, Lock the Quill Office Hours - EP 14 48:31

1+ y ago48:31

48:31

Three alumni stop by the lab to tell the story of how they took a class assignment at 2am, developed it into their senior capstone project, and ultimately founded a medical device company that, six years later, received Class III Premarket Approval from the FDA. Avive is the youngest team to receive such a PMA and their founders were selected for t…

1
Professor Gilbert Strang: A Birthday, Conversation, and Greatest Hits - EP 13 29:42

1+ y ago29:42

29:42

One of my favorite professors, Gilbert Strang, comes by the lab to talk about his time at MIT since 1952. Anyone who knows professor Strang knows him to be one of the best mathematics teachers and a prolific writer with a heart of gold. Professor Strang retired last spring (2023). His last 18.06 lecture was to a packed standing room of students, st…

1
Faculty and Friends Soundbites: Season One Hot Wash, Season Two Preview, and a Contest 3:30

1+ y ago3:30

3:30

After President Kornbluth's inauguration, end-of-year projects, finals, commencement, and a long summer break, we've ramped up for a second season. A three minute review of the more frivolous moments of season one, and a quick teaser of the soon-to-be-released season two premiere. Podcast specific: Podcast Instagram: @lockthequill Comments or quest…

1
Using Population Descriptors in Genetics and Genomics Research 9:44

2y ago9:44

9:44

In response to a request from the National Institutes of Health, the National Academies assembled an interdisciplinary committee of expert volunteers to conduct a study to review and assess existing methodologies, benefits, and challenges in using race, ethnicity, ancestry, and other population descriptors in genomics research. This episode summari…

1
MIT President Sally Kornbluth, Inauguration Weekend, Grounds Department, and a Presidential Quiz - Ep 12 39:48

2y ago39:48

39:48

As campus prepares for inaugural events, MIT's 18th President, Dr. Sally Kornbluth, visits the lab to talk with us about her move from Provost at Duke University in Durham NC to President of MIT. We talk about leadership, the early read on campus, and some thoughts about getting the job done. We meet Lock the Quill's newest feet on the street, Dann…

1
Professor Sangbae Kim on the Virtual-Physical Divide, Robotic Cheetahs, Physical Intelligence, and Cognitive Bias - Ep 11 34:37

2y ago34:37

34:37

MIT mechanical engineering professor Sangbae Kim drops by after 2.007 lecture to talk about the virtual / physical divide and his concept of physical intelligence - the seemingly impenetrable category of subconscious physical tasks and motions that carries so much potential for the future of robotics and physical services. We talk about his researc…

1
Professor Maria Yang on Design at MIT and Stanford, AI and Design, Sketching, the Morningside Academy for Design, and the Splendor of Acronyms - Ep 10 40:43

2+ y ago40:43

40:43

Professor Maria Yang comes to the lab to talk about the early years at MIT and Stanford, and her research in design processes. We also chat about the discipline, and she shares the latest scuttlebutt on the Morningside Academy for Design. We send off another sticker to the March Global Challenge winner, and test Maria's acronym and abbreviation rec…

1
Professor Kaitlyn Becker comes home to MIT: Flash Your Punty! Glassblowing, Soft Robotics, Flute, and Dinosaurs - Ep 9 46:54

2+ y ago46:54

46:54

We first met Kait when she was an undergrad with us at MIT, and now she's back home as Professor Becker with the Department of Mechanical Engineering. We talk about her experiences with the MIT Glass Lab and Pappalardo Lab, her post-graduate research with Rob Wood at Harvard, and her current projects at MIT. We also chat about music and hatch a pla…

1
President Sanjay Sarma heads to Malaysia. Grasp, Thorndike, Dewey, MIT, and a 2.007 Memento - Ep 8 44:20

2+ y ago44:20

44:20

We intercepted Sanjay Sarma before he took off for Logan Airport and meet in building 35 to discuss his book, Grasp - the Science Transforming How We Learn, education, and MIT. Professor Sarma recently stepped down as MIT Vice President of Open Learning where he led MIT initiatives, such as MITx, edX, OpenCourseware, the Integrated Learning Initiat…

1
Professor Alex Slocum on Timoshenko, The National Bureau of Standards, and MIT - Ep 7 55:51

2+ y ago55:51

55:51

Alex Slocum comes by the lab before we head out to a talk. We chat about mentors, influential professors, and his early days at the National Bureau of Standards (now NIST). Alex takes us on his journey bouncing between MIT and "the Bureau", finally landing in building 35 at MIT. He talks about our sophomore design class, 2.007, a special project at…

1
Lauren Looks for a Job - Internships, Experience, Networks, and Design Consultancies - Ep 6 41:00

2+ y ago41:00

41:00

MIT alumna and friend of the lab, Lauren Hernley, recounts her path to finding a job with a design consultancy, after encountering some speed-bumps along the way. Hear from Lauren and industry leaders about the importance of experience, real skills, and relationships. Plus, our first Lock the Quill Global Challenge winner is announced and Scott and…

1
Professor Amos Winter. Lobster Tanks, Roboclams, GEAR Lab, and Gear Heads - Ep 5 1:20:27

2+ y ago1:20:27

1:20:27

We have a conversation with Mechanical Engineering Professor Amos Winter and some friends to talk about his experiences at Tufts University and MIT. Professor Winter takes us on an international tour and discusses his projects over the years in underwater vehicles and exploration, his bio-inspired Roboclam work, and a sampling of his current resear…

1
Dr. Rebecca Thorndike-Breeze and a Cheeky Winner - Ep 4 37:32

2+ y ago37:32

37:32

Dr. Thorndike-Breeze of the MIT Comparative Media Studies Program at MIT joins us to talk about her journey to MIT, the importance of self-expression in her work, strength and resilience through collaboration and improv, and a few important mentors. The MIT Press book chapter we reference, from Wikipedia @ 20: Stories of an Incomplete Revolution. P…

1
Professor Peko Hosoi and the First Sounds from the Lab Winner - Ep 3 56:27

2+ y ago56:27

56:27

We sit down with Peko Hosoi, the Neil and Jane Pappalardo Professor of Mechanical Engineering at MIT. Join us as Peko talks about her move from west to east to middle to east to west and back to east. She talks about the Kadanov years in Chicago, her first faculty appointment at Harvey Mudd, and her move back to MIT. Plus, we connect with the winne…

1
Professor Steven Leeb. MIT Stories and Games - Ep 2 54:12

2+ y ago54:12

54:12

Professor Steven Leeb drops by the lab to talk about some key moments as an undergraduate and graduate student at MIT. We find ourselves on the topic of 80s nerd movies, but get back to talking about research and MIT magic. We test Steve's knowledge of department numbers and present the 2022 Big Nut Award. Our first installment of "Sounds from the …

1
Professor Ellen Roche and an Old Friend - Ep1 58:29

2+ y ago58:29

58:29

Professor Ellen Roche shares her journey to MIT from Galway, and we talk about her cardio-vascular device design and computational modeling research. Ellen gives the thumbs up to The Cranberries and The Coronas, and you'll hear how she does on a quiz. We'll then give an old friend a call to hear what's going on across the river. Podcast specific: P…

1
Lock the Quill Preview - Ep 0 1:20

2+ y ago1:20

1:20

We're a group of shop nerds at MIT's Department of Mechanical Engineering Pappalardo Lab - machinists, engineers, scientists, & designers - and are sitting down with (sometimes standing or chasing) colleagues, students, and alumni to share their stories and chitter-chatter about research, life, and the campus scuttlebutt. Podcast specific: Podcast …

1
The Future of Nursing 12:25

3y ago12:25

12:25

Explore recommendations and conclusions from the National Academies report, the Future of Nursing 2020-2030: Charting a Path to Achieve Health Equity. The report explores how nurses can work to reduce health disparities and promote equity, while working across sectors, keeping costs at bay, utilizing technology, and maintaining patient and family-f…

1
COP26 Reflections: Putting the Climate Conference into Context 37:25

3+ y ago37:25

37:25

As the dust settles from COP26, we take one last look back at the recent global climate conference that was held in Glasgow, Scotland in early November. Spanning two weeks and including hundreds of official events on top of high-level negotiations, it’s not easy to digest all that took place. What were the major topics covered? What was achieved? A…

1
Anne Strauss-Wieder and the Rapidly Evolving Modern Supply Chain 22:25

3+ y ago22:25

22:25

Anne Strauss-Wieder, TRB’s 2022 Deen recipient, discusses how the freight and port industries are adapting to how they move goods through COVID-19.By Transpotation Research Board

1
TechNOW: Using waste to rehabilitate mine sites 26:48

3+ y ago26:48

26:48

Australia's 60,000 abandoned mines range from poisoned goldrush-era mine shafts to huge, open-cut wounds on the natural landscape. Many pose grave threats to the health of our community and environment. In developing countries like India, these danger is even worseBut what if we could turn these mine sites back into thriving ecosystems, and deal wi…

1
The Adaptation Academy: Classrooms for Catalyzing Climate Action 23:43

3+ y ago23:43

23:43

As climate change continues to dominate the current headlines thanks to COP26, we at ClimateReady wanted to take a look into the essential adaptation work that takes place between the annual conferences. Countries regularly develop commitments and implement programs to build climate resilience. Often, the development and shaping of country-level ac…

1
From Cairo to Costa Rica: Placing Water at the Heart of National Climate Commitments 23:00

3+ y ago23:00

23:00

As world leaders gather in Glasgow for COP26, it is clear that countries face serious strategic choices in how they address mitigation and build adaptation and resilience. Often undervalued in this dialogue is the critical role of water for successful climate change mitigation and adaptation actions. But some countries are beginning to demonstrate …

1
TechNOW podcast: Breathable treatment for drug-resistant TB 22:03

3+ y ago22:03

22:03

COVID isn’t the only pandemic threat we face. The infectious disease that killed the most people in 2018 wasn’t malaria or HIV: it was tuberculosis.Because of antibiotic resistance, a growing number of TB infections can’t be cured by current methods. Rising fever, chest-pain, coughing up blood – without new treatments, this ancient sickness could b…

1
Herby Lissade and Emergency Management for Transportation Agencies 21:09

3+ y ago21:09

21:09

Herby Lissade, an active TRB Volunteer, discusses his work dealing with natural disasters in California and Haiti as well as 9/11 in New York City.By Transpotation Research Board

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