Nail's Pivotal Role in Global Construction History
Roma Agrawal to Present at The Hopkins Lecture in Canterbury
Roma Agrawal, a renowned British-Indian chartered structural engineer, author, and public speaker, will be presenting at The Hopkins Lecture in Canterbury, New Zealand, on 17 August 2025.
Known primarily for her work on iconic engineering projects and her popular science communication, Agrawal is best recognised as one of the structural engineers behind The Shard in London, a landmark skyscraper.
The event, jointly hosted by the University of Canterbury's Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Canterbury Branch of Engineering New Zealand, is part of a series that encourages discussion of engineering within the profession and public understanding of engineering issues.
During the presentation, Agrawal will delve into the history and impact of seemingly simple inventions such as the nail, spring, lens, and string. She will discuss how these inventions have had a profound influence on humanity, including the development of skyscrapers, clothing, and technology.
Agrawal's notable achievements include serving as a judge for the Queen Elizabeth Prize for Engineering's Create the Trophy competition, authoring the book "BUILT" which won an AAAS science book award, and hosting her own podcast, Building Stories. She has also presented numerous TV shows for the BBC, Channel 4, and Discovery.
Agrawal has been honoured with the title MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for her contributions to engineering and public engagement. She is widely respected for combining her technical expertise with efforts to inspire future generations, particularly encouraging more diversity and inclusion in engineering fields.
The event will consist of presentations, followed by a question and answer session. Doors open at 5:30 pm, and the speaker introduction is scheduled for 6:00 pm. Refreshments will be available from 7:30-8:00 pm.
The live location of the event is the Ngaio Marsh Theatre, University of Canterbury, 90 Ilam Road, Christchurch. For those unable to attend in person, the event will be livestreamed on www.youtube.com/@UCCivil.
For more information and to register, visit www.canterbury.ac.nz/news-and-events/events/2025/hopkins-lecture-2025. Additional content related to engineering and innovation can be found under these topics.
Science and technology will be two integral themes of Roma Agrawal's presentation at The Hopkins Lecture in Canterbury, as she delves into the history and impact of seemingly simple inventions like the nail, spring, lens, and string, discussing their profound influence on humanity, including the development of skyscrapers, technology, and more.
