Through our public engagement programme, we are delivering events and activities that highlight the positive benefits robotics, AI and automation can have on society. From science festivals and robotics exhibitions to trade summits and academic conferences, we engage with a wide range of people, sharing the latest robotics technologies and applications, and learning how different audiences feel about these emerging technologies.
Selfies with robots, brain-controlled drones and a quadruped waiter were just some of the activities on display at Robots After Dark, a special evening event held at the National Robotarium in April 2023. As well as hands-on activities, which also included a robot petting zoo, a live soft robotics battle, robot crafting, and live laser alignment in the £22.4m facility’s Precision Laser Applications lab, over 100 guests enjoyed talks on building trust in robotics from leading Heriot-Watt scientists and students, Professor Thusha Rajendran, Alexandre Colle and Dr Marta Romeo.
The team turned science fiction into science fact at a special Dr Who-themed event, held at the National Museum of Scotland during British Science Week 2023. Families in their hundreds visited the Grand Gallery to learn how the National Robotarium is using Dalek-style humanoid robots to study human interaction, perception and cognition, while researchers from partners institution The University of Edinburgh sent visitors on a super-secret quantum spy mission!
Heriot-Watt University
Edinburgh, Scotland
UK EH14 4AS
Scottish registered charity number SC000278
The University of Edinburgh
Edinburgh, Scotland
EH8 9YL
Scottish registered charity number SC005336
