Roma Agrawal

Roma Agrawal, a structural engineer behind the Shard and author of "Nuts and Bolts," dives into the fascinating world of small inventions that have revolutionized engineering. She unpacks the vital roles of nails, wheels, and springs, illustrating their profound impact on history and design. Agrawal also discusses innovations like the 'box-in-box' acoustic design and reveals how ergonomic considerations have shaped modern comfort. Along the way, she highlights the magnetic link between engineering and communication, showcasing how even the smallest tools wield big influence.

Roma Agrawal, a structural engineer and author of Nuts and Bolts, joins Adam to discuss how engineering shapes our lives. They explore the history and significance of fasteners, the historical connection between enslaved people's work and engineering advancements, the personal significance of the lens in IVF, and the power of lenses in various contexts.

Award-winning structural engineer Roma Agrawal visits Google to discuss her book "Nuts and Bolts: Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World in a Big Way." The book takes readers on a deep dive into the seven most basic building blocks of engineering that have shaped the modern world. From the physics behind both Roman nails and modern skyscrapers, to rudimentary springs that inspired lithium batteries, Agrawal shows us how even the most sophisticated items are built on the foundations of these ancient and fundamental breakthroughs in engineering. She deconstructs our most complex feats of engineering into seven fundamental inventions: the nail, spring, wheel, lens, magnet, string and pump. Each of these objects is itself a wonder of design, the result of many iterations and refinements. Together, they have enabled humanity to see the invisible, build the spectacular, communicate across vast distances, and even escape our planet. She invites us to marvel at these small but perfectly formed inventions, sharing the stories of the remarkable, and often unknown, scientists and engineers who made them possible. The nuts and bolts that make up our world may be tiny, and are often hidden, but they've changed our lives in dramatic ways. Visit YouTube.com/TalksatGoogle to watch the video.

Yassmin Abdel-Magied, a writer and former racing car engineer, faces off against Roma Agrawal, a structural engineer known for her work on London's Shard. The duo explores the riveting debate between cars and bicycles, diving into their historical evolution and societal impacts. They discuss the rise of electric bikes, changing urban transportation dynamics, and personal stories that reflect our emotional ties to these modes of travel. Ultimately, the conversation challenges listeners to consider the future of mobility and their role in it.

Structural engineer Roma Agrawal discusses small inventions that shaped the world, including the scarcity of nails and the revolution of lenses. She shares personal stories about the impact of these inventions on her life, such as their role in her daughter's IVF process. The podcast also explores the effects of lenses on photography, the unsung heroes of engineering and science, communication history, and the evolution of breast pumps.