HAVE YOU HEARD?

Introduction to The Engineering Edge podcast

Published on February 6, 2021

Have You Heard? is a series where the Pod Bible team meet the people behind the podcasts you may not have heard of yet. While the Oh. My. Pod. section in the magazine gives a quick shout out to shows of that ilk, Have You Heard? aims to go deeper in an effort to spread awareness for shows that deserve more exposure! We recently heard from Professor Lucy Rogers, host of the science and technology podcast The Engineering Edge…

Who are you and what’s your podcast about?

I’m Prof Lucy Rogers – the inventor with a sense of fun! I was a judge on Robot Wars, wrote a book on rocket science and did a PhD in Bubbles…

My podcast is called The Engineering Edge and came about when DesignSpark (an online engineering platform) challenged me to search the globe (virtually) for people and places using everyday tech in extraordinary ways. From giving humans a sixth sense to transforming the future of space exploration, I share how everyday electronics are being used everywhere from NASA satellites to animal conservation and vertical farming.

What was the first podcast you ever listened to?

Space Boffins. It’s a monthly podcast from The Naked Scientists website that brings cutting edge conversation and debate about the past, present and future of space science. It also won the Sir Arthur C Clarke award for Space Media, which is pretty fun!

Why did you decide to start podcasting in the first place?

I’m curious about things, and like finding out more. This was a great excuse to ask questions of people doing interesting things. It’s also a really easy way of sharing technical stuff in a fun way.

Which podcasts do you take inspiration from?

Nothing specific… but those that make me think about things I haven’t really considered before. And those with people with interesting stories/experiences.

Who’s your dream guest for the podcast?

Do you have an interesting engineering story? Then you!

What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned so far as a podcaster?

Audio quality is everything – don’t forget to remove your dog’s collar when recording as she might make a jingling noise in the background!

What episode would you say is the perfect introduction to your podcast?

EP 4 ‘Lucy goes into space and time’. I visited the Surrey Space Centre, which is one of the world leaders for low-cost technology and applications for the space industry. They have a laser system for use in atomic clocks, which will one day be used in outer space!