Hemma Philamore
Junior Associate Professor
Kyoto University, Japan
Biography
Hemma Philamore received her PhD in Robotics in 2016 from the University of Bristol, UK for her thesis titled An Energy-Autonomous Artificial Organism.
She now leads a research group within the Mechatronics Lab of Kyoto University, the focus of which is on bio-hybrid and bio-integrative robots. Current research themes include energy-autonomy, bio-energy using microbial fuel cells, artificial chemotaxis using bio-receptors, soft robotic actuators for aquatic propulsion, new materials development for soft actuators and wearable robotic interfaces for neurological therapies. The formation of this group has fostered new collaborative links with academic (Kyoto University Polymer Chemistry,
Heidelberg University Neuroscience) and industry (Horimasa City Farm Japan, Cellink Sweden) partners. Hemma also teaches courses in Autonomous Mobile Robotics, Wearable Technology and Programming (Python) to undergraduate and masters level students. Hemma’s research also includes the application of robotic technology to encourage human interaction within art and entertainment. She has coordinated an exhibition, of 30 international artists as part of Art Innovation Symposium, held in Kyoto (March 2019) and collaborates with art collectives such as Antibodies (Japan) and Tactile Bosch (UK) to produce
large-scale interactive artworks. From February 2020, Hemma will be moving to a new role as Lecturer in Robotics and Autonomous Systems at the University of Bristol, UK where she will pioneer a new research area on the study of environmentally-integrative and bio-hybrid robotics. Within this role, she
will also contribute to the development and teaching of the MSc Robotics programme, and doctoral training school.
Sessions
Sept. 19 • 16:30 – 17:15
