Meet our new academic staff from the Department of Engineering

We chatted to two academics from the Department of Engineering, Dr Michael Berthaume and Professor Yang Gao about their research, what inspired them to become an engineer, and their life outside of King's. 

What first attracted you to the field of engineering?

I have always been good at math and science, and loved building things! For as long as I can remember, my parents had told me that I was going to be an engineer when I grew up. As a child in the US, I thought this meant I was going to drive trains and was so excited!

At university in the US, I began studying mechanical engineering and realized it didn’t fulfil all my interests – while I loved creation and making “things”, what I missed was the “why”. Why do people care about or need these things to start with? Why do people attach such importance to things and events that are, in the grand scheme of things, meaningless? As such, I started to study anthropology, and decided I wanted to be an “anthroengineer”.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about engineering?

Engineering is hard but it doesn't need to be. In a lot of disciplines, people often think students and those learning need to “put in the work” in the same way they did. So much has changed in recent years in terms of the tools and methods available that it would be silly to think they had to learn the same tools and methods that I had to learn when I studying engineering in 2006.

This is one of the things I really like about the department of engineering in NMES at King’s. Barbara Shollock and Claire Lucas have done an amazing amount of work laying the foundations for a “new type” of engineering, one which breaks stereotypes, is much more engaging, and develops students that are much more well-rounded. It’s one of the reasons I wanted to join King’s.

Is there an engineer in history, or today, who is your biggest inspiration/role model? And why?

I can't say I really have one. I know it may sound silly, but I've met everyone who has inspired me or served as a role model and one of the things I learned was that no one is perfect. Once you learn that, people who once served as inspiration or role models lose their “shininess” and become “mortal” for lack of a better word!

In the end, we are all human and no one can do it all. As such, I have many people that I aspire to be like for very specific reasons. I also have many people who I try to avoid being like for very specific reasons. People I aspire to be like are those who are successful but maintain a good work life balance and promote a good work life balance among those they work with. I also aspire to be inclusive in my own lab and create an environment which enables students to be the best version of themselves. Equality is a central component of my belief system, and I try to instil that in my lab and in my classroom.

What advice would you give to someone considering studying engineering?

Talk to engineers! You will find there are many forms of engineering, and you’ll probably find one that works for you. For example, I incorporate the social sciences and biology into my research all the time, and in that way I am not the typical engineer, and it helps me create solutions that are more equitable and sustainable.

Aside from engineering, what do you do in your spare time?

I absolutely love cooking, and love my fruit trees and vegetable garden! My husband and I also have two cats, a rabbit, and three fish tanks, and my (cuddly) animals bring me more joy than I can describe.

I travel a lot, mostly for work or to see family, and love seeing the world. Last summer I spent time doing work in Sri Lanka and Tanzania. This summer I went to Australia. Travelling can be tiring, but it always inspires me.

What first attracted you to the field of engineering?

My initial interest in engineering emerged very early on in my life, I was very hands-on even as a child and always intrigued by technology. Growing up with professional parents where my father was an engineer, I had opportunities to observe and make sense of working engineering practices. For me, it was a gradual and conscious journey that has cultivated my interests in the STEM subjects and eventually led to my long-term career passion and commitment to engineering.

What do you think is the biggest misconception people have about engineering?

The public can sometimes have a rather narrow perception or definition of engineering, in terms of what the topic entails, jobs available and what the jobs could involve. From experience, I have participated in many public engagement and outreach activities that have helped address that misconception, for example, by showcasing the broad range of engineering disciplines and their relevance to real-world applications and industries, demonstrating the long-term career prospects and societal impacts of engineering.

What advice would you give to someone considering studying engineering?

Engineering is a key building block for our society and its sustainable development. It is beneficial to develop a balanced professional portfolio, between theoretical knowledge and hands-on/practical experience, during your time studying engineering at university. Many methodologies and skillsets are in fact transferable across different engineering disciplines, such as system engineering and critical design approach. Hence the purpose of study is not only about obtaining information or knowledge on specialised subject matter, but also about developing professional capabilities and problem-solving mindsets.