How We Build...

What does the way we build say about what we value? In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Azita Hirsa, engineering ethics professor at RPI and host of the National Academy of Engineering's Online Ethics Center webinar series, to unpack what ethical responsibility really looks like in engineering practice. From historic bridge collapses to everyday project decisions, we explore why ethical failu...

Rohan Singh Wilkho is a Schmidt AI in Science Postdoctoral Fellow at Cornell University. Holding a PhD in Civil Engineering and an MS in Computer Science from Texas A&M University, he works at the intersection of physical infrastructure and digital intelligence. Rohan develops 'Cognitive Civil Systems', infrastructure designed to perceive and adapt to its environment like a living orga...

What if engineering was about more than efficiency, skills, and problem‑solving? In this episode, Professor Anders Buch joins Nevena Vajdic to unpack the concept of Bildung and why it matters for engineers, especially in an age of AI, automation, and global technological impact. From the roots of Bildung in philosophy to its relevance for engineering education, responsibility, and care, this conve...

In this episode of How We Build... , host Nevena Vajdic speaks with Percy Lam and Felicia Anderson, two professionals who returned to academia for their PhDs after years in industry. They reflect on how practical experience shapes research, and share their ideas about the future of civil engineering. From gaming-inspired thinking to the hybrid professionals, this conversation explores how engineer...

In this inaugural episode of How We Build… , host Nevena Vajdic sits down with Mark Enzer, strategic advisor at Mott MacDonald and visiting professor at both Cambridge and Imperial College London, to explore the transformative power of systems thinking in civil engineering and the built environment. Mark shares insights from his extensive experience leading the National Digital Twin Programme and...

Get to know  How We Build... , the podcast about civil engineering in a different way. Host Nevena Vajdic shares why this show exists, what stories you'll hear, and how it aims to build a community of curious, forward-thinking colleagues. For engineers, students, and anyone fascinated by civil engineering. Music: "C-Funk" Kevin MacLeod ( incompetech.com ) Licensed under Creative Comm...