EYH19 Speaker

Dr. Leah Buechley

Leah Buechley is a designer, engineer, and educator. Her work explores integrations of computing, electronics, and design. She has done foundational work in paper and fabric-based computing. Her inventions include the LilyPad Arduino, a construction kit for sew-able electronics. She currently runs a design firm, Rural / Digital, that explores playful integrations of technology and design. Previously, she was an associate professor at the MIT Media Lab, where she founded and directed the High-Low Tech group. Her research was the recipient of an NSF CAREER Award and the 2017 Edith Ackerman award for Interaction Design and Children. Her work has been exhibited internationally in venues including the Exploratorium, the Victoria and Albert Museum, and Ars Electronica and has been featured in publications including The New York Times, Boston Globe, and Wired. Leah received a PhD in computer science from the University of Colorado at Boulder and a BA in physics from Skidmore College.