Dr. Hugh Herr is a groundbreaking scientist and entrepreneur, renowned as the director of the Biomechatronics research group and co-director of the Center for Extreme Bionics at the MIT Media Lab. Coined "Leader of the Bionic Age" by TIME, his revolutionary work is driven by a personal mission to use technology to erase disability and redefine human physical potential through the next generation of robotic prosthetics.
Herr's journey is powerfully intertwined with his research. A former rock-climbing prodigy, he lost both his legs to frostbite following a mountaineering accident. This personal experience spurred his life’s work, leading him to build the next generation of bionic limbs that emulate natural human movement. His groundbreaking work, which includes computer-controlled artificial knees and powered ankle-foot prostheses, has resulted in over 150 peer-reviewed manuscripts and multiple TIME Top Ten Inventions.
His company, BionX Inc., commercializes the EmPower Ankle-Foot Prosthesis, which is clinically shown to be the first leg prosthesis in history to reach human normalization, allowing amputees to walk with normal levels of speed. His research is not limited to bionics; as the founder of The Herr Institute for Human Rehabilitation, his interests include robotics, tissue engineering, and developing affordable assistive technologies for the disabled and elderly worldwide.
Dr. Herr, who holds a master's degree from MIT and a doctorate from Harvard, has received numerous major accolades, including the Prince Salman Award for Disability Research and the Princess of Asturias Award for Technical & Scientific Research. His compelling story has been featured in a National Geographic film and on The Economist and CNN. As a speaker, his 2014 TED Talk, "The New Bionics that let us run, climb and dance," received a standing ovation, as he passionately encourages audiences to embrace his vision of a future where technology eliminates physical boundaries.
