معرفی
Professor Eric Kennedy is a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Bucknell University's College of Engineering. He is recognized for his energetic, student-focused teaching and leadership in creating hands-on learning opportunities like the Bucknell Fabrication Workshop.
Professor Kennedy's research focuses on biomechanics and injury prevention, with particular emphasis on playground safety and human factors engineering. His work has revealed that approximately 200,000 children per year are injured on playgrounds requiring emergency room visits, with 21,000 of those being traumatic brain injuries. He has used his expertise in injury biomechanics to analyze playground design, substrates for cushioning falls, and maintenance procedures that can prevent injury.
Professor Kennedy has also designed a brake-force simulator in collaboration with orthopedic surgeons at Geisinger Medical Center to investigate whether patients can safely drive after surgery or injury. His research emphasizes the complex variability in human responses to impacts, noting that 'if I expose two people to the same impact, one can be injured and the other can be totally fine.'
His teaching philosophy centers on humanizing the engineering work, stating: 'I try to humanize the work as much as possible so we're not just looking at raw numbers, but really looking at the impact an injury or loss has on a family.' This approach makes biomedical engineering research highly relatable and rewarding for students.
- Presidential Award for Teaching Excellence (2021)
Professor Kennedy actively involves students in his research, providing them with hands-on learning experiences that demonstrate how engineering solutions can directly improve people's lives. His work bridges the gap between theoretical engineering principles and real-world applications with significant human impact.
