Award-winning structural engineer and designer of low-cost technology to make buildings more resilient in earthquakes, Dr Ashkan Hashemi has developed a means of absorbing and dissipating seismic energy.
These "shock absorbers" are the result of Dr Hashemi's PhD research, which he then persuaded industry to put into action.
They've already been integrated in twelve new buildings in New Zealand and the US, including Nelson airport's new terminal and a Hutt Valley health club.
Dr Hashemi is a lecturer in structural and earthquake engineering at the University of Auckland. He speaks with Kathryn Ryan.
Photo: https://www.tectonus.com/structuraltechnology
