Mission Statement
The name of our research group is derived from the word ‘mithril’ – a fictional metal invented by J. R. R. Tolkien. First appearing in Tolkien’s seminal work The Lord of the Rings, mithril is described as a remarkable material that is lighter, stronger, and more workable than steel and is prized for both its beauty and usefulness.
“Mithril! All folk desired it. It could be beaten like copper, and polished like glass; and the Dwarves could make of it a metal, light and yet harder than tempered steel. Its beauty was like to that of common silver, but the beauty of mithril did not tarnish or grow dim.”
– J. R. R. Tolkien, Fellowship of the Ring
Drawing on the characteristics of its namesake, the MItRHIL research group aims to create human-machine interactions that are remarkable and useful. The mission of MItHRIL is to advance and quickly disrupt the state of these interactions to the point where they can be useful across multiple industries and application areas such as manufacturing, healthcare, entertainment, hospitality, and the community. We strive to make interactive systems and robotics safer, smarter, and faster. Ultimately, the technologies we develop aim to improve performance, abilities, and quality of life for all people, regardless of background, and foster mutual understanding and collaboration between humans and robots.
Value Statements
MItHRIL’s members and activities are guided by a set of core values that we prioritize within our research group.
- Equity: We are committed to promoting fairness and justice in all aspects of our work, ensuring, where possible, that our research is available to all. Opportunities and resources within the research group are accessible to all members, regardless of their background or circumstances.
- Diversity: We celebrate the diverse perspectives, experiences, and talents of our team members, recognizing that diversity fuels innovation and enriches our research endeavours in bringing robots and people closer together.
- Inclusion: We foster a culture of inclusivity where every voice is heard, valued, and respected. We actively seek out and amplify underrepresented voices in the fields of engineering, technology, robotics, and human-robot interaction.
- Collaboration: We believe in the power of collaboration and interdisciplinary cooperation between people, researchers, communities, and/or robots to tackle complex challenges. We collaborate with diverse stakeholders, including community members, industry partners, and advocacy groups, to create meaningful impact.
- Ethical Responsibility: We uphold the highest ethical standards in our research and development practices, prioritizing the well-being and autonomy of all individuals affected by our work, both human and robotic.
- Continuous Learning: We are committed to lifelong learning and improvement, staying abreast of emerging technologies and research findings, and adapting our approaches to reflect the evolving needs and concerns of society.