Hugh Herr

Who Is Hugh Herr?

Hugh Herr is a world-renowned bionics innovator and climber known for revolutionizing prosthetic technology. After losing both legs in a climbing accident, Herr applied his engineering expertise to create advanced prosthetics that restore natural limb function. As a professor at the MIT Media Lab and co-director of the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, Herr leads groundbreaking projects in bionic prosthetics that have transformed the lives of people with physical disabilities. Dubbed the “Leader of the Bionic Age” by *Time* magazine, Herr’s work is a testament to the power of technology to enhance human potential.

What is His Background?

Hugh Herr’s journey began with degrees in mechanical engineering from MIT and biophysics from Harvard, but his life was transformed after losing his legs in a climbing accident in 1982. Driven to return to the sport, he pioneered advanced prosthetics, eventually leading the Biomechatronics Group at MIT Media Lab. Herr has received numerous awards, including the Princess of Asturias Award for Technical and Scientific Research and the Heinz Award for Technology, for innovations like the EmPower Ankle, which mimics the function of a human foot. At the K. Lisa Yang Center for Bionics, he now leads research in neural interfaces and next-generation prosthetics, allowing amputees to control their artificial limbs through thought.