10 Questions with Dr Dipa Roy

1. What does innovation mean to you? 

Innovation is something where the imagination is brought into reality and has a positive impact on society.

2. What has been your biggest success? 

 My biggest success is pursuing my passion for research.

3. What failure has helped shape you? 

When I first arrived in the UK as an academic, I worked very hard on one proposal for over a year with many components, but that proposal was not successful. I wouldn’t call it a failure because that taught me a lot and helped me decide on my future research strategy. So, that’s not a failure but a lesson for me.

4. What would your friends say your greatest strengths and weaknesses are? 

My friends would say that my greatest strength is listening, I’m a patient listener. My weakness, there are many, but they would say that I am an introverted person. So, it’s a lot of effort for me to overcome that nature.

5. What book do you recommend to others? 

The book I would like to recommend is Wings of Fire, its an autobiography by Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam who was a scientist and president of India. It’s truly inspirational and whenever I read this book, I get a lot of positive energy from it.

6. If you had one more hour in the day how would you spend it?

If I had one extra hour per day, I would spend it with my family.

7. What scares you?

Unkindness in this society.

8. What piece of advice has stuck with you? 

My mother taught me to take life as it is, don’t complain and thank God for everything you’ve got. So, I remember that every day of my life.

9. What future innovation would you like to see happen in your lifetime?  

In the area of sustainable of materials, I would like to see more sustainable materials in engineering applications so that we can move closer to the net zero target.

10. What gives you hope?  

Kindness and empathy.