Bookshelfie: Roma Agrawal

Bookshelfie: Roma Agrawal

From Bookshelfie: Women’s Prize Podcast by Women’s Prize Podcast/ Bird Lime Media

March 24, 2026 · 52 min · Season 9 · Episode 3

About this episode

Roma Agrawal discusses her experiences as an engineer and author, focusing on creativity in engineering and her literary contributions.

Engineer, author and broadcaster Roma Agrawal talks to Vick about reclaiming her body after childbirth, centring the knowledge of non-western cultures and why engineering is more creative than you think. Roma is best known for working on the design of The Shard, Western Europe’s tallest tower, and is a judge for the 2026 Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, sponsored by Findmypast. She has given talks to tens of thousands at universities, schools and organisations around the world, including TEDx, and presented numerous TV, radio and podcast shows for the BBC , Channel 4 and Discovery . Her first book, Built, won multiple awards, and was published for children as How Was That Built? in 2021. Her third book, Nuts & Bolts was shortlisted for the prestigious Royal Society Trivedi Science Book Prize, and was also adapted for children, as Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World . Her new book, How to Build a Chocolate Bridge: Extraordinary Builds Using Everyday Things, is a hands-on exploration of science and the world around us, featuring seven fun interactive building projects for kids. Roma’s book choices are: ** Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ** Uncivilised: Ten Lies that…

People in this episode

Host: Vick

Guest: Roma Agrawal

Topics covered

  • engineering
  • childbirth
  • non-western cultures
  • creativity in engineering
  • children's literature
  • women's contributions to science

Keywords

  • Roma Agrawal
  • engineering
  • childbirth
  • women's literature
  • creativity
  • children's books
  • non-western cultures

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Women’s Prize for Non-Fiction, Findmypast, BBC, Channel 4, Discovery

Books & works: Pride and Prejudice, Uncivilised: Ten Lies that Made the West, The Girl and The Goddess, The Heart Goes Last, Yellowface, Built, How Was That Built?, Nuts & Bolts, Seven Small Inventions That Changed the World, How to Build a Chocolate Bridge: Extraordinary Builds Using Everyday Things

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