Andrew Houston
University of Waterloo, University of Strathclyde, University of Manitoba
Papers
5
Total Citations
102
H-Index
5
About
Andrew Houston is a multidisciplinary researcher whose work spans two distinct but equally impactful domains: human-robot interaction in educational contexts and environmental sensing technologies. He is perhaps best known for his pioneering research into the use of social robots as tools for anti-bullying interventions in schools, exploring how robotic companions and role-playing scenarios can empower children to become active peer supporters. His 2021 co-design study with 22 children aged 8–12, which has garnered 40 citations, stands as a landmark contribution to child-centered design methodology, while his crowdsourced feasibility study on robot bullying further establishes the conceptual groundwork for this emerging field. Building on these foundations, Houston has extended his vision through Robot-Mediated Applied Drama, culminating in the RE-Mind pedagogical framework. In a markedly different but equally significant body of work, his 2018 research on portable Laser-Induced Breakdown Spectroscopy (LIBS) for soil nitrogen analysis — cited 38 times — demonstrates real-world applications ranging from agricultural monitoring to potential Martian soil analysis. Together, Houston's research reflects a rare breadth of inquiry, combining compassionate educational technology design with cutting-edge environmental instrumentation science.
Research Focus
Key Achievements
Top Papers
- 1Robots, Bullies and Stories: A Remote Co-design Study with Children40 citations · 2021
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- 5Using Robot-Mediated Applied Drama to Foster Anti-Bullying Peer Support5 citations · 2023