Bio
Dr. North is involved in all aspects of our technological charge from inventing new materials and technologies in a cleanroom, to creating cutting edge prototypes on Discovery Channel’s Prototype This! Brimming with enthusiasm, Mike’s engaging personality makes him an energetic and charismatic science and technology advocate inspiring grade-schoolers to CEOs.
A master of the “nano” world, Mike earned a Ph.D. and Masters in Materials Science and Engineering. He also graduated summa cum laude in Mechanical Engineering from U.C. Santa Barbara. During his graduate work, he designed and fabricated the world’s first adhesive that can be turned on and off electronically. Mike’s scientific interests delve into specialties such as bio-mimetics, micro/nanofabrication, nanoscale microscopy and micro/nanomechanical characterization. His investigations in these areas have been published in leading scientific journals, including Advanced Materials and Nature.
Dr. North’s unique mix of engineering and artistic skills combined with his charismatic personality led him to masterminding builds on Discovery Channel’s popular show, Prototype This! in 2008. Responsible for co-developing the concept of the show and developing ideas for new inventions, Mike led teams of inventors, builders, and engineers to create never-before-seen spectacles of engineering. The inventions ranged from 6 legged all-terrain vehicles to 30-foot-tall waterslide simulators to lifesaving firefighting equipment.
Mike brought innovation to the toy industry as the Chief Technology Officer at Nukotoys, a company that is redefining the toy category by blurring the line between online and offline. ReAllocate is the project Mike is most passionate about. As the founder, Mike is uniting the engineering and design communities to provide design and engineering support to those at the base of the economic pyramid. Mike commonly speaks on the status and future of science and technology, and is a stand out motivational speaker. He is involved in several start-ups, educational programs, ongoing research, and is an advisor to multiple companies.
