Robert Fleisig, a Permanent Teaching Professor at McMaster University's Walter G. Booth School of Engineering Practice and Technology, is recognized for his passion in encouraging interdisciplinary thinking and empathy among his students, bridging gaps in knowledge and communication through his teaching. As an advocate for cultivating the 'T-shaped' graduate or individual, Robert believes that for individuals and graduates to make meaningful contributions to society, having disciplinary expertise is insufficient. With over 10,000 undergraduate students taught, Robert's teaching approach includes combining empathy, experience, and reflection, with his first-year engineering students working collaboratively across three faculties to develop solutions that help resolve significant challenges within their community. At the W Booth School, his graduate students are tasked with developing innovative solutions in health and sustainability, identifying and solving problems unique to their community with the help of local businesses, researchers, and hospitals to create positive and economical impacts. With extensive experience in both education and engineering, Robert is committed to furthering interdisciplinary thinking towards creative innovation and social impact.