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About

Dave Berque is a researcher whose work sits at the compelling intersection of cross-cultural design, human-robot interaction, and international collaborative education. He is best known for his sustained investigation into *kawaii* (cute) aesthetics in robot design, exploring how cultural background shapes perceptions of cuteness and how those perceptions can be deliberately engineered into robotic prototypes. Across a series of influential studies conducted with both Japanese and American university students, Berque has systematically designed, implemented, and evaluated kawaii robots and robotic gadgets — including a notably creative application to a Roomba vacuum — accumulating over 49 citations in this focused research thread. A distinguishing feature of Berque's scholarship is its pedagogical dimension: he structures cross-cultural student collaborations as both research methodology and educational intervention. When the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted planned in-person exchanges, he adeptly pivoted to virtual collaboration frameworks, even incorporating biological signal measurement for affective evaluation. His earlier work introducing American undergraduates to Japanese *monozukuri* principles reflects a long-standing commitment to fostering intercultural design literacy. Berque's research is particularly valuable for scholars and students interested in culturally-sensitive HRI design, international STEM education, and the affective dimensions of emerging robotic technologies.