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About

Matthijs Smakman is a leading researcher at the intersection of social robotics, education, and ethics, whose work has shaped how scholars and practitioners think about the responsible integration of robots into children's learning environments. With a focus on primary education and pediatric healthcare, Smakman has made significant contributions to understanding both the promise and the moral complexity of deploying social robots alongside young people. His most-cited work, "Moral Considerations on Social Robots in Education" (2021, 88 citations), established a multi-stakeholder ethical framework that has become a cornerstone reference for researchers and policymakers developing guidelines for responsible robot use in schools. Through studies examining teachers, parents, and children's perspectives, Smakman has mapped diverse attitudes toward robot tutors — from enthusiasm to skepticism — providing nuanced insight into real-world adoption challenges. Beyond the classroom, his research on robots mitigating children's pain and anxiety during medical procedures demonstrates the broader humanitarian potential of this technology. His investigations into children's social-emotional development, robot trustworthiness, and concrete design specifications for robot math tutors reflect a career committed to ensuring that innovation in educational robotics remains child-centered, ethical, and evidence-based.