Showcasing talent of future biomedical engineers

Tissue mechanics, stem cells, glaucoma detection and treatments for a number of medical conditions—undergraduate student researchers spoke on an impressive range of topics at the Schulich School of Engineering on August 18.

It was the second annual Summer Biomedical Engineering Research Symposium sponsored by the Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education. It showcased the work of 23 speakers who are doing summer research at the University of Calgary.

“I have a new appreciation for medical science and the general trials and triumphs of running research,” says Stacey Waldal, who is spending the summer studying the microscopic fibres of the heart and investigating their mechanical properties. “We have had many troubleshooting instances that have made us better researchers because we have become more resourceful.”

While most of the student presenters study at the University of Calgary, a few are visiting for the summer from other Canadian institutions: the University of Toronto, University of Alberta, Queen’s University and Memorial University of Newfoundland.

“This event was designed to bring students together so they could present their projects, hear about other areas of biomedical engineering and meet other researchers on campus,” explains Tina Rinker, symposium co-organizer and associate professor in the Centre for Bioengineering Research and Education.

Biomedical engineering is the fastest growing field in engineering. It plays a role in a wide range of challenges related to human health, from designing pacemakers and artificial joints to manipulating cells to treat diseases. Engineering is expected to play an increasing role in the medical treatments of the future.

In the spring of 2008, the first class of biomedical engineers graduated from the University of Calgary.

“We have many strengths on campus in the fields of engineering, medicine, and kinesiology,” says Elizabeth Cannon, dean of the Schulich School of Engineering. “Those combined with top quality research means the University of Calgary is well positioned to become a world leader in biomedical engineering.”

Several student presenters at the symposium have won research awards in support of their projects from the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (AHFMR) and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).

List of presentations