Twice is nice.

For the second year in a row, the Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES) student chapter at UCR’s Marlan and Rosemary Bourns College of Engineering was named the recipient of the distinguished Outstanding Outreach Program Award by the national BMES.

“Winning the award for the second year in a row is super surprising,” BMES president Samantha Tovar said. “As BMES, we always try to promote the impact of STEM [science, technology, engineering, and mathematics] to our community since, as a minority-serving institution, we always want to show the progress of bioengineering to those interested.”
 

The award will be presented at the BMES annual conference, which will be held in Baltimore on October 25. The organization will receive an engraved plaque and special invitations, support, and reservations related to the conference. The national BMES serves as the professional society for students, faculty, researchers, and industry professionals in biomedical engineering and includes more than 6,800 members and more than 160 student chapters.

The student organization’s vision is to prepare students for professional careers devoted to developing and using engineering and technology to advance human health and well-being.
 

Biomedical engineering generally focuses on applying engineering principles to solve biological and medical problems. The field has led to the development of MRI and PET scans, artificial hearts, prenatal ultrasound, and many other significant advances.
 

“BMES attends any events that promote bioengineering to the community,” Tovar said. “We table to get the word out and show bioengineering's importance and growing impact. We travel to schools surrounding UCR to show live demonstrations, information, and any events we host, highlighting [bioengineering’s] significance. BMES officers consistently volunteer to showcase BMES at involvement fairs, Bourns Family Weekend, R’STEM Fair, Dia de Ciencias, and the Senior Design Showcase.”

BMES is “the embodiment of what a student organization should be,” said Rob McKee, who serves as a BMES faculty advisor and is an assistant professor of teaching in the Department of Bioengineering.

“The officers work hard to run events that serve the needs of the BCOE student body and the larger community,” he said. “From setting up company tours to holding professional development and technical skill-building workshops to K-12 outreach, the officers carefully plan each activity to maximize attendee benefit while providing a relaxed but professional environment. ”

McKee praised the student organization for its community-building efforts.
 

“That the organization has received the Outstanding Outreach Program Award from the Biomedical Engineering Society two years in a row is a testament to their vision that world-class engineers must be actively involved with their communities to enhance understanding, interest, and engagement of and with scientific processes and engineering principles,” McKee said.

Tovar said the student organization will continue its task of promoting bioengineering.

“Being able to communicate and collaborate with the community surrounding UCR allows for future collaboration and awareness of what BMES has to offer,” she said. “As an organization dedicated to engagement and advancement, we will continue organizing events that unite students and community members while emphasizing the importance of bioengineering.”

BMES was also awarded this outreach award last year.

Header image: BMES members Jacob Hensley, Eric Huitt, and George Haddad (Photo courtesy of BMES).