AIMBE Workshop: The Importance of Advocacy in Bioengineering and Medical Research
Workshop Organizers
Dawn Beraud, PhD
Executive Director, American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE)
dawn.beraud@aimbe.org
Jason Marvin, PhD
Director of Outreach and Engagement, AIMBE
jason.marvin@aimbe.org
Description
The executive and legislative branches of the US government play pivotal roles in developing policies that govern and fund the scientific enterprise. These activities, often conducted without scientific voices, help shape research and funding decisions across several federal agencies and at institutions across the country. Given the complex interplay between policy and research, scientists' involvement in the process is more crucial than ever. There are several impactful ways for biomedical engineers to contribute to public policy to benefit the field and society. In this workshop hosted in collaboration with the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), we will highlight such avenues and resources for scientists to inform policy decisions by showcasing the perspectives of different experts in bioengineering and biomechanics research.
Workshop Structure/Outline
This 90-minute general session will begin with a 10-minute presentation by Dr. Beraud on the critical role of advocacy in the field of bioengineering. Next, we will feature individual presentations from three AIMBE Fellows or Emerging Leaders in the SBC community. Speakers will share different ways they have engaged in advocacy, including their professional experiences, personal anecdotes, and the impact that these activities have had on the fields of bioengineering and biomechanics. We will then host a 30-minute Q&A panel session with audience questions that will be moderated by Dr. Marvin, which serves as an open forum for attendees to learn more about current challenges and opportunities within our evolving science policy landscape. Lastly, we will conclude with closing remarks by Dr. Beraud and the invited speakers, during which we will administer an anonymous survey to evaluate the impact of this session on the attendees' perceptions and interests towards advocacy.
Target Audience
We strongly encourage attendees of all career stages and disciplines to attend this workshop as collective advocacy at different levels is more crucial now than ever in influencing policies that affect our fields. No previous advocacy experience is necessary to attend this event. The invited speakers will discuss best practices, resources, and strategies for effectively engaging policymakers and the general public in science (e.g., policy, STEM outreach, and science communication activities) that are broadly applicable to the SBC attendees.