GRAIN Partners with Biomedical Engineering Society to Enhance Global Projects
source: Biomedical Engineering Society - University of California San Diego Student Chapter - BMES Quarterly


International-Related Opportunities

As bioengineering students, it is often difficult to find opportunities abroad relating to our broad field. This article will provide a few ideas and places to turn to if you are looking for that global edge to you degree.

BMES International:
To begin with, a new International committee was developed for the national, faculty run BMES last year. The committee is in works of building ties with international professors, departments, and laboratories relating to bioengineering research overseas. Additionally, we are creating more awareness-related international internships and engineering based work for social impact. BMES, thus far, has primarily been a US based organization, but is looking into building relationships and new chapters abroad. Developing these mutually beneficial partnerships for students is being advanced by the help of a UCSD Bioengineering PhD student and Whitaker Fellow in Sweden, Garrett Smith. He recounts his thoughts and experiences from his international visits:



“Recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to meet with bioengineering student societies at both Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and the Technical University of Denmark (DTU) with the hope of establishing more dialogue between international chapters and our UCSD BMES chapter. Having lived abroad for six months, I believe it is increasingly important for bioengineers to understand the new global factors driving the economy and to be able to collaborate effectively across geographical and cultural barriers. Our BMES chapter at UCSD could greatly benefit by more cultural exchange with students abroad. Meeting with these chapters is only the beginning. Much more needs to be done to learn how to effectively communicate using online tools and holding videoconferences to bring together bioengineering student communities worldwide. We have a good start so far though.I am pleased to mention that the Student Society for Biomaterials (SSB) at the Technical University of Denmark in Copenhagen (www.biomaterials.dk) has expressed interest to become the first international partner with our UCSD chapter. The International committee of BMES is currently in discussion with SSB leadership in planning future online interactive meetings between our chapters. Please contact us if you would like to learn more. Lastly, I would like to thank all the students and professors who graciously welcomed me to their campuses.”


Additionally, the UCSD BMES chapter is pursuing two objectives for expanding BMES globally. The first objective is to continue building a global bioengineering departmental contact list in order to create a stronger global bioengineering network which would benefit students wanting to connect internationally. The second objective is to create an international opportunities resource specifically for BMES students seeking to apply their degree abroad. This undergraduate and graduate resource list focuses on three main types of opportunities: lab exchanges, industry internships, and engineering-based design projects (also includes collaboration with non-profit organizations in global healthcare and sustainable development). Once these databases are created the information would be made available to all on the BMES website. By bringing together the global academic bioengineering community, and providing better resources for bioengineering abroad, the BMES mission statement ‘to enhance biomedical engineering worldwide” will be expanded upon.

Engineering World Health:
Engineering World Heath at UCSD is the student-based chapter of the global initiative to provide hospitals in developing nations cheap and effective alternative designs to the medical equipment used in daily life. The organization, based out of Duke University, sends over 3000 pieces of medical equipment built by students from various university chapters to developing countries, such as Chile, Mexico, and Tanzania. The organization is always looking for students to help design and build needed equipment. Over the past year, a group of Bioengineering Senior Design Project students built a stand alone cold box that can keep small amounts of medicine at about 10°C for at least 12 hours without the use of electricity. Additionally, there are “Build projects” available as well. Small kits are provided to build existing designs, such as a defibrillator tester or a bili-light (device used in treating jaundice in newborns) tester. EWH also holds a Summer Institute in Costa Rica and Tanzania, among other places, where students can gain hands on experience designing and repairing medical equipment (all while learning the local language!) in hospitals, directly interacting with hospital staff and patients. EWH is an excellent organization for any students interested in making a difference! Visit www.ewh.org.

Global Responsibility and Innovation Network:
Many of the BMES International and EWH objectives are being pursued through the non-profit organization Global Responsibility and Innovation Network (GRaIN). The non-profit, founded by a multi-disciplinary group of UCSD graduate students, provides the framework and the process for globally responsible projects to sprout from idea to execution. From biomaterial prosthetics to the $10 computer, GRaIN is currently working on several major projects designed to inspire, initiate, and implement worldwide collaboration towards globally responsible innovation. GRaIN has partnered with the UCSD BMES and EWH chapters to expand their international projects in a culturally responsible way. From setting up a database, to creating the infrastructure for BMES societies to form collectively, GRaIN provides the innovation network process for bioengineers to effectively collaborate across cultural and geographical borders. GRaIN is also exploring new innovation models that decrease the divide between academic bioengineering research and the healthcare and sustainability needs of the poor in developing economies. Through partnerships with student and professional societies, GRaIN seeks to educate BME students and faculty alike about global healthcare issues and facilitate collaborative projects between the respective Biomedical Engineering and International Development communities. Visit http://grain.wetpaint.com/ for more information.

To get involved or receive more information on GRaIN, please contact Garrett Smith at smith.garrett@gmail.com; and for EWH and BMES International, please contact Manisha Kanthilal at mkanthil@ucsd.edu.

-Manisha Kanthilal and Garrett Smith