The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE) announced the formation of the Women in Medical and Biological Engineering Committee (WIMBE) in March, 2005. The committee will celebrate women’s contributions to both the field and to the health and well-being of our society. The committee members’ knowledge is extensive spanning corporate, academic, and government institutions.

Goals of the Committee

According to a 2004 report from the American Society of Engineering Education, biomedical engineering is the leading specialty for women receiving their undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees in the engineering field. AIMBE wants to highlight these women and their contributions to a range of audiences, and various media outlets. It is important to acknowledge the growing significance of women’s work in bioengineering and, by extension, other engineering fields.

By taking a positive approach based on the strength of bioengineering, we can also learn what more needs to be done to go beyond balanced student representation to address lingering imbalances among women in bioengineering faculty, bioengineering management and entrepreneurial companies.

The American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering aspires to be the leading advocate in Washington for the advancement of women in bioengineering. Through the AIMBE College of Fellows, with over 100 peer-recognized female bioengineers, and the AIMBE Academic Council, representing the leading bioengineering educational programs in the country, AIMBE is well positioned to provide credible and effective leadership in this effort.

Initial Outreach

AIMBE will research and analyze the factors that account for the high level of women’s participation in bioengineering, including focus groups with key constituencies to better understand the socialization and perceptual factors behind the popularity of bioengineering among women. This information can then be used to help educate other engineering fields, so they too can attract more women.

Building Partnerships

The WIMBE co-sponsored the Association for Women in Science (AWIS) 2005 National Conference on Women in Science and Engineering. AIMBE plans to continue its partnership with AWIS in the future to support the continued growth and advancement of women in bioengineering, and work with other engineering and science fields to get women more involved.

AIMBE has also partnered with the American Association of Engineering Societies on their Extraordinary Women Engineers Project (EWEP). This project is an integrated program to provide resources developed jointly by educators and engineers to inspire women to enter the engineering field.