The Department of Biomedical Engineering at Texas A&M University hosted a research symposium on Tuesday, Aug. 22. In total, 131 attendees were able to view keynote presentations, practice the necessary skills to present posters and even compete for awards at the symposium, which the department intends to host annually. In addition to the large number of attendees, 44 poster submissions were received and awards were given for the best oral presentation and best poster.
The idea of the symposium became reality due in part to the department’s emphasis on creating a culture of excellence.
“This annual symposium is one early result of our recent attention to creating a culture of excellence within the department, aimed specifically at increasing the emphasis on early and intense involvement in all aspects of the research community,” said Dr. Michael McShane, interim department head. “It was intended to bring the entire biomedical engineering research community together for a full day of scientific exchange, serving as a forum for students to share their work with others and receive feedback on their projects.”
The symposium was established not only to allow students to participate in an event that helps them prepare for a post-graduation career, but also as a way to stimulate new ideas and potential collaborations. The event was organized and hosted by students from the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Association (BMEGSA) to help other students learn leadership and project management skills in a context similar to large-scale professional conferences.
BMEGSA’s ability to promote the department’s initiative toward fostering a culture of excellence was met with excitement within the organization. “Since our founding three years ago we have worked diligently to increase communication among all labs and research disciplines within our department,” said David Luna, vice president of BMEGSA. “BMEGSA planned and organized the symposium with the help of an assembled team that brought the vision of increasing awareness and communication to the forefront and executed an extremely successful event.”
Current and past members also pitched in to ensure the symposium was an event that gave students within the department something to look forward to each year, as well as the opportunity to explore a wide variety of research being performed within the department and the chance to present findings.
“We look forward to working with the Biomedical Engineering Graduate Student Association in further years as they continue to refine the event and expand participation,” said McShane. “We hope to include industry partners and other sponsors that can benefit from engagement with our students and faculty on a technical level.”
