IBE News: April 2020

Welcome to new IBE members!

I first take the opportunity to welcome 4 NEW MEMBERS to the IBE family: Srikanth Sivaraman (U. Arkansas), Yi Wang (Auburn U.), Rachel Brown (U. Georgia), and Tyler Wallentine (Utah State U.) These individuals are new members to IBE since mid-February. Welcome to you!

IBE 2020 Annual Conference

As I compose this newsletter in Athens, Georgia, the cherry, azalea and wisteria blossoms are in full bloom, and the dogwoods are nearly there. But alas, the pandemic has forced us to postpone this year’s IBE Annual Conference. Presently, we are working with the meeting venue on rescheduling dates, and will send you information and options as the situation unfolds and we finalize decisions. We will hold on to your registrations, as they can just be transferred to the new meeting date. Everyone has been very understanding, and I very much appreciate your patience!

Recognitions

Despite circumstances that have delayed our annual meeting, IBE had a very successful year. I am particularly pleased with having so many new members, especially the many young professionals engaged with the organization. As my term as President now draws to a close, I have the great privilege of recognizing a few outstanding IBE members.
 
First, I am delighted to announce the naming of Dr. Ronald C. Sims as IBE Fellow. Dr. Sims is a Professor of Biological Engineering at Utah State University, and has been instrumental in the growth of IBE. Dr. Sims has put extraordinary energy and enthusiasm into IBE, particularly encouraging the engagement of students with the organization. Dr. Sims was IBE President in 2012. Please welcome Dr. Sims to the class of IBE Fellows.
 
I am also happy to announce the naming of Dr. Czarena Crofcheck for the 2020 Biological Engineering Leadership Award. Dr. Crofcheck is Professor of Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Kentucky, and has over the years served as IBE Councilor, Program Chair, Treasurer, and on the Membership Committee. Dr. Crofcheck was IBE President in 2013. Please congratulate Dr. Crofcheck on this deserved achievement in recognition of her many contributions.
 
Finally, I am pleased to recognize a few members with 2020 Presidential Citations for their stellar contributions to the organization. Frankly, these individuals have enabled the very successful year:
 
To Dr. Ryan Summers and Dr. Ashik Sathish for creatively implementing Membership activities in support of IBE.

To Dr. Sabrina Jedlicka for reinvigorating processes to recognize members for their outstanding contributions to IBE through Annual Awards.

To Nathan Guymon for developing social media platforms and procedures to facilitate communication for the benefit of all IBE members.

Please join me in thanking these members on their efforts on behalf of IBE.
 
Hopefully, all of these Awardees will be recognized in person at a future IBE conference!

25 Years of IBE

In May 1995 IBE was conceived and created. Do you remember the year? It was the first year something called the “internet” was fully privatized. It was the year the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City was bombed, killing 168. U.S. astronaut Norman Thagard broke the space endurance record of over 14 days aboard the Russian space station Mir. Astronomers discovered the first extrasolar planet. O.J. Simpson was found not guilty of double murder. A referendum to mandate the negotiation for independence of Quebec from Canada narrowly failed. And, Jeanne Calment, the oldest person every recorded, died at 120 years of age.
 
To commemorate these 25 years, the founding President of IBE, Dr. Brahm Verma, has composed his reflections on IBE. For additional information on IBE over the last 25 years, be sure to check out this document.

Social Media

We would love to hear about the successes and activities of IBE members. You have a couple ways to communicate. You can connect with us through Twitter (@InstBioEng) or you can complete this form. Either way, the information will be sent to headquarters staff and others.

New IBE Leadership

Spring is also the time of the year for the transition in IBE leadership. It is with pride and accomplishment that I introduce the IBE membership to the Leadership Team for 2020-2021:
 
Keith Roper (Utah State Univ) – President
Sabrina Jedlicka (Lehigh Univ) – President-Elect
Eric McLamore (Univ Florida) – Secretary
Mark Haidekker (Univ Georgia) – Treasurer
Iram Mondaca Fernandez (Instituto Technologico de Sonora) – Councilor-at-Large
Steve Elder (Mississippi State Univ) – Councilor-at-Large
Yu Huang (Utah State Univ) – Councilor-at-Large
Ramaraja Ramasamy (Univ Georgia) – Councilor-at-Large
Ashik Sathish (Pennsylvania State Univ) – Councilor-at-Large
Praveen Kolar (North Carolina State Univ) – Councilor-at-Large
Joe Sagues (North Carolina State Univ) – Graduate Councilor-at-Large
Matt Armbrust (Utah State Univ) – Undergraduate Councilor
and of course….
Mark A. Eiteman (Univ Georgia) – Past-President

Member-Recruit-Member Campaign Continues!

Don’t forget that an IBE member can recruit just two new members to IBE and obtain a one year complimentary membership. This is a great opportunity for those involved in Biological Engineering to engage with IBE programs. Moreover, we now have three membership periods to choose from…starting either January 1, May 1 or September 1. There is no better time to share IBE with your colleagues. To join visit www.ibe.org
 
And certainly not the least…STAY HEALTHY!

Get involved

IBE encourages inquiry and interest in biological engineering, the emerging discipline that applies biological systems to enhance the quality and diversity of life. Biological engineering lies at the interfaces of biological sciences, engineering sciences, mathematics and computational sciences.

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