Why would I want to be a Bioengineer?
I can hardly remember the first day when I thought about what I wanted to do when I grew up. Ever since I was a little girl, I imagined all the possibilities: I could be an astronaut, a teacher, a lawyer, a diplomat, a researcher or even a doctor. And today, as I sat through my first Bioengineering class I realized I could still become every single one of those things.
I can hardly remember the first day when I thought about what I wanted to do when I grew up. Ever since I was a little girl, I imagined all the possibilities: I could be an astronaut, a teacher, a lawyer, a diplomat, a researcher or even a doctor. And today, as I sat through my first Bioengineering class I realized I could still become every single one of those things.
I had always been interested in science and math, but during high school I took many courses in languages and humanities, and formed part of clubs such as Model United Nations and debate. The fact that I could apply my scientific knowledge as an engineer and work in the field of health - which has always been close to my heart - was what attracted me to this particular major. However, if at any moment I wanted to work in any of my fields of interest, I could, with the added reward of being able to apply my scientific knowledge in hopes of making the world a better place.
The broad range of aspects in which Bioengineering is involved, as well as the possibility of becoming a researcher in medicine were the reason why I chose this major.
What will you have me do in Bioengineering?
Up until a couple of years ago, I had never heard the term “bioengineering”. Obviously, the first time someone defined it to me, it was fairly simplistic: a bioengineer is an engineer (someone who uses his ingenuity) to solve problems with the available resources in all health and biological related matters. Although this is true, Bioengineers – if I can be candid- do the coolest things that are not included in that definition. Not only can they go on to work in practically any field, they get to work on cutting edge technology and apply it to so many fields this blog post wouldn’t end if I attempted to cite all of them.
Up until a couple of years ago, I had never heard the term “bioengineering”. Obviously, the first time someone defined it to me, it was fairly simplistic: a bioengineer is an engineer (someone who uses his ingenuity) to solve problems with the available resources in all health and biological related matters. Although this is true, Bioengineers – if I can be candid- do the coolest things that are not included in that definition. Not only can they go on to work in practically any field, they get to work on cutting edge technology and apply it to so many fields this blog post wouldn’t end if I attempted to cite all of them.
The Bioengineering Time Machine or where I wish I had been in history
Bioengineering is a field that progresses so quickly that every few years, maybe even months, there are new areas where it gets involved. However, some of the most important advances have been made possible by certain advances in biomedical technology. One that I find particularly interesting was the introduction of haptic technology in the world of surgery. The possibility of solving medical problems in developing countries, and during times where someone may not have access to a surgeon is greatly increasing thanks to this technology that makes remote surgery possible. Although this field is still in development, I would have loved working on Operation Lindbergh, one of the first remote surgeries performed aboard a transatlantic flight.
Bioengineering is a field that progresses so quickly that every few years, maybe even months, there are new areas where it gets involved. However, some of the most important advances have been made possible by certain advances in biomedical technology. One that I find particularly interesting was the introduction of haptic technology in the world of surgery. The possibility of solving medical problems in developing countries, and during times where someone may not have access to a surgeon is greatly increasing thanks to this technology that makes remote surgery possible. Although this field is still in development, I would have loved working on Operation Lindbergh, one of the first remote surgeries performed aboard a transatlantic flight.
What I hope to learn in Bioengineering
Although I know that in the coming semester I won’t acquire most of the knowledge about bioengineering, in the strict theorical sense, I hope to at least learn the basics about what Bioengineers really do and have a close look at a few of the fields where Bioengineers work. And, yes, I want to learn to think like an engineer, but I want to have fun doing it too. What would be the point of working as an engineer if not?
Although I know that in the coming semester I won’t acquire most of the knowledge about bioengineering, in the strict theorical sense, I hope to at least learn the basics about what Bioengineers really do and have a close look at a few of the fields where Bioengineers work. And, yes, I want to learn to think like an engineer, but I want to have fun doing it too. What would be the point of working as an engineer if not?
The skills I'll have to summon
Although I greatly enjoy math and science, I know I have to work on something else to be a good engineer: communicating my thoughts (as Dr. Bogen said). This is why I am really looking forward to completing the research project. I believe it will allow me to develop and improve the skills necessary to write a good research paper, something essential for every engineer, while still concentrating on an area of Bioengineering of interest to me. However, I must confess that writing this blog is going to be one of the toughest challenges for me. I have never kept a diary or written a blog (successfully) and I’m eager to find out what I’ll learn from this experience, and maybe I’ll even end up loving it!
Although I greatly enjoy math and science, I know I have to work on something else to be a good engineer: communicating my thoughts (as Dr. Bogen said). This is why I am really looking forward to completing the research project. I believe it will allow me to develop and improve the skills necessary to write a good research paper, something essential for every engineer, while still concentrating on an area of Bioengineering of interest to me. However, I must confess that writing this blog is going to be one of the toughest challenges for me. I have never kept a diary or written a blog (successfully) and I’m eager to find out what I’ll learn from this experience, and maybe I’ll even end up loving it!
Bioengineering news
Hey Penn Students! Well, as one of the holy grails of everything scientific, the magazine “Science” recently published an article on artificial forms of eyesight to give the blind their vision back.
Hey Penn Students! Well, as one of the holy grails of everything scientific, the magazine “Science” recently published an article on artificial forms of eyesight to give the blind their vision back.
The complete article can be found here:
Basically, a German company created by a family whose children were visually disabled (Intelligent Medical Implants) has come up with an implant that could potentially restore vision to the blind. The implant consists of an extremely small patch with 49 electrodes that excite the cells in the retina, sending visual information via gold wires (as can be seen in the picture from the article). This millimeter-sized golden implant has shown much promise (according to the article various patients could identify basic shapes and figures when the implants were connected to a computer sending infrared signals) but they are still in the earlier stages of development, since the best devices can only provide vision to a small group of blind people in very crude black and white images. Still, there is hope in the future and,who knows?, maybe one of the people in this class will come up with the solution to this problem in the future!
Anything else?
I just wanted to mention that if anyone who reads this has any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me or post something and I’ll do my best to answer them. Thanks and have a great week!
I just wanted to mention that if anyone who reads this has any questions, don’t hesitate to contact me or post something and I’ll do my best to answer them. Thanks and have a great week!
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