A short interview with the EAMBES President Elect: Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birgit Glasmacher, M.Sc.

Prof. Birgit Glasmacher graduated in Mechanical and Chemical Engineering from RWTH Aachen University in Aachen, Germany. She received her master´s degree in Biomedical Engineering Sciences from the University of Dundee, UK and her Ph.D. from the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at RWTH Aachen University. She worked as Post-Doc and then as  head of the Department of Cryobiology & Biomaterials of the Institute for Biomedical Technologies, Helmholtz-Institute for Biomedical Engineering (HIA) at RWTH Aachen University before she was appointed Full Professor for Multiphase Processes and Director of the Institute for Multiphase Processes, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at Leibniz Universitaet Hannover (LUH). She is spokeswoman of the Center for Biomedical Engineering at LUH.

She has been the Secretary General of the European Society for Artificial Organs (ESAO) from 2008 to 2011 and the Secretary of the International Society for Cryobiology (SFC) from 2007 to 2009. She serves on the Board of the International Faculty for Artificial Organs (INFA) and also in the German Association of Engineers (VDI) in Hannover. She recently became member of the committee of Women in Biomedical Engineering (WiBME) of IFBME (International Federation for Medical and Biological Engineering).

She served as Co-chairs of the annual meeting of the SLTB 2009 in Hannover, of the annual meeting of the DGBM in 2007 in Hannover, and as co-organizer of the ESAO 2003 meeting in Aachen.

• When did you start to get involved with Alliance activities and what were the reasons for your interest?

My first contact with EAMBES was in 2008 when I was serving as Secretary General for ESAO where we discussed funding opportunities for teaching and education activities in the field of Artificial Organs and Biomedical Engineering within the EU framework programmes. 

• Why did you candidate for the General Council election and in particular for the position of President?

The need, potential and challenges of working at this level were evident from my first contacts with EAMBES and with IFBME administrative council members also serving at ESAO. Acting on a strategic view for the future of research in the field of Biomedical Engineering and in particular of Artificial Organs at an EU level is needed for our research community as well as for European industry. 

• How do you plan to contribute to the Alliance during your mandate? What are your personal strengths the Alliance could benefit from?

I hope to bring my organizational and networking skills to the role of President Elect as well as contributing to the Council with my experience in working in many scientific societies and thus elate as many European Biomedical Societies as possible to become member of EAMBES and by this strengthen EAMBES´ position and leadership on the European level. 

• Could you explain why you believe it is important for an organisation such European Society for Artificial Organs to be a member of EAMBES?

I feel that is particularly important for biomedical professionals to have a voice in the EU since Biomedical Engineering Sciences and Heath Technologies are very important issues and in addition of increasing importance due to demographic developments and thus must be an issue in EU funding programmes. 

• In your opinion what are the main achievements the Alliance has reached during the past years?

Being recognized as a group representing Biomedical Engineering researchers, institutes, and societies. 

• What are the goals EAMBES should look towards in the near future?  

Strengthen and secure the long term role of EAMBES as voice for Biomedical Engineering in Europe and further in IFBME.