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By Paul DeVita, PhD; Lisa MacFadden, PhD; and Felipe Carpes, PhD
Hello Biomechanists Worldwide…
As we prepare for National Biomechanics Day (NBD) April 3,2024, we thought a recap of last year’s event in order. National Biomechanics Day 2023 celebrated our Breakthrough Science for the eighth consecutive year in 15 countries around the world. Some of our new national friends include Marcus Tilp and Hans Kainz at the University of Vienna in Austria; Elissavet Rousanoglou, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens in Greece; Julius Griškevičius at Vilnius Gedmiminas Technical University in Lithuania; and Rony Ibrahim from Qatar University.
A few more numbers…in 2023 we had 65 NBD celebrations that introduced biomechanics to ~5,000 high school students and 100 teachers and parents. Our 8-year totals are 557 NBD events in 46 nations hosting more than 40,750 high school students! Talk about breaking through!
Another new thrill for NBD in 2023 was the generous offer from the Journal of Biomechanics Editor Steve Piazza to publish a series of new articles on our favorite world holiday in a special virtual issue titled, “National Biomechanics Day Accelerates The Expansion of the Biomechanics Universe” (available at https://www.sciencedirect.com/journal/journal-of-biomechanics/special-issue/1034239JR1V). Nine articles cover topics including increasing diversity, equity, and inclusion in biomechanics; NBDs around the world; an NBD Roadshow; NBDs with dance and sports; plus NBD as informal STEM engagement. Please take a peek at these articles by so many rising stars in Biomechanics and Biomechanics outreach.
NBD, under the auspices of The Biomechanics Initiative, Inc., successfully held its grant programs for the third consecutive year. We funded 22 applications from 7 nations with $19,800. These programs supported women, Black, and LatinX students as well as biomechanists working in the area of disability. In 3 years, NBD has provided ~$50,000 to support the growth and development of our science. We give special acknowledgement to Bertec, Inc, American Society of Biomechanics, and Books of Discovery for their direct support of these programs.
NBD also partnered with Novel Electronics, Inc., for the fourth consecutive year in the “Force the Future loadsol®,” contest in which students from the University of Poitiers in France received three pairs of loadsol pro insoles for their NBD celebration. Thanks to Maria Pasquale and Susan Diekrager for their never-ending NBD-enthusiasm.
Along with about a billion fabulous photos from many NBD 2023 celebrations, we also have some outstanding videos which can all be found at https://thebiomechanicsinitiative.org/nbd-archives/ .
As always, we cannot accomplish our goals without the support of the scientific and commercial foundations of biomechanics, our many sponsors, all of whom broadly support our science in so many ways.
We again thank the 400+ biomechanists and biomechanics students around the world who participated in National Biomechanics Day 2023. With your continued support, with the support of our sponsors, and with new biomechanists joining NBD each year, we are pretty sure Biomechanics will be the Breakthrough Science of the 21st Century!!!!
And now, on to NBD 2024…
Biomechanics, where science meets fun!
