This summer is chock full of ASB-related and -affiliated activities that contribute to a just and equitable society where people feel they belong. I hope you have had or will plan to participate in some of them.

Affinity group activities continue to be a vibrant, year-round outlet and resource for Society members. “What is an ASB affinity group?” you may ask. The Executive Board is currently working on codifying levels and rules for affinity groups in the Society, but several groups focusing on specific needs are doing great work out there. Black Biomechanists Association (BBA), Latinx in Biomechanix (LiB), and International Women in Biomechanics (IWB) were all successful recipients of the first ASB Grants for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (GRADE), and all have both increased their capacity to act independently of ASB and provide valuable activities within their groups. The Early-Career and Postdocs groups also have been active on social media sharing resources with the community. Contact me if you have questions about forming a group!

Another new program this year is the ASB Biomechanics Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (B-SURE). Five undergraduate students received awards to support their travel and living expenses during the summer while they participate in research in the laboratory of an ASB member. B-SURE kicked off with a virtual panel discussion of how to get the most out of your undergraduate research experience – many thanks to Evan Dooley, Rachel Teater, and Trevor Evans for providing their insights as panelists. In early August, we plan to hold a virtual poster session for participants and other interested undergraduate researchers to share their work-in-progress. Please email me if you or an undergraduate student working with you would like to present or attend.

If you haven’t looked at the Program-at-a-Glance for NACOB yet, take a look – there are many sessions supporting members from historically excluded groups. These include a workshop on Diversifying Your Workplace and a tutorial on Successful Outreach Programs on Sunday, Diversity Lunch on Monday, and Women In Science event on Wednesday. The Diversity Lunch is first-come, first-served, and you’ll bring your boxed lunch to the room. It will feature time for networking and a discussion with academic leaders from the USA and Canada discussing how universities and government structures have supported finding work-life balance, and challenges that we must still find a way around. The Women In Science event is limited registration and is already full, but you can add yourself to the waitlist here. It will feature discussions on what sponsorship is, why it’s important, and how to find sponsors and be an effective sponsor. Thanks so much to all the people, too many to name, who are contributing to providing this great programming at the meeting!

Lastly, do you have a strong interest in promoting justice, equity, and belonging in ASB? Would you like to be the next ASB Diversity Chair? The new chair will be chosen by the Executive Board for a term that runs from August 2023 – August 2026, and we’d love to identify that individual as early as possible so you can be the Chair-Elect for several months to learn the ropes. Contact me if you are interested.