It has been an honor and privilege to serve as the Diversity Chair for the 2024 year. The successes and accomplishments achieved throughout this time would not have been possible without the dedicated contributions of the subcommittee leads and members. I extend my sincere gratitude to all who have participated in advancing our mission.
Affinity Groups and Non-Profit Partners The Diversity Committee has made significant strides in expanding the network of Affinity Groups and Non-Profit Partners. Affinity Groups, which are informal, organized communities that share common identities, interests, or goals, continue to play an integral role in fostering connections within our biomechanist community. Non-Profit Partners are 501(c)(3) organizations dedicated to educational, charitable, religious, or scientific purposes. For those seeking to network and engage with biomechanists who share similar research interests or career goals, please be sure to seek additional information with the contact information below:
Affinity Groups
Christian Biomechanics Group
Contact: fregly@rice.edu
Early Career Faculty Affinity Group
Contact: jdroth2@wisc.edu
LGBTQIA+ Biomechanics Group
Contact: lgbtqbiomechanics@gmail.com
Post-Doctorate Affinity Group
Contact: asbpostdocs@gmail.com
Teaching Biomechanics Interest Group
Contact: cgoehler@nd.edu or ara5093@psu.edu
Non-Profit Partners Black Biomechanists Association
Visit: https://bba.membershiptoolkit.com/
International Women in Biomechanics
Visit: https://www.intwomenbiomech.org/
Latinx in Biomechanix
Visit: https://www.latinxbiomech.com/
The American Baseball Biomechanics Society
Visit: https://baseballbiomechanics.org/
The Orthopaedic Research Society
Visit: https://www.ors.org/
Biomechanics Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (B-SURE) Program In collaboration with NIKE, Inc., the ASB proudly supported the third cohort of the Biomechanics Summer Undergraduate Research Experience (B-SURE) Program. This year, five outstanding undergraduate students had the opportunity to engage in research experiences at Cleveland State University, Michigan State University, the University of Colorado Boulder, the University of Maryland School of Medicine, and the University of Utah. The program’s success is reflected not only in the positive feedback from participants, but also in the renewal of the program for 2025! Additional details regarding the upcoming review period will be shared in future ASB e-blasts.
Annual Meeting Recap
The ASB continues to prioritize the support of underrepresented biomechanists at our annual meeting, with the NIH R13 award serving as a key funding mechanism for this initiative. Thanks to the leadership of Dr. Peter Adamczyk, travel grants were awarded to 19 students and early-career members, enabling their participation in this important event. We are also excited to report a monumental turnout at the Women in Science and Diversity Luncheon co-sponsored by Novel Inc. and the Virginia Tech College of Engineering. Over 210 attendees gained valuable insights on advocating for career transitions, while more than 200 individuals participated in collective discussions on fostering an inclusive environment of innovation and leadership. I look forward to continuing our goals and vision toward promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion in the biomechanical sciences and beyond.
If you are interested in joining the Diversity Committee, have suggestions for new initiatives, or have any questions, please reach out to me.