Biomedical engineering chapters and student societies: a UK and Republic of Ireland perspective

Biomedical engineering is a thriving academic and industrial subject in the United Kingdom and Republic of Ireland (UKRI). We describe how the EMBS UKRI Chapter and EMB Student Society UKRI are trying to support this field. Geographical constraints and the smaller number of biomedical engineering undergraduate students mean that the Chapter and Student Society have been formed at a national level, rather than the conventional University-based clubs and societies typical in North America. The style of events is also slightly different, with a focus on conferences rather than short events lasting less than one day, offering increased value for delegates who have to travel significant distances to attend. The UKRI Chapter and Student Society are cooperating with related organizations in the UKRI, as well as drawing on various resources, to build on what has been achieved to date.