Pioneering women of the International Society of Biomechanics

The presence of successful female role models in biomechanics can encourage girls, women, and other underrepresented groups in STEM fields to pursue and remain within the discipline. It is, therefore, vital that women and their contributions to the field are publicly visible and recognized across all areas of professional biomechanical societies, such as the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB). Enhancing the visibility of female role models in biomechanics can act to mitigate current bias and stereotyping in the discipline by broadening what it looks like to be a biomechanist. Unfortunately, women are not publicly visible in many aspects of ISB activities, and finding details of women's contributions to ISB, particularly during ISB's formative years, is challenging. This review article aims to raise the visibility of female biomechanists, particularly women in ISB leadership positions who have helped shape the Society over the past 50 years. We summarize the unique backgrounds and contributions of some of these pioneering women who blazed pathways for other female biomechanists. We also recognize the women who were charter members of ISB, women who served on ISB Executive Councils and the portfolios they have held, women who have received the highest awards of the Society, and women awarded a Fellowship of ISB. Practical strategies to enhance women’s participation in biomechanics also are presented so that women can thrive and progress in ISB leadership positions and awards and, in turn, serve as positive role models to encourage girls and women to pursue and remain within this unique discipline.

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Work Title Pioneering women of the International Society of Biomechanics
Access
Open Access
Creators
  1. Julie Steele
  2. John Henry Challis
Keyword
  1. Women
  2. Underrepresented groups in STEM
  3. History
  4. Diversity
  5. International Society of Biomechanics
License CC BY 4.0 (Attribution)
Work Type Article
Publisher
  1. Journal of Biomechanics
Publication Date 2023
Publisher Identifier (DOI)
  1. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111547
Deposited September 02, 2023

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Version 1
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  • Updated
  • Added Creator John Henry Challis
  • Added Steele&Challis_PioneeringWomenISB_JournalOfBiomechanics.pdf
  • Updated License Show Changes
    License
    • https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
  • Added Creator Julie Steele
  • Updated Creator John Henry Challis
  • Published
  • Updated Keyword, Publisher, Publisher Identifier (DOI), and 1 more Show Changes
    Keyword
    • Women, Underrepresented groups in STEM, History, Diversity, International Society of Biomechanics
    Publisher
    • Journal of Biomechanics
    Publisher Identifier (DOI)
    • https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbiomech.2023.111547
    Description
    • Journal of Biomechanics, 152, 111547
    • The presence of successful female role models in biomechanics can encourage girls, women, and other underrepresented groups in STEM fields to pursue and remain within the discipline. It is, therefore, vital that women and their contributions to the field are publicly visible and recognized across all areas of professional biomechanical societies, such as the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB). Enhancing the visibility of female role models in biomechanics can act to mitigate current bias and stereotyping in the discipline by broadening what it looks like to be a biomechanist. Unfortunately, women are not publicly visible in many aspects of ISB activities, and finding details of women's contributions to ISB, particularly during ISB's formative years, is challenging. This review article aims to raise the visibility of female biomechanists, particularly women in ISB leadership positions who have helped shape the Society over the past 50 years. We summarize the unique backgrounds and contributions of some of these pioneering women who blazed pathways for other female biomechanists. We also recognize the women who were charter members of ISB, women who served on ISB Executive Councils and the portfolios they have held, women who have received the highest awards of the Society, and women awarded a Fellowship of ISB. Practical strategies to enhance women’s participation in biomechanics also are presented so that women can thrive and progress in ISB leadership positions and awards and, in turn, serve as positive role models to encourage girls and women to pursue and remain within this unique discipline.
  • Updated