Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium, Inc.

The Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium, Inc. (RMBS) is a United States-based professional society and conference organizer dedicated to advancing bioengineering education and research. It traces its informal origins to 1963, when a group of visionaries, primarily from the Rocky Mountain region, began meeting to exchange knowledge and ideas in the then-emerging field of biomedical engineering. The group deliberately chose the format of a symposium — a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches, inspired by Plato's work of the same name — rather than a conventional conference. In September 1965, RMBS was officially incorporated at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, by Dr. Richard (Dick) J. Gowen, Dr. Joseph C. Daniel Jr., and Carl A. Hedberg. This makes it one of the first and oldest bioengineering societies in the world. RMBS promotes and advances bioengineering education and research through conferences and publications. Its journal, Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation, has been published since 1963 and is one of the world's oldest journals in the biomedical engineering field. As stated in its initial jackets, the series deals with the latest advances in biomedical sciences instrumentation, aiming to provide a link between medicine and the measurement sciences and to expand the use of instrumentation in the medical sciences. Its objectives include determining the measurement requirements of research for clinical laboratories, practitioners, and hospitals, making the publication useful to the medical profession in general and to biologists. The organization operates as a nonprofit corporation, with its activities centered on annual symposia and the dissemination of research through its journal. While its historical roots are in the Rocky Mountain area, its reach and participation extend to professionals and students from a broader community. RMBS remains active in fostering the exchange of knowledge in biomedical engineering and instrumentation.

The Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium, Inc. (RMBS) began informally in 1963 as a group of visionaries, primarily from the Rocky Mountain area, who were interested in the then-emerging field of biomedical engineering. They believed that meeting regularly at a conference — both among themselves and with other professionals and students — would improve the exchange of knowledge and ideas for the benefit of all participants. The group soon decided that this goal would be better accomplished with a symposium, in the sense of Plato's work of the same name: a friendly contest of extemporaneous speeches given by a group of notable men attending a banquet, rather than a dull traditional conference. In September 1965, the organization was officially incorporated at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, by Dr. Richard (Dick) J. Gowen, Dr. Joseph C. Daniel Jr., and Carl A. Hedberg. This incorporation established RMBS as one of the first and oldest bioengineering societies in the world. A central element of RMBS's mission has been its journal, Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation, which has been published since 1963. It is one of the world's oldest journals in the biomedical engineering field. As stated in its initial jackets, the series deals with the latest advances in the new field of biomedical sciences instrumentation. Its aim is to provide a link between medicine and the measurement sciences and to expand the use of instrumentation in the medical sciences. The objectives are to determine the measurement requirements of research for clinical laboratories, practitioners, and hospitals. The publication is of use to the medical profession in general and to biologists. RMBS promotes and advances bioengineering education and research via conferences and publications. Its annual symposium continues to serve as a forum for professionals and students to exchange knowledge and ideas in biomedical engineering and instrumentation.

• 1965

  Officially incorporated at the United States Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colorado, by Dr. Richard J. Gowen, Dr. Joseph C. Daniel Jr., and Carl A. Hedberg.

• 1963

  Informal beginnings as a group of visionaries in the Rocky Mountain area interested in biomedical engineering; journal Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation begins publication.

A pioneering, nonprofit professional society for biomedical engineering, known for its long-running symposium and journal.

• Biomedical Sciences Instrumentation

  A journal published since 1963, one of the world's oldest in the biomedical engineering field, dealing with advances in biomedical sciences instrumentation.

• Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium

  An annual conference promoting bioengineering education and research through the exchange of knowledge and ideas.

1. 1Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium, Inc. official websitermbs.org
2. 2Wikidata entry for Rocky Mountain Bioengineering Symposium, Inc.wikidata.org