International Society of Biomechanics
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December 2025

presidents-blog

“Time” is a Pink Floyd song that reflects on the ephemerality of life and the importance of valuing each moment, which is, in my perception, the main message of this song. But why am I starting this blog trying to sound philosophical? It is because time is our most valuable possession and feeling that we invest our time wisely is motivating. It feels like we published the last issue of ISB Now only yesterday, and here I am again. The time we dedicate to our community is valuable, and I am happy to note that it has been well invested. Our Executive Council has been busy, and the past few months have shown how much can be accomplished when time is valued and shared with purpose.

In this second President’s Blog, I want to share some of these activities and also comment on a few experiences that my role as ISB President has provided me so far.

I should mention that I wrote the first draft of this blog right after having breakfast with two former ISB Muybridge Awardees: Professors Roger Enoka and Marco Vaz. Yes, you read it correctly, but I will not be able to summarize here the full meaning of that experience. Learning from more experienced members of our community is always important, especially when you are playing leadership roles. We just spent a few days together in Brazil participating in a scientific event, and among the high-level discussions about motor adaptations, fatigue versus fatigability, biomechanics, and artificial intelligence, Prof. Enoka and Prof. Vaz confirmed that they will attend ISB 2027 in Sydney. During that breakfast, we all agreed that time flies, and planning the trip to Sydney must start now!

Since I mention Sydney, I should also say that a couple of weeks ago I had the opportunity to spend a couple of days in Australia with my longtime friend and collaborator Prof. Evangelos Pappas. This visit was not directly related to ISB, as it was part of a joint research project funded by the Brazilian Government, but gave me a chance to stop by Sydney and visit the venue of our 2027 Congress under the guidance of the best Sydney tour guide one can have: our Past-President, Prof. Elizabeth Clarke. In this issue of ISB Now you will find news about future editions, especially ISB 2029, for which we are now receiving bid submissions. This topic is handled by our President-Elect, Prof. Brent Edwards, who has dedicated time to provide more details.

Still on time, purpose, and value… it was my pleasure to represent ISB during a symposium celebrating the 10th anniversary of the MGM Center Navi Mumbai, in which I joined online. I would like to congratulate Dr. Rajani Mullerpatan and the entire team for this important achievement. She was an ISB Executive Council member back in 2013, when I had my first participation in discussions about biomechanics in EDC. I am proud to see how the time she has invested is resulting in something historic for her institution and for our community. The ISB connection with the local group was strengthened by the presence of our ISB Affiliate Societies Officer, Prof. Yumna Albertus, who was able to join the event in person.

I have also dedicated time to talk about ISB in several events I have participated in recently. Every time I do it, I feel reenergized by the opportunity to share the goals and mission of our society and to highlight our ongoing initiatives. These include, but are not limited to, our new ISB website (which we are working hard to launch soon), the student grant applications currently open, and the agenda for 2026, featuring the ISB Fellows Webinar Series (spoiler alert!), the Technical Group Symposia (many of them taking place during WCB in Vancouver – spoiler alert!), our brand new sponsorship model that is coming out soon, and other activities (follow us on Instagram and LinkedIn to stay tuned – our student representative, Elisa Romero, is always sharing interesting contents there! I try to help too).

Time… it is almost time to show you our new website, the whole new Biomch-L, and possibly our new visual identity as well. We have been deeply involved with this, especially our Informatics Officer, Prof. Jonas Rubenson. So far, I can only offer a brief message: wait and trust us. You will not be disappointed.

I could write more, but I must stop here. You need time to explore the remaining content of this ISB Now issue. There are news about our Fellows, there are comments about our experiences in Stockholm, and there are special messages from our executive council members that you must have time to read with attention. But before that, and because I had such a meaningful week sharing breakfast with two former ISB Muybridge Awardees, I want to quote a slide from Prof. Enoka’s stellar talk on the future directions of research: “The difference between the future and the past is what you are doing now.”

What are we doing now, to shape our future? I am trying to use my time with purpose. “Every year is getting shorter,” but I truly believe we are not among those who “never seem to find the time.” As a result, our plans are not those that “come to naught,” nor do they end as “half a page of scribbled lines”.

ISB is using time wisely thanks to a talented team working behind the scenes to deliver a great show for everyone in the upcoming years. We count on your support so we can do even more. Renew your membership, or join us by becoming a member today at www.isbweb.org

Since my next blog will come in 2026, I want to take advantage of this space to wish you a wonderful new year!

 

Thank you for your time,

Felipe Carpes
ISB President
Federal University of Pampa, Brazil



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Dear ISB Community,

As we approach the end of the year, I want to personally invite you to stay connected with our Society. ISB memberships operate on a calendar-year basis, so current memberships expire in December 2025. For some members, this may also be a reminder to renew if your membership has lapsed, often simply due to a missed payment.

At our Annual General Meeting in Stockholm, members approved two updates to strengthen ISB moving forward: we will transition to two-year memberships only, and fees will move from Australian Dollars to US Dollars. Even with these changes, ISB continues to offer exceptional value. Membership provides access to ISB-Now, the Journal of Applied Biomechanics, congress proceedings and videos, travel and study grants, job listings, software and data resources, and our growing global directory. Students benefit especially, as ISB allocates more than US $40,000 annually to student grants.

Supervisors, please encourage your students to join and take advantage of these opportunities.

Renewing for 2026–2027 is simple: visit www.isbweb.org and click “Renew.”

Financial members also receive a significant discount for the next ISB Congress in Sydney, July 18–22, 2027.

If your membership has lapsed, we warmly welcome you back. Back-dues have been removed, making it easier than ever to return to our community.

Your participation strengthens ISB and supports our mission worldwide. I hope you will continue this journey with us.

For any questions, please contact our Treasurer at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

Warm regards,

Felipe Carpes
President, International Society of Biomechanics



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Dear ISB Community,

We are soliciting media contect for the new ISB website to launch in the coming year.  We are looking for high resolution images and video to feature on the new website landing page and other pages.

If you would like to have your work featured on the website, please consider contributing images/video (we will include media credits).

Please contact Jonas Rubenson (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) for more information.

Jonas Rubenson
ISB Informatics Officer



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Here, you will uncover historical information about the society. Enjoy these nuggets curated by John Challis, our Archives Officer.  

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In news journalism, Betteridge’s “Law of Headlines” states,

"Any headline that ends in a question mark can be answered by the word no."

The physicist Ian Hinchliffe proposed the academic version of this rule, the eponymous Hinchfliffe’s rule,

“If the title of a scholarly article is a yes-no question, the answer is ‘no’.”

An article by Yale Goldman and Nobel prize winner Andrew Huxley (Wartenweiler Memorial Lecturer at the 1999 ISB Congress) illustrates the idea. The title of the article asked “Actin compliance: are you pulling my chain?” (Goldman & Huxley, 1994). In this case the authors did not strictly offer a yes or no answer.

The ISB was formed at the 1973 conference titled “Fourth International Seminar on Biomechanics“. At that conference there were no conference papers with titles which expressed a question. A decade later the IXth ISB Congress was held at the University of Waterloo, Canada. At this congress there was one conference paper whose title expressed a question. The paper asked: “Do the firing statistics of motor units modify the frequency content of the EMG signal during sustained contractions?” by Carlo De Luca and J.L. Creigh. The answer was yes. Ten years later when the XIV ISB Congress was held in Paris, France, there were five conference papers whose title expressed a question but in none of those papers were questions asked so they could be answered as either yes or no.

In 2003, the XIX ISB Congress was held in Dunedin, New Zealand. There were seven conference papers with titles which were questions. For example, a paper by Costas Maganaris asked: “Is human tendon lengthening a valid indicator of contractile force changes in the in-series muscle?”, to which the answer was no.

In 2013, the XXIV ISB Congress was held in Natal, Brazil. There were 27 conference papers whose titles were expressed as questions; and for 19 of those papers the questions could be answered as either yes or no. For example, Masaki Ishikawa and colleagues asked “Can measures of muscle-tendon interaction reveal the superiority of East African endurance runners?”, to which the answer was yes.

In 2023, the XXIX ISB Congress was held in Fukuoka, Japan. There were 33 conference papers whose titles were expressed as questions; and for 23 of these papers the questions could be answered as either yes or no. Karen Mickle and colleagues posed the question “Does a 100-day mentoring program change girls’ attitudes & self-identification in science, engineering & biomechanics?”, to which the answer was yes.

Over the decades the number of papers presented at ISB Congresses has grown, but the number of papers with titles expressed as questions has grown at a greater rate. The trend reported here is common in other areas of study, for example, Ball (2009) examined publications in physics, life sciences and medicine over a 40-year period. Just under twenty million scientific articles were examined for a question mark at the end of their titles, with the trend being the proportion of papers with questions marks increased over the analysis period. Ball (2009) did not evaluate if the articles followed Hinchfliffe’s rule but shows the pattern of growth in titles expressed as questions at ISB Congresses followed the same pattern as publications in other disciplines. Cook & Plourde (2016) examined nearly 8000 articles published in 2014 in six academic areas (literature and literary theory, philosophy, psychology, sociology and political science, computer science, and physics and astronomy). Only 2.3 % of titles featured questions, approximately 50% of which could be answered either yes or no. Of those articles which posed questions with a yes or no answer, for 35.8 % the answer was no, with 9.5 % giving contingent answers (“it depends”). These results would paradoxically lead us to conclude that if a paper had the title/question “When your paper has a title which is a question, is the answer ‘no’?”, the answer would be no.

 

References

  • Ball, R. (2009). Scholarly communication in transition: The use of question marks in the titles of scientific articles in medicine, life sciences and physics 1966–2005. Scientometrics, 79(3), 667-679.
  • Cook, J. M., & Plourde, D. (2016). Do scholars follow Betteridge’s Law? The use of questions in journal article titles. Scientometrics, 108(3), 1119-1128.
  • Goldman, Y. E., & Huxley, A. F. (1994). Actin compliance: are you pulling my chain? Biophysics Journal, 67(6), 2131-2133.



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We would like to thank everyone who has already participated in the ISB Student Survey! Your feedback is helping us better understand our student community and how we can best support you. Here are a few highlights from the data collected so far:

student-rep01

If you are a current ISB Student Member and have not yet completed the survey, please check your email inbox. The link was sent on October 7. Your responses are essential to shaping future student initiatives, events, and opportunities within the ISB. So far, only 13% of registered students have participated.

According to the survey, the top three topics students would like to see featured in this section are:

  1. Career development opportunities (jobs, internships, scholarships),
  2. Tips and resources for students (study, writing, funding),
  3. Announcements of student events and webinars.



To keep this section concise, below you’ll find a selection of upcoming events from our Affiliate Societies and Sponsors, as well as job openings and opportunities you might find interesting.

Stay tuned, more tips and resources will be shared regularly via the Student Biomch-L channel.

 

Upcoming events and deadlines:

 

Title Type Date(s) Location
ESB Webinar: Novel biomaterial manufacturing technologies in regenerative medicine Event 2025-12-11 Online
Sandwich Doctorate program in Brazil: Application Deadline Deadline 2025-12-30 -
OpenSim+ Workshop (Stanford University): Application Deadline Deadline 2026-01-14 -
Applied Sport User Group Meeting: EMG & Motion Capture in Practice Event 2026-01-23 West Midlands, UK
ISBS Conference: Article submission deadline Deadline 2026-01-23 -
CASES Webinar: Beyond the Discipline: Leadership Journeys of Sport Science Technicians Event 2026-01-28 Online
ISB Student Grants: Application Deadline (more information in the following section) Deadline 2026-01-31 -



Additionally, the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB) Student Committee is excited to launch a new virtual initiative, Cross Lab Motion—a rotating series of lab-hosted meetings designed to foster peer feedback, collaboration, and shared curiosity in biomechanics.

Their goal is to give students the opportunity to:

  • Meet and engage with new labs
  • Share their research in a supportive, cross-institutional setting
  • Learn about diverse approaches to biomechanics
  • Practice communicating their work to a wider scientific audience

If your lab is interested in joining the rotation, please fill out this FORM. Once signed up, ASB’s Student Committee will follow up with details about scheduling and confirm the hosting order for the next six months. For more information, reach out to: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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Jobs and Positions:

  1. Gait Lab Center Engineer/Biomechanist, Ohio, USA
  2. PhD and Postdoc Positions in Mechatronics and Reinforcement Learning in Surgical and Wearable Robots, New York, USA
  3. MS/PHD Human Factors candidates, Ontario, Canada
  4. Biomechanics Lab Technician, Utah, USA
  5. Senior Scientist or Principal Scientist, Center of Applied Biomechanics, Virginia, USA



Please don’t hesitate to reach out with comments, questions, suggestions, or simply to connect. You can contact me at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..



All the best,

Elisa Romero Avila
ISB Student Representative



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Updated November 2025

Contents

  1. The Matching Dissertation Grant program (MDG)
  2. The International Travel Grant program (ITG)
  3. The International Affiliate Development Grant program (IADG)
  4. The Technical Group Meeting Travel Grant program (TGTG)
  5. The Congress Travel Grant program (CTG)
  6. The Postdoctoral Fellow Congress Travel Grant program (PD_CTG)
  7. Grant Summary Table
  8. Important notes
  9. How to submit

Find full details in: student-grants.pdf



How to submit

Email the application to:

Dr. Erica Bell
ISB Executive Council Student Grants Officer
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

 

**Please put ‘ISB student grant’ in the email subject line**.

**If applying for the Postdoctoral Fellow Congress Travel Grant, please put ‘PD_CTG’ in the email subject line**.



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My name is Vítor Guarda Munari, and I am a physiotherapist and MSc student in Biodynamics of Human Performance at the Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil, where I am a member of the BSiM – Musculoskeletal Biomechanics Research Group. My academic interests revolve around gait analysis, human energetics, and rehabilitation strategies for lower-limb disorders.

My current dissertation project, entitled “Unpacking Nordic Walking in Knee Osteoarthritis”, aims to compare the biomechanical and energetic responses of Nordic Walking and conventional walking in individuals with knee osteoarthritis. By examining mechanical work, pendular energy recovery, joint loading, and metabolic cost, the project seeks to clarify whether Nordic Walking can serve as an efficient, evidence-based tool in clinical rehabilitation. The International Travel Grant supported a six-week research stay in Italy designed to strengthen both the theoretical and methodological pillars of this project.

My journey began in Pavia, where Prof. Leonardo Alexandre Peyré-Tartaruga welcomed me with remarkable kindness and humility. For four weeks, I immersed myself in the academic routine of the University of Pavia, participating in experimental sessions at the LocoLab, and diving deep into the foundational theory of human locomotion. Guided by classical works of Cavagna and Minetti, and by Prof. Tartaruga’s own contributions, I revisited and expanded concepts such as mechanical work calculations, pendular mechanics, and the energetic cost of walking. These discussions, often sparked by simple questions over coffee or during data collection days, gave shape and clarity to ideas that will directly influence my dissertation on Nordic Walking biomechanics.

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After this rich period, I traveled to Bologna for two additional weeks of advanced methodological training at the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli under the supervision of Prof. Alberto Leardini, and guided by his students. At Rizzoli, the focus shifted from theory to practice, especially understanding how Motion Analysis takes place inside a world-leading orthopedic institution. I had daily involvement in Motion Analysis assessments, specially using the VICON acquisition system, which allowed me to refine essential skills: marker placement, model setup, labeling, gap-filling, filtering, force-plate integration, interpretation metrics and also data processing. I also engaged with complementary technologies such as baropodometry, instrumented stairs, IMU sensors, and cone-beam computed tomography imaging. Seeing biomechanics embedded in clinical decision-making was one of the most impactful aspects of the experience.

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Beyond the scientific enrichment, the cultural immersion was equally meaningful. Walking through a university founded in 1361, and later working inside one of the most respected orthopedic institutes in the world, gave emotional weight to every learning moment. The generosity of both research groups, and the privilege of daily interactions with Prof. Tartaruga and Prof. Leardini, transformed this experience from a technical training into a defining moment in my academic path. I left Italy not only with more knowledge, but with a clearer sense of direction, purpose, and belonging within the field of biomechanics.

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The view of Bologna from the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, a view that, according to Prof. Alberto Leardini, is the most beautiful in the city.



I would like to express my sincere gratitude to all those who made this international experience possible. To Prof. Leonardo Alexandre Peyré-Tartaruga, for kindly welcoming me to Pavia, sharing his deep knowledge on mechanical work and pendular energy mechanics, and creating such an inspiring scientific environment. To Prof. Alberto Leardini, for receiving me at the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, introducing me to the facilities and the outstanding research team, and allowing me to expand my understanding of motion analysis and its clinical applications. A special thanks to Francesca Bressan, for her constant support and kindness during my stay in Bologna. To Prof. Heiliane de Brito Fontana, my supervisor, for her continuous guidance, coordination, and encouragement, which made this entire experience possible. Finally, I extend my heartfelt thanks to the International Society of Biomechanics for the International Travel Grant. Your support not only enabled this research exchange but also inspired me to keep pursuing excellence and to contribute to future international collaborations in biomechanics.

 

Vítor Guarda Munari
Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC), Brazil



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The Hungarian Society of Biomechanics was founded in 2004 by participants at the First Hungarian Biomechanics Conference, based on a preliminary proposal by the Biomechanics Research Centers in Budapest and Debrecen, with the participation of engineers, physicians, physicists, and biologists.

The aim of the Society is to familiarize Hungarian researchers, who previously often worked in isolation, with each other's activities, to help establish new synergistic scientific relationships, and thus to become an increasingly well-known and recognized domestic center for the research areas cultivated by its members.

In addition, it keeps its members informed about domestic and international meetings, conferences, grant opportunities, and scientific news related to biomechanics. The newsletters sent to members also included job offers for young people, suggestions for establishing international contacts, and information about newly published books and other publications.

The Society organizes the Hungarian Biomechanics Conference, which has been held eight times since its inception. In addition, the Society has its own scientific journal on biomechanics (Biomechanica Hungarica), which has been published twice a year since 2008, typically with articles in Hungarian and English.

We are delighted that our society was able to join the ISB in 2025, which has opened up new opportunities and broader networking possibilities for us.

 

Additional data on the Hungarian Society of Biomechanics:

 

Presidium:

  • Rita Kiss, Chair
  • Lajos Borbás, Vice-Chair
  • Imre Bojtár, Member of the Presidium
  • Péter Endre Éltes, Member of the Presidium
  • Márta Kurutzné Kovács, Member of the Presidium
  • József Tihanyi, Member of the Presidium
  • Sándor Manó, Secretary



hsb



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New CNB Board

The Comparative Neuromuscular Biomechanics (CNB) Technical Group held its biennial Board elections in the summer of 2025. We are delighted to announce the newly appointed Board members:

Board Positions

  • Chairperson
    Dr. Taylor Dick
    School of Biomedical Sciences
    The University of Queensland
  • Communications Officer
    Dr. Armita Manafzadeh
    Yale Institute for Biospheric Studies
    Yale University
  • Secretary General
    Dr. Monica Daley
    Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
    University of California, Irvine
  • Membership Officer
    Prof. Dr. Anne Koelwijn
    Department of Electrical–Electronic–Communication Engineering
    Friedrich-Alexander University
  • Treasurer
    Dr. Kiisa Nishikawa
    Department of Biological Sciences
    Northern Arizona University
  • Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer
    Dr. Christopher Arellano
    Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine
    University of Arizona
  • Postdoctoral Officer
    Dr. Nikos Papachatzis
    Department of Mechanical Engineering & Materials Science
    Yale University
  • Student Officer
    India Lindemann
    School of Biomedical Sciences
    The University of Queensland
  • Member at Large
    Dr. Manny Azizi
    Department of Ecology & Evolutionary Biology
    University of California, Irvine

We extend our sincere thanks to outgoing Board members who have contributed enormously to CNB over many years: Jonas Rubenson, Gregory Sawicki, Natalie Holt, and Chris Richards. A special acknowledgement goes to Jonas Rubenson, the founder of the CNB group, for his vision and leadership.



New CNB Website

We are excited to launch our new website!
Visit us at: https://sites.google.com/view/isb-cnb/home

Membership is free—join the CNB community here:
https://sites.google.com/view/isb-cnb/membership?authuser=0



CNB Special Issue in Journal of Biomechanics — Now Accepting Submissions

Submissions are now open for our special issue in the Journal of Biomechanics:

“Muscle–tendon mechanics across species”, co-edited by Jonas Rubenson, Taylor Dick, and Huub Maas.

 

This issue will feature contributions from the CNB Satellite Meeting held in July, but we also warmly welcome submissions from researchers who did not attend the event.

We look forward to your contributions!



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Greetings everyone,

Just a quick update from the Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) officer.

We proposed a special session for the World Congress of Biomechanics, along with the ISB president and the past president, on the topic of "Gender and Geographical Bias in Biomechanics: Evidence and potential directions for change". Unfortunately, the session proposal was declined, but we remain committed to this topic. We think it would make a great webinar for next year, so stay tuned...

The new IDEA committee is coming together. We had volunteers representing the International Women in Biomechanics Society, the Black Biomechanics Association and the Latinx in Biomechanix. If you would like to join as well, please reach out to me at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. It is never too late!

I wish you a merry Christmas 2025 and a happy New Year 2026.

Julie Choisne
IDEA Officer



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We are excited to announce the International Society of Biomechanics–Lululemon Female Research Excellence Award.

The ISB Female Research Excellence Award recognizes a female researcher who demonstrates exceptional ability in conducting research and communicating its significance.

Six finalists will be selected based on research excellence and the quality of their abstract submitted to WCB 2026. Finalists will be notified in advance, and the award winner will be selected following presentations at WCB 2026. The award winner will receive $1000 USD. This award is sponsored by Lululemon.

Applicants must submit their application -- consisting of (1) their WCB-submitted abstract and (2) a CV of no more than three pages -- to the ISB Awards Officers, Taylor Dick (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) or Heiliane de Brito Fontana (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.), by February 28th, 2026.

 

Eligibility

An applicant is eligible for the ISB Female Research Excellence Award if they:

  • identify as female,
  • are a current member of the International Society of Biomechanics,
  • are the first author on a WCB 2026 submitted abstract, and
  • present the research at WCB 2026 in Vancouver.

All career stages are encouraged to apply. Members of the ISB Executive Council are not eligible.



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Back in 2018, the ISB Executive Council evaluated the bids for the ISB 2021 Congress and selected Stockholm. There was excitement in the air with the possibility of hosting our community in the “home of the Nobel Prize,” reinforced by the commitment of the organizing team. Then came the coronavirus pandemic, which took from us friends, family, energy, and perspective. Fighting the virus was also a challenge for the ISB 2021 organizers, who nevertheless delivered a brilliant first-ever online ISB Congress. It worked well online, but - as many of us said - “online is not the same” as being together face to face. The energetic team from Stockholm then proposed to host the congress again in 2025, and the Executive Council gladly agreed.

Now, a month and a half after ISB 2025 has ended, we are still reverberating from the success of this unforgettable event (and maybe even some ABBA hits still playing in our heads!). The congress offered stellar talks at the frontiers of biomechanics and its connections with other fields. The program opened the stage for students and researchers to share their latest findings and receive feedback from our community.

The ISB Congress is never only about biomechanics, it is also about strengthening our society. Special spaces like the Student Mentoring Lunch, the Student Night Out, and the Advancing Women in Biomechanics session created opportunities to connect, to expand networks, and to celebrate together. And who didn’t have fun at the Gala Dinner? We would bet only those who had to leave the conference before the dinner night, because for everyone else, it was truly memorable.

We would like to thank all the delegates who came to Stockholm, knowing how much effort and sacrifice it sometimes takes. We hope every effort paid off. We warmly thank the organizing team for delivering another great event and express our gratitude to the congress sponsors, who were instrumental in making this congress possible.

Thank you, ISB community, for keeping the rhythm alive. We hope that everyone who enjoyed ISB 2025 continues to walk with ISB, renewing membership or joining the society, so we can keep creating together the beautiful memories that an ISB Congress brings.

We look forward to seeing you again soon - definitely in Sydney 2027!

“The show must go on” -- well, that’s Queen. In ABBA’s words we should say instead: “Thank you for the music.”

Felipe Carpes
ISB President

Elizabeth Clarke
ISB Past President



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The Executive Council of the International Society of Biomechanics is now inviting applications to host the 2029 Congress. Applications are due March 31, 2026 and the official application guidelines can be found here: congress2029.pdf

Please contact the President-Elect, Brent Edwards, for any questions This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.



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The 13th Asian-Pacific Conference on Biomechanics (APBiomech 2025) was held 18–21 November 2025 at Waipapa Taumata Rau – The University of Auckland, gathering 169 participants from across the Asia–Pacific region and several international institutions. The meeting was organized by the biomechanics community of Auckland, many of whom are affiliated to the Australian & New Zealand Orthopaedic Research Society and the Australian and New Zealand Society of Biomechanics.

The scientific programme covered the full breadth of biomechanics—from cell and tissue mechanics to gait, orthopaedics, computational modelling, medical device development, and emerging technologies such as AI, digital twins, and smart materials. This breadth reflected the region’s growing integration of fundamental research, engineering innovation, and clinical translation.

Networking and community-building were central features of the conference. Highlights included a women’s networking lunch, an end-of-day social session with Special Bingo, and dedicated activities for early-, mid-, and senior-career researchers, all of which supported mentorship and collaboration across disciplines.

A major milestone was the presentation of the Yamaguchi Medals, recognising exceptional early-career biomechanists across key subfields. The 2025 awardees were:

  • Dr Shiuan-Huei Lu – Gait and Kinesiology
  • Dr Long Bai – Emerging Technology
  • Dr Sinyoung Lee – Computational Biomechanics
  • Dr Maedeh Amirpour – Product Development
  • Dr Masashi Yamazaki – Cell and Molecular Biomechanics

Each delivered a spotlight presentation on the final day.

Selected works from APBiomech 2025 will be invited to a special issue of the Journal of Biomechanical Science and Engineering (JBSE), further extending the impact of the meeting.

Seungbum Koo
ISB Asia Representative



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Alberto Leardini

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He has been working at Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli - Bologna (Italy) since 1990, where he is now Director of the Movement Analysis Laboratory, and Research Coordinator of the Line of Research “Innovative technologies for the surgery of pathologies of the musculoskeletal system”. He received the Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Orthopaedic Engineering at the University of Oxford. His initial research focused on methodological issues and clinical applications of human motion analysis. His interests evolved to three-dimensional videofluoroscopy, radiostereometry, and computer assisted surgery. He also made fundamental progresses on the mechanical modelling and prosthesis design of the ankle joint, and his original total ankle replacement is implanted with successful clinical and functional outcomes. He is now exploiting medical imaging, including modern weight-bearing CT, and additive manufacturing for custom-design of implants and orthotics for Orthopaedic treatments. He is author of more than 280 papers in peer-review journals (H-index 53 with more than 17000 citations – SCOPUS October 2025) and of 4 international patents. He has served on many national and international scientific communities: he has been President of the Società Italiana di Analisi del Movimento in Clinica (SIAMOC), of the Technical Group 3-D Analysis of Human Movement (3DAHM), of the Italian Digital Biomanufacturing Network (IDBN), and of the International Society of Biomechanics (ISB). He has been in the Research Committee of the European Foot and Ankle Society (EFAS), and, since the foundation, in the Steering Group of the International Foot & Ankle Biomechanics community (i-FAB) and in the Scientific Board of the International Weight Bearing CT Society (IWBCTS).



Glen Lichtwark

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Glen Lichtwark is a Professor in Exercise and Sport Science, and is currently the Head of School of Exercise and Nutrition Science at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Prof. Lichtwark earned his PhD in 2005 from University College London (UCL), where his research focused on the influence of muscle and tendon elasticity on power output and energetics. His research continues to focus on skeletal muscle structure and function and its relationship to human movement energetics and control. His extensive career includes postdoctoral and academic positions at institutions like The Royal Veterinary College (UK), Imperial College London, Griffith University, and the University of Queensland, where he has held several nationally funded research fellowships. Prof. Lichtwark attended his first International Society of Biomechanics conference in Dunedin, New Zealand, whilst studying his PhD and has been a regular attendee and contributor since this time. He was on the scientific and organising committee for the ISB 2017 Congress XXVI and served on the ISB Executive Council from 2015-2021, including roles as Education Officer and Publication Officer.



Jacqueline Alderson

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Professor Jacqueline Alderson is the Director of Tech and Human Performance and Special Advisor for the Los Angeles Olympics, LA28, at UCLA DataX. The 2024 recipient of the Geoffrey Dyson Award from ISBS, she has expertise in biomechanical modelling, wearable technologies, artificial intelligence, and pro-public tech applications in health and sport. She has published over 250 scholarly works and reports and during her 25-year tenure at the University of Western Australia she supervised 75+ research students, including 27 PhD’s to completion. She is a member of International Women in Biomechanics and served successive repeat terms as Director of ISBS (2012-16), and on the Executive Council of ISB (2019-23). In 2023–24 she was a Fulbright Senior Scholar at Stanford University and received the Inaugural Fulbright-American Chamber of Commerce in Australia Professional Alliance Award.



Zong-Ming Li

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Zong-Ming Li, PhD, is the William and Sylvia Rubin Chair of Orthopedic Research and Professor of Orthopedic Surgery, Biomedical Engineering, and the BIO5 Institute at the University of Arizona. Dr. Li has over 35 years of experience in musculoskeletal biomechanics research and education. In addition to his ISB fellowship, Dr. Li has been recognized as a Fellow of several other professional organizations, including the Asia-Pacific Artificial Intelligence Association (AAIA), American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE), American Society of Biomechanics (ASB), American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), International Academy of Medical and Biological Engineering (IAMBE), International Combined Orthopaedic Research Societies (ICORS), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), and Orthopaedic Research Society (ORS). He is also the recipient of the ASME Savio L-Y. Woo Translational Biomechanics Medal, recognizing his contributions to the biomechanics and motor control of the hand and their clinical applications.



Thor Besier

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Thor is a Professor at the Auckland Bioengineering Institute (ABI) and has a joint appointment with the Department of Engineering Science & Biomedical Engineering at the University of Auckland. He completed his Ph.D. in musculoskeletal biomechanics at The University of Western Australia in 2000 and was a postdoctoral fellow in the Bioengineering Department at Stanford University from 2003 to 2006. Thor established Stanford's Human Performance Laboratory as the Director of Research and was a faculty member in the Department of Orthopaedics at Stanford from 2006 to 2010, before returning home to New Zealand in 2011. He leads the musculoskeletal modelling group at the ABI.





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At the ISB Fellows meeting in Stockholm, the ISB Fellows discussed several initiatives that the current ISB board has identified as areas of need. These include assistance with reviewing  of student grants and awards, development of an online ISB Fellows lecture series (suggestions for topics welcomed), support of Biomch-L Discussion board, mentorship/allyship/sponsorship of mid-career members, geographic outreach, industrial sponsorship, consultation on the ISB Strategic Plan, and Outreach (including connections to the LA2028/Brisbane2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games).

Stay tuned to updates as these ISB Fellow Initiatives take shape.

Jill and Darren
ISB Assessors



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greeting-asiarep

 

Hello everyone! My name is Seungbum Koo, and I am honored to begin my term as the Asia Representative for the ISB Executive Council. I am a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) in Daejeon, South Korea, where my research focuses on knee and foot dynamics using musculoskeletal simulation and bi-planar fluoroscopic imaging to better understand the roles of connective tissues and muscles in joint function, particularly for dynamic movement and stability.

Stepping into this role, I feel both excitement and gratitude. Asia is home to an incredibly diverse, rapidly growing biomechanics community, and one of my core goals is to help amplify the outstanding work happening across the region. Many labs—big and small—are tackling important scientific and clinical challenges, and I hope to ensure that their voices, discoveries, and collaborations are visible and well-connected within the global ISB network.

Over the next two years, I aim to support Asian ISB members in several ways: by strengthening communication channels, encouraging regional scientific exchanges, and helping younger researchers discover opportunities to grow and shine on the international stage. I would also love to help build bridges—between countries, disciplines, and generations—so that our community continues to thrive through shared knowledge and mutual inspiration.

I look forward to meeting many of you, learning from your experiences, and working together to support biomechanics in Asia and beyond. Please feel free to reach out to me anytime at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. I would be delighted to hear from you.

 

Warm regards,

Seungbum Koo
ISB Asia Representative



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greeting-edc

 

I’m very pleased to have been re-elected to the ISB Executive Council!

I’ve taken over from Daniel Hahn as Economically Developing Countries (EDC) Liaison Officer. Daniel has done a fantastic job of promoting development opportunities for biomechanics in Economically Developing Countries, and I would like to thank him for this work.

One of the important responsibilities in this role is to ensure that awards and travel grants are available for ISB members from Economically Developing Countries, so please keep an eye out for such opportunities, through ISB Now and the ISB website.

 

Hannah Rice
Norwegian School of Sport Sciences



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greeting-edu

 

I’m Jos Vanrenterghem, and I’m honored to serve as your Education Officer for the next two years. My goal is to build on the outstanding initiatives of my predecessors and continue creating meaningful learning opportunities for all our members—whether you’re just starting your career or have decades of experience.

You’ve probably experienced firsthand how our pre-congress tutorials and workshops (image below) provide unique chances to learn from leading experts and connect with peers. At the 2027 ISB Congress in Sydney, we will continue along these lines. If you have ideas for topics you’d like to see—or even better, topics you’d like to lead—please do reach out. Your input is invaluable!

Looking ahead, the ISB Council is excited to broaden our educational reach beyond congresses. One new initiative is a series of online seminars during off-congress years, covering both technical and philosophical topics relevant to our field. Stay tuned—there’s more to come!

Did you know? Since its founding in 1973, the ISB has made education a core part of its mission, offering initiatives that range from congress workshops to student grants and online resources. This means that pretty much any senior ISB member will at some point in their career have been influenced in their learning by an ISB initiative. In the spirit of lifelong learning, let’s work together to inspire curiosity and growth across our community!

If you’d like to contribute to our efforts, I’d love to hear from you.

 

Jos Vanrenterghem
ISB Education Officer
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.



greeting-edu



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greeting-eab

 

Hey y’all! I am honored to be returning for a second term as your ISB Student Awards Officer!

For those who don’t already know me, I am a seasoned postdoc and just recently landed at the University of Delaware. I have been highly active within the scientific community, serving as a member, in leadership positions, and on various committees for regional, national, and international scientific conferences/societies, including the American Society of Biomechanics (ASB), International Society of Biomechanics (ISB), and Biomedical Engineering Society (BMES). Beyond traditional research training, I am a cofounder of the Black Biomechanists Association, a certified non-profit service-based organization with a mission to uplift and enrich Black biomechanists in their academic and professional careers.

I believe my early career status, research experience in academic and clinical environments, and heavy involvement in scientific societies both from a professional research perspective and as a DEI advocate within STEM spaces adds a unique perspective to the ISB Executive Council. Being an early career professional comes with a unique set of challenges that I believe I help give voice to in order to help the society, and the biomechanics field at large, better support our postdoctoral and early career members.

It has been an honor to serve on the ISB Executive Council and I look forward to continuing in the ISB Student Awards Officer role. I am excited to continue contributing to the ISB Executive Council’s efforts to move the biomechanics field forward and further develop ISB as a professional society that promotes inclusivity, celebrates diversity, and creates a culture where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued.

Please reach out if you have any questions about ISB student travel grants or if you wish to serve as a grant reviewer (open to postdoc and faculty) at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

 

Erica A. Bell
ISB Student Awards Officer



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greeting-student-rep

 

Hello! My name is Elisa Romero Avila, and I currently serve as the Student Representative and Social Media Officer for the ISB. I’m a PhD student at the Department of Rehabilitation and Prevention Engineering at the RWTH Aachen University in Germany.

As Student Representative, my goal is to stay connected with ISB students and ensure they are well informed about opportunities such as student grants, congresses, symposia, workshops, and other activities relevant to our community. I also help coordinate the student meeting held during the ISB Congress and maintain a dedicated discussion space for students on Biomch-L.

In my role as Social Media Officer, I work on sharing regular updates and news from the ISB to keep members and the broader biomechanics community engaged. I invite you to follow us on:

I’m always happy to hear your ideas for social media content or student initiatives! Feel free to reach out at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Elisa Romero Avila
ISB Student Representative



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greeting-tech

 

Hello everyone,

I’m pleased to begin my term as Technical Groups Officer, and I’d like to briefly introduce myself to the ISB community. Some of you may know me through the 3DAHM Technical Group or from various ISB meetings. I work in Rome at the University “Foro Italico”, in human movement and sport sciences — a field that constantly reminds me how biomechanics connects rigorous engineering with meaningful real-world applications.

In the coming months, my focus will be on supporting the Technical Groups in their activities and ensuring smooth communication with the ISB Council. Alongside the institutional duties of the role, I’d like to help develop a few areas that I believe could bring value to our community:

  • Supporting consensus-building within Technical Groups Several standardization initiatives emerged at the last ISB Congress. Technical Groups are a natural place for these efforts to grow, and I’ll be happy to help them contributing.
  • Privacy and membership data management: A few groups have raised questions on this. It’s not the most exciting topic, but it deserves clarity, and I’ll work on providing practical guidance where needed.
  • Creating more connections across ISB, especially involving students: There is so much energy and expertise across ISB. I’d love to create bridges between the Technical Groups and the training/education initiatives within the Society, especially where students can benefit from participating.

No spoilers for now 😊 — just know that I’ll be working in that direction.

A warm thank you to Yumna for the generous handover and for sharing her experience navigating this role.

If your Technical Group needs anything, or if you’d like to discuss an idea, feel free to reach out at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

As I wrote in my nomination statement, I value collaboration, creativity, and the ability of our community to generate impact through shared expertise. I’m looking forward to contributing in whichever way best serves the Society’s needs.

Warm regards,

Valentina
Technical Groups Officer



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