In December 2025, NIBES hosted its annual winter social event in the form of a Christmas Pub Quiz raising money for Pretty 'n Pink in honour of former NIBES President Dr George Burke who sadly passed away earlier in the year.

£1200 was raised in Dr Burke's memory and donated to Pretty 'n Pink.

The Northern Ireland Biomedical Engineering Society had a night of fun at its annual summer social, this year it was held in QUBSU Union Bar and comprised of brainteasers and puzzles with social drinks and networking, thoroughly enjoyed by all.

Our 2024 NIBES Summer Social Event has been announced! 

It will be a Belfast Treasure Hunt/Quest style event on Thursday the 22nd of August in which teams can enter to work your way through challenges across Belfast and to end with a great evening’s craic and socialising 🍺🎉

Click here to register 

• £6 per person 🧑

• Max 5 people per team 👨‍👩‍👧‍👧

• Thursday 22nd of August 2024 📅

• 16:00 start at Revelución de Cuba 🍸

On Thursday the 23rd of July 2024 the Northern Ireland Biomedical Engineering Society annual symposium was held at Ulster University Belfast.

Joint Keynotes for the symposium were Professor John Orr and Professor David Beverland, please find an edited version of their presented keynote.

The Northern Ireland Biomedical Engineering Society Annual Symposium was held at the Ulster University Belfast Campus on Thursday the 23rd of May 2024. 

Programme

Abstract Book

NIBES are proud to announce our keynotes for our annual symposium Professor David Beverland and Professor John Orr, the keynote will focus on Engineers and Clinicians working together and cover some key aspects of their collaboration over the years. 

Prof. David Beverland

Professor David Beverland has over 30 years’ experience as a consultant orthopaedic surgeon in Musgrave Park Hospital, Belfast, with over 20,000 primary total hip and knee replacements performed under his care. Early in his career, he developed the Belfast Orthopaedic Information System (1986) which is still in use today. In 2002, he set up a research charity, which has raised over £2M. He has trained 37 fellows and provided teaching for over 3 decades for visiting surgeons. He has supervised 5 PhDs, 2 MDs and 8 MPhils.  He has over 160 publications, over 200 conference presentations including invited speaker at many national and international meetings. He was a member of the International Consensus committees on both peri-prosthetic joint infection and VTE. He was appointed honorary Professor in Queen’s University Belfast in 2011. 

Prof. John Orr

Professor John Orr graduated from Belfast Royal Academy in 1973, fostering an early passion for Mechanical Engineering. He earned a BSc from Queen’s University Belfast in 1977, initially embarking on a career in heavy engineering at Harland and Wolff Ltd. In 1979, an opportunity arose in Biomedical Engineering at Musgrave Park Hospital, where he became Senior Bioengineer. His work spanned mobility and rehabilitation, alongside research into bone and joint stresses, culminating in a 1985 PhD from Queen’s University Belfast. Prof. Orr's research evolved to encompass joint fixation, polymer degradation, and dental materials. John returned to Queen’s University Belfast in 1989, progressing to Reader and Department Head by 1997. In 2002, he was appointed Chair of Biomedical Engineering. Orr's contributions were recognized with a silver medal from the Royal Academy of Medicine in Ireland in 2002, acknowledging his expertise in bioengineering through the Haughton Lecture. He is a Chartered Engineer and Fellow of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers.