Tag Archives: prosthetics

Isambard Kingdom Brunel Award lecture date for BU prosthetics expert

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The prestigious Isambard Kingdom Brunel Award lecture is to be delivered by Bournemouth University’s Bryce Dyer for his research and work with prosthetics at the British Science Festival 2013.

Mr Dyer joins the ranks of previous award lecturers such as Professor Brian Cox, Professor Richard Wiseman, and Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

Each year, five academics from across the UK are selected to take part in the Award Lecture series, with each lecture encompassing a different area of science.

The Isambard Kingdom Brunel Award focuses on the fields of engineering, technology and industry. Mr Dyer will present “Prosthesis, disability and the role of technology in elite sport”.

The lecture will reveal the colourful history of limb prostheses, and progress into how they have been engineered to not only complete, but also to compete in physical challenges today.

Mr Dyer will examine the controversy surrounding the use of such technology in competitive sport, following the debates off the back the London 2012 Games, and look at what could be done to address such problems in the future.

The British Science Festival takes place in Newcastle from 7-12 September 2013 and is one of Europe’s largest celebrations of science, engineering and technology, with over 250 events, activities, exhibitions and trips taking place over a week in September, in a different location every year.

Mr Dyer said, “I am delighted to have this opportunity, and am looking forward to presenting this research. The British Science Festival is a unique opportunity to share scientific findings with the public, and it is an honour to be selected to give the Award Lecture.”

Bryce Dyer to be honoured at British Science Festival

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Bryce Dyer, Senior Lecturer in Product Design at Bournemouth Univesity, has been selected for the prestigious honour of delivering an Award Lecture, at the 2013 British Science Festival, which will be taking place in Newcastle from 7-12 September.

Bryce Dyer will deliver the Isambard Kingdom Brunel Award Lecture, and joins the ranks of previous award lecturers such as Professor Brian Cox, Professor Richard Wiseman, and Dr Maggie Aderin-Pocock.

Each year, five academics from across the UK are selected to take part in the Award Lecture series, with each lecture encompassing a different area of science.

The Isambard Kingdom Brunel Award focuses on the fields of engineering, technology and industry. Mr Dyer will present “Prosthesis, disability and the role of technology in elite sport”.

The lecture will reveal the colourful history of limb prostheses, and progress into how they have been engineered to not only complete, but also to compete in physical challenges today.

Mr Dyer will examine the controversy surrounding the use of such technology in competitive sport, following the debates off the back the London 2012 Games, and look at what could be done to address such problems in the future.

Finally, the lecture will examine how such technology attempts to restore the function of amputated limbs to people like elite athletes or the armed forces and ultimately how such innovations may change the face of both disability and sport as we currently recognise it in the very near future.

The British Science Festival is one of Europe’s largest celebrations of science, engineering and technology, with over 250 events, activities, exhibitions and trips taking place over a week in September, in a different location every year.

The programme of events offers something for everyone, with activities for families and schools groups, teens, adults, and stimulating debate for anyone interested in the latest research.

Mr Dyer said, “I am delighted to have this opportunity, and am looking forward to presenting this research. The British Science Festival is a unique opportunity to share scientific findings with the public, and it is an honour to be selected to give the Award Lecture.”

Bryce Dyer talks about advances in prosthetics on BMA website

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Bryce Dyer, senior lecturer in Product Design at BU, commented on the potential implications of human enhancement for an article on the BMA website.

A recent Royal Society report has explored how advances in science and technology could allow people to work longer into old age and return to work quicker after illness.

“Look at it in the same way as mobile phones,” said Bryce.

“Ten years ago they were like bricks but they’ve become cheaper, easier to produce and more available over time. The same will happen with prosthesis.”

He also raised concerns about with genetic engineering, which could correct faults in an embryo and enhance it physically or mentally.

“We could make someone super-intelligent but it could have catastrophic effects for society. The lines between natural and artificial and technological could blur.

“At the moment we let nature take its course, but as time goes on we can affect nature and attempt to control and manipulate it.”

Bryce’s primary research interest is with the application and development of technology within sport, and he predicts a dramatic improvement over the next 10 years, which could see it used to enhance function rather than just restore performance.

But, he adds, we must treat technology with care.

“It could become a race between engineers and surgeons instead of sports people. The concept of what it is to be human could change.”

You can read the full article here.