Bioengineering

This is a simple explanation of bioengineering and how it can improve quality of life.

This one minute animated video from TVNZ demystifies some of the scientific and technical language.

Transcript

What is bioengineering?

Bioengineering is the application of engineering principles and practices to living systems – such as our own.

Combining the disciplines of engineering and medicine improves our understanding of the way we function. We can think of our body as an ‘engineered’ machine, like a car. Discovering more about what we are made of, the shape of our parts and the processes that take place inside us will help develop new treatments for injury and disease.

Bioengineers have developed many sophisticated ways to study what goes on ‘under the hood’ which have led to the development of life-saving ‘replacement parts’ such as artificial joints, cardiac pacemakers and artificial skin.

New discoveries in bioengineering could help us keep our own internal engines running better, longer – and improve our quality of life.

And that’s bioengineering.