Women’s Engineering Society announces Karen Burt Award winner

04 October 2011

The Women’s Engineering Society Karen Burt Memorial Award is made annually to the most outstanding newly chartered woman engineer. Each engineering institution is invited to nominate their most outstanding female candidate each year providing a formidable field of competition. This year’s winner is Cardiff Academic Fellow for the Arthritis Research UK Biomechanics and Bioengineering Centre at Cardiff University, Gemma Whatling.

Dr Whatling’s research clearly demonstrates the underpinning nature of engineering skills in everyday life. Working closely with the medical profession her vital engineering insights and skill includes the assessment of the biomechanics of patients with osteoarthritis to identify how the disease affects patient mobility and examine the effectiveness of treatment options. With increased biomechanical understanding of joints with osteoarthritis, it may be possible to identify improvements in treatment and rehabilitation that will improve patient outcome.