cooperation and competition [From the Editor]

One of the great aspects of biomedical engineering and life science in general is that all of us who are practitioners for the most part work together. The scientific enterprise is devoted to a better understanding of our world and, through that understanding, improving the quality of life of the world´s population. We do this by learning from each other and each of us adding something to what we have learned. We learn by reading, listening to, and exchanging the ideas with our colleagues in the field. Most scientists and engineers not only carry out this type of exchange with colleagues in their own field but also look to other areas of knowledge as well.