Abstract :
The IEEE\´s mission statement says, "IEEE\´s core purpose is to foster technological innovation and excellence for the benefit of humanity." The essence of biomedical engineering is to develop technology for the benefit of the patient and humanity. It is not surprising that this year\´s "IEEE Presidents\´ Change the World Competition" had many projects awarded that were related to biomedical engineering. The task of the competition was to tackle real-world problems using engineering, science, computing, and leadership skills to benefit the community and/or humanity (www.ieee125.org/change-the-world/). The IEEE Student Humanitarian Supreme Prize of US$10,000 was awarded to Drew Hall and Richard Gaster, two students at Stanford University, California, for their development of NanoLab: a hand-held diagnostic laboratory that was designed to create a portable protein-detection platform. Its impact on society ranges from life-saving clinical diagnostics in the third world to rapid over-the-counter tests sold in pharmacies (www.ieee125.org/changethe-world/top-competitors/nanolab-handheld-diagnostic-labratory.html). The IEEE?s Distinguished Student Humanitarian Prize of US$5,000 was awarded to students at B.V. Bhoomaraddi College of Engineering and Technology, India. The team developed electronic aids for physically/mentally handicapped children. The aim was to use electronics to help physically/mentally handicapped children of USHAS Center for Exceptional Children, Hubli, India (www.ushas.org), by developing games/devices/toys, etc. that will create excitement/interest in the children to play them and hence undergo physical/mental exercise, which is prescribed to overcome them from their disability but which they normally tend to neglect due to lack of enthusiasm and interest (www.ieee125.org/change-the-world/topcompetitors/electronic-aids-physicallymentally-handicapped-children.html). Another two projects with biomedical engineering background were each awarded an Outstan- ding Student Humanitarian Prize (US$1,000): "Information System on Human and Health Services (ISHHS)" by Sampathkumar Veeraraghavan, Medford, and "NIDAAN\´An e-Healthcare Solution for the Under Privileged" by Sumit Pandey, Gandhinagar, India. Sampathkumar Veeraraghavan also received the ??People?s Choice Prize?? for the same project with which he was able to help millions of people in India. He and his project are also featured in ieee.tv?s "Profiles in Volunteering" (www.ieee.org/portal/site/ieeetv/menuitem. 6ce799f946c20d660374ca695bac26c8/index.jsp?&pName=ieee.tv.viewer&path=membport/ieee_tv&file=CNT_profiles_Veera.xml&vid=111877&play=true).
