Bioengineering is not so much a new branch of engineering as an important part of the future of all engineering disciplines.  As the human impact on the nature continues to increase, we must work towards a world where engineering and biology work together rather than occupying separate territories. Many areas of modern chemical engineering exemplify this, such as the development of biofuels and naturally-derived plastics.  This is just the beginning and the bioengineering symbiosis will spread to all forms of engineering.

At the same time the role of engineering in medicine continues to increase rapidly.  Sophisticated equipment enhances the skill of surgeons, better diagnostics supplement the experience of family practitioners and we will count more and more on devices to keep us in good repair as well as free from disease.