Bioengineering Undergraduate Student Society

The Bioengineering Undergraduate Student Society (BUSS) is a student organization which serves to represent all undergraduate students in the Department of Bioengineering at McGill University. BUSS is dedicated to providing academic and social opportunities to inspire, entertain, and guide its members through their undergraduate degree.

History

After the official formation of McGill's Undergraduate Department of Bioengineering in the 2016-2017 academic year, the first cohort of bioengineering undergraduate students collaborated with McGill's Chemical Engineering Student Society (ChESS) to integrate their department within the Engineering Undergraduate Society (EUS). BUSS was formally established in January 2017, after a unanimous vote by the EUS Council to recognize BUSS as an official student society under the EUS. The first ever BUSS Executive Committee was elected in February 2017. Bioengineering won E-Week for the first time ever in 2025! BUSS got a lounge in Summer of 2026.

Events

Social Events

Potluck/Picnic

At the start of every academic year, BUSS organizes a potluck as a way for returning students to catch up with peers and for incoming students to meet new friends. In recent years, this has shifted to a Picnic x Picnik event, with a picnic in Jeanne Mannce Park and a night at Piknic Electronik.

BUSS Blues

Blues Pub, the Engineering student pub is hosted by a different society every week to fundraise. Twice a year, BUSS hosts the event, and was the winner of Blues Pub of the year in 2017-2018.

BUSS Clothing Sale

Once in the fall and once in the winter, BUSS organizes a clothing sale for Bioengineering students to represent their department. The catalogues are usually made available early in the semester and clothing usually arrives about a month later. As clothing is sold at cost, this is an affordable way to show school spirit!

BUSS Banquets

At the end of the Fall & Winter semesters, BUSS organizes a banquet at a local Montréal restaurant which is followed by an after-party with all the other Engineering departments. A couple of profs are invited and attend, as well as departmental staff. Banquet is one of the only semi-formal events, making it a great event for taking photos. The Winter banquet, usually in April, turns into a gala where awards recognizing spirit and various accomplishments are handed out.

Year Bonding Events

Each U-Rep will host various bonding events each semester specifically for students in their given year. This is a great opportunity for students to get to know each other in their year and to de-stress from schoolwork. Such events include Board Game Nights, Wings Nights, DIY Sundaes and more!

Mental Wellness Events

The Equity & Mental Health Representative often will host various events to help bioengineering relax during exam periods. These events aim to promote positive mental health and give a chance for students to take a break and de-stress.

Professional & Academic Events

BUSS Ride

BUSS Ride is the name of our very own industry tour. The first ever BUSS Ride took place January 2019 in Toronto, where students toured a biomedical technology company, attended a conference on innovation and invention in surgery, and had the opportunity to explore the city. The following edition took place in January 2020 in Quebec City. BUSS Ride finally returned for its third edition January 19th-21st, 2023, in Toronto, and again in Toronto in 2024 and 2025! Fall 2025 marked the first Fall BUSS Ride in Ottawa as well. Most recently, BUSS Ride 2026 happened in Toronto with visits at the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Deep Genomics, Klick Health, and Navident.

BioEngage

Initially starting off as a speed-network event, BioEngage has turned into a month-long event involving various presentations, workshops, lab & company tours and fairs to get students involved in bioengineering and discover future career options. Since COVID, Bioengage has largely halted unfortunately.

Research Seminars & Lab Tours

Working in conjunction with the Bioengineering Department and the graduate Biological & Biomedical Engineering Department, various research seminars occur during the year to highlight work being done by the professors in their laboratories. Professors will present their research in a given seminar which helps expose students to the various applications of bioengineering and allows them to have a first-hand look a future in academia. Lab tours are also featured and allow students to visit potential graduate school and SURE placements. This is also a great time to conversate with professors!

Academic Forum

Held once a semester, the Academic Forum allows students to communicate any academic questions and concerns directly to the department. This is a great time to express any challenges you may be having with a course. The department chair, head of undergraduate curriculum and BUSS Council members will all be in attendance for this event.

Multi-department Events

Apartment Crawls

Usually in conjunction with other small engineering departments such as ChESS and MEUS, BUSS hosts apartment crawls, where teams of around 10 people go around the Milton-Parc community, stopping at various apartments for food and drink.

Initiatives

BUSS Bulletin/BUSS Stop!

Every week, the VP Communications creates a newsletter highlighting upcoming BUSS & EUS events, as well any other opportunities that may be of interest to Bioengineering students. At the end of the newsletter is the very special BUSSie of the Week! This weekly segment features a bioengineering student with a little blurb to get to know people within the department! If you're not already receiving the newsletters, you can contact the VP Communications (buss.vpcomm@mcgilleus.ca) to subscribe!

Buddy Program

The goal of the BUSS Buddy Program is to connect incoming students with a current Bioengineering student to provide advice and act as a mentor. This is a great way for new students to feel comfortable at McGill and ask any questions and receive guidance from an older student!

The Inaugural Buss Lounge

As of Summer 2026, after the long efforts of previous BUSS Presidents, BUSS was able to secure a lounge! Our lounge is now open by code access to any bioengineering students, and kept open by execs 9-5 Monday through Friday! Come swing by at McConnell 214, the BUSS Lounge, on Floor Two of the McConnell Engineering Building! Waffle Thursday is hosted every Thursday morning, so come by and get some waffles then as well!

Executive Council

All BUSS Council positions are elected in the Winter Semester of the previous academic year, excluding the U0 and U1 Representatives which are selected by Selection Committee in September.

Committees

BUSS First-Year Committee (FYC)

Chaired by the Vice-President Administration & Engagement, the First-Year Committee is a group U0 and U1 students that work together to host events and create initiatives specifically for first-years. FYC often hosts two events per semester and work together to create a strong and welcoming community for newly admitted students! This is a great way for first-year students to become involved.

Academic Committee

Chaired by the Vice-President Academic, the Academic Committee consists of students from all years that work to bridge the gap between students and the department. Their main goal is to communicate with bioengineering professors and administration, giving them feedback and suggestions for courses. They also help to resolve any academic issues students may have with courses. The Academic Committee also works to promote the research occurring within bioengineering labs. They often will host various workshops and seminars that help expose students to the great work being done in academia and industry!

External Committee

Chaired by the Vice-President External, the External Committee consists of students from all years that work to help connect fellow students with the Bioengineering industry. From planning networking events and industry tours, to organizing speaker panels and industry workshops, the External Committee helps promote industry exposure to Bioengineering students in the department.

BUSS Feedback Form

Get in touch with BUSS! If you would like to contact any of the Execs or leave us some feedback/new ideas (anonymously or not!) feel free to let us know on the BUSS Contact/Feedback Form!

Societies