2012 John Bischof, PhD - Events

ASME 2012 Summer Bioengineering Conference
IN MEMORIAM
The biomechanics community has lost a great scientist, mentor, leader and friend this year. We
honor the contributions of our friend and colleague.
Christian Oddou
(1938-2011)
Christian Oddou was Professor of Mechanics at the University Paris 12 at Créteil where he created and a
research laboratory on Biomechanics (Laboratory of Mechanics & Physics) which he directed for many
years. He also served as Dean of the School of Science of Paris 12 University. A great believer in
international cooperation, he was one of the founding members of the World Council for Biomechanics. His
field of research dealt with the biomechanics of the cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems with
applications to clinical investigations and to the conception of artificial organs. With his collaborators, he
designed new analytical and numerical methods coupled to specific experiments in order to characterize
the mechanical properties of biological systems and tissues. He has thus proposed original methods to
evaluate and reproduce the behavior of soft biological materials, which necessitate a multiscale analysis.
His tensegrity model of the cell is one example of this approach. Recently his research interest were turned
towards the micromechanics of cells with applications to tissue engineering, bone remodeling, skin
reconstruction and repair, design of artificial connective tissue for orthopedics. His research was at the
cross road between multiscale physics and mechanics and orthopedic surgery. Christian had an immense
scientific culture that he shared willingly with his colleagues and students. He always had the good
question at a thesis defense, congress presentation or council meeting. We will remember him as the kind,
enthusiastic and merry colleague that he was.
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