Innovation
Job Titles of the Future: How Breast Biomechanics Became a Pioneering Science
Twenty years ago, Professor Joanna Wakefield-Scurr experienced persistent breast pain that her doctor could not diagnose. That frustrating experience launched a career that would create an entirely new field of research, one that now employs an 18-person team and has transformed how the sports apparel industry designs bras.
Key Takeaways
- Professor Wakefield-Scurr discovered that breasts move in a figure-of-eight pattern, not just up and down, revolutionizing sports bra design
- Her Bra Testing Unit has evaluated 300+ bras with 3,600+ volunteers, finding optimal designs reduce movement by 74%
- The research has been applied to the England Lionesses, Olympic athletes, military recruits, and NHS treatment protocols
- The Treasure Your Chest charity provides free breast health education to schoolgirls
- A field that barely existed 20 years ago now employs 18 researchers and collaborates with every major global apparel brand
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DT Editorial AI··via technologyreview.com