The April 6 event in the College of Health Sciences advanced labs aimed to promote biomechanics, other STEM fields, especially among women

The University of Rhode Island Department of Kinesiology welcomed high school students from around the state to its labs in Independence Square to learn about biomechanics and other STEM fields during the annual National Biomechanics Day April 6.

Students were able to experience the advanced Human Performance Lab, Body Composition Lab, Health Fitness Lab and Motion Analysis Lab, where professors and grad students from Kinesiology, physical therapy, communicative disorders and engineering educated the students on biomechanics systems. Students put motion capture sensors on to see how their body moves. They measured their brain waves using EEG sensors; examined their body composition; measured the force they put on their feet while walking, and much more.

“We’re trying to make everything as hands-on as possible,” said kinesiology Professor Susan D’Andrea, who organized the URI event along with fellow professors and grad students. “We’re doing augmented reality and virtual reality; we’re doing some EEG brain wave measurements; we can look at their heel bone with an ultrasound device. It’s stuff they can physically engage in.”

The event is part of National Biomechanics Day, a world-wide celebration of biomechanics in its many forms for high school students and teachers. Biomechanics investigates “the broad expanse of biology in the physical world,” according to the Biomechanics Initiative, which organizes the international event. The discipline makes substantial contributions to basic biology and physics, medicine and health, human and animal movement and performance, biomedical engineering, prosthetics and human-machine interactions, among many other endeavors.

“The big overall goal is to educate high school students about biomechanics, what we can do, and how we can use our science skills to help people with disabilities or problems,” said D’Andrea. “It’s really cool because biomechanics is really hands-on; you can see it. It’s all to bring the high school kids in and show them the opportunities this field presents.”

Another primary goal of Biomechanics Day is to specifically promote women in biomechanics and other STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) disciplines. URI kinesiology alumna Maria Urso, who works on regulatory issues in medical devices, presented a virtual discussion on the varied opportunities in biomechanics.

“We wanted to have a very strong, successful woman in the health care field who has a connection to URI to address the students,” D’Andrea said. “Our goal is focused around trying to engage and empower girls and women in science. I’m an engineer, and I lived in a world where I was usually the only woman at the table, so that’s why I’m really passionate about empowering women in science.”

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