A group of 15 Portland State students got the chance to explain real life applications of physics principles at OMSI in July. Through posters, the students simplified such complex technologies as breast cancer screening, prenatal ultrasound, LASER eye surgery, and proton radiation therapy.

The students, from Ralf Widenhorn’s Physics and Medicine class, focused on the interdisciplinary nature of medical technology--particularly the need for physicians, biologists, chemists, and physicists to work together in developing and improving such technologies as CAT scans, MRI imaging, radiation therapy, and drug development. The students prepared posters with accompanying demonstrations, which they provided to OMSI’s visiting public one Saturday. The posters remained on display through the month.

This event was the first of its kind for the students and provided a distinctive opportunity for them to demonstrate their knowledge in a public setting rather than traditional test format. For more information on the PSU Physics department visit www.physics.pdx.edu/.