Biomechanics impact all students, regardless of major and Susan D’Andrea is committed to teaching students about the mechanics and movement of the body.
D’Andrea, an assistant professor in the department of kinesiology, organized an event on April 6 for International Biomechanics Day where high school students across Rhode Island came to Independence Square at the University of Rhode Island to learn and experience biomechanic practices.
D’Andrea explained that the day is an international event that takes place around the first week of April each year. She said it’s spearheaded by the Biomechanics Initiative, a group that is devoted to increasing awareness and education of biomechanics.
For the event, high schoolers were brought to URI to participate in hands-on demonstrations and activities, held by staff and faculty members, that explored what biomechanics is and why it’s important.
The labs included different activities that allowed students to see body movement through motion capture sensors, examine body composition, measure their brain waves and measure the force of their footsteps.
“The high school students seemed very engaged,” D’Andrea said. “We had as much hands-on demonstrations as we could have, so they get to try out a lot of really cool technology.”
Shelley Oliveira Barbosa, a graduate assistant in the department of kinesiology, participated in the event because she wishes she had opportunities like this in high school.
She said that she didn’t have many resources that taught her about STEM careers while she was in high school, so when she had the opportunity to be that resource for high schoolers she knew she immediately agreed to help.
Barbosa said that this event was important because it showed students that STEM fields could involve activities they’re already interested in.
“Virtual reality and augmented reality, a lot of people know those in a gaming sense,” Barbosa said. “But it’s actually starting to make its way into healthcare and research through its possibilities with rehabilitation.”
Barbosa also mentioned the importance of making STEM fields more accessible to marginalized groups so that they have the opportunity to pursue their interests.
“The purpose of the event was to reach out to different high schools in Rhode Island,” Barbosa said. “Kind of focusing on women in STEM and reaching out to young women who aspire to be in the field somewhere and also just to show them what biomechanics is since not a lot of people are aware of it.”
Barbosa said that biomechanics surrounds everyone in their everyday lives, from the Apple Watches that many people wear, exercises in the gym and physical therapy that someone might do.
D’Andrea said that this was the second biomechanics event that the University has held, but she hopes that there can be more opportunities to teach young students in the future.
“We’re hoping that we can continue to do this every year,” D’Andrea said. “Maybe change the format up a little bit and engage more high schoolers.”