Mission Statement
The Medical Physics Graduate Student Outreach program aims to increase the visibility of medical physics by teaching community members about the role of physics in medicine as well as the educational and career opportunities in physics-based careers. Our focus is directed to the next generation of curious thinkers, especially under-represented groups in medical physics, by engaging them in conversation and hands-on medical physics activities. It is led by medical physics graduate students with the support of faculty and staff.
Who Are We?
We are graduate students in the Department of Medical Physics dedicated to increasing the visibility and diversity of our field through public outreach efforts. Our co-chairs are Alex Christensen and Lucky Volety. Current members are Lilana Berube, Molly DeLuca, Lisette LeMerise, Aria Salyapongse, and Nicholas Summerfield. We offer demonstrations of medical physics principals and information about careers in our field.
What do we do?
Public science events hosted by the City of Madison or the University of Wisconsin draw tens of thousands of visitors each year. We bring tables full of interactive demonstrations for all ages.
A visitor to our booth makes an x-ray image using glitter “photons.” Photo taken at the Wisconsin Science Festival 2024
(Credit: Ueda Photography
https://www.uedaphotography.com/)
Lisette, Nick, and Lilana run a booth full of imaging and therapy demonstrations at UW Science Expeditions in 2023
Lucky shows a radiograph to visitors at the UW Physics Fair in 2023
Alex gives Bucky a turn on the ultrasound device at Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day 2024
Local Schools & Businesses
We also get involved with smaller-scale outreach with local schools and businesses. This includes participating in after-school “science nights,” and working directly with educators to create class activities and workshops.
Lucky and Molly show middle schoolers how to use a Geiger counter to do a scavenger hunt with Stellar Tech Girls, a small business in Middleton.
Students at Wright Middle School tour the imaging and therapy facilities at WIMR during a school field trip
Alex, Liliana, Zahra, and Bujar run a table packed with activities at Madinah Academy’s Science Night hosted by UW’s Islamic STEM Association.
Sheena and Jacob demonstrate how radiotherapy plans are made during a workshop with Stellar Tech Girls.
How Can I Get Involved?
Join our volunteer list
We have an email list for those who may want to volunteer for events in the future. There is no minimum time commitment; you will just get opportunities and sign-up sheets in your inbox a few times per semester. The Outreach Committee will coordinate the events and supply you with demonstrations – all you need to do is sign up and show up!
Join the committee
Being a member of the committee involves attending monthly meetings, prepping for events, and brainstorming new ways to make outreach more effective.
Connect us with the community
If you know an educator, business, or community organization that could benefit from medical physics outreach, put them in contact with us! We can also provide posters and demonstrations for your own outreach endeavors.
Share Resources
Do you have cool medical images, code that can visualize a tough concept, or old lab equipment lying around that could make a great demonstration? Send it our way!
To do any of the above, send us an email at outreach@medphysics.wisc.edu.