The BMRC hosted its first community outreach program, Sports2STEM, a two-hour basketball program, at the UPMC Cooper Field House at Duquesne University on Tuesday, April 8. The BMRC partnered with Dr. John Drazan, assistant professor of Biomedical Engineering, Fairfield University to bring the program to Pittsburgh.

Dr. Drazan opened the morning speaking to BMRC staff and faculty on how he found himself at the juncture of his love of basketball and science. He detailed how he has been able to combine the two into an actionable process to ensure students who might not otherwise be engaged in STEM programs are reached. Dr. Drazan and his undergraduate students then toured BMRC labs, as well as the Pitt Orthopaedic Robotics Lab and the Biodynamics Lab.

Later that afternoon, local middle- and high school students explored the science behind common basketball skills and measured their own progress with the help of Dr. Drazan’s senior design students. Accessible, 3-D printed materials and laptops were used to measure student’s jump forces and dash times. Each participant left with a digital read-out of their stats and an understanding of the science “behind the slam dunk”.

The BMRC would like to thank Dr. Drazan, Fairfield University, our BMRC volunteers and all students (and parents and teachers) who attended the Sports2STEM event.