Physical health - What does STEM have to do with it?
By Renee Bakis
The relationship between STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) and physical health is an intricate one, as physical health has many components including: exercise, nutrition, sleep, alcohol & drugs, and weight management. It is something that we are aware of on a daily basis, even small health-conscious choices like making sure you are well hydrated by drinking enough water (the recommended intake is around 8 glasses of water OR 2 litres) are largely backed by scientific evidence as being beneficial for our overall health. The human body is too complex to be understood through just one medium, so our knowledge often comes from a cumulation of factors across the different disciplines that allows us to have a more in-depth understanding of our bodies and how they work.
Often when we think about the human body, one of the first things that comes to mind is Biology, which is one of the core basics of Science. However, the body must be studied across the various branches of science for us to have an in depth understand of what we are physically made up of. We can study the body based on Physiological factors such as Genealogy and Immunology to help us understand if we are predisposed to certain health conditions that might impact our health and lifestyle choices, some of which require treatment or management.
To be able to investigate if there are any physiological factors affecting our health, this is where Technology comes in. As we have made huge strides in technical advancements over the last few decades, we have been able to do things we never thought possible. If you had said 100 years ago that we would have the technology to scan and capture detailed pictures of inside the human body, you would probably have been laughed out of the room, whereas now that has become such a staple method of diagnostics in the medical industry, that we almost forget there was a time before we had this type of equipment. Coincidental, Technology wouldn’t have become what it is now without Engineering. Engineering is the problem solving whereas technology is the solution. Biomedical engineering has paved the way for us to be able to look after our bodies, from everything from a prosthetic engineer to a radiological engineer, they are the backbone of health system as they design and maintain the tools and equipment that we need.
Another key factor in our health and wellbeing is Mathematics. Everything in life is measurable to some degree by a form of mathematics, be that probability or percentages, almost everything has an equation and a solution. Without Mathematics, we would struggle to be able to understand the science behind our body without something as tangible as numbers. It is only through a combination of these disciplines that we have been able to gain an insight into our physical health, this just highlights the importance of STEM topics in our everyday lives.
Photo by Photo by Owen Beard on Unsplash
NOTABLE STEM FIGURES IN HEALTHCARE
We have gathered a short of different STEM professionals who have changed the way we look after our bodies through healthcare advancements over the years.
Hippocrates (460-377 BC)
He is often referred to as the "Father of Medicine" in recognition of his lasting contributions to the field as the founder of the Hippocratic School of Medicine. This intellectual school revolutionized Ancient Greek medicine, establishing it as a discipline distinct from other fields with which it had traditionally been associated (theurgy and philosophy), thus establishing medicine as a profession. He is considered one of the most outstanding figures in the history of medicine as he is credited with being the first person to believe that diseases were caused naturally, not because of superstition and gods.
Adolphe Quetelet (22 February 1796 – 17 February 1874)
Lambert Adolphe Jacques Quetelet FRSF or FRSE was a Belgian astronomer, mathematician, statistician and sociologist who founded and directed the Brussels Observatory and was influential in introducing statistical methods to the social sciences. He also founded the science of anthropometry (the measurement of the human individual) and developed the body mass index (BMI) scale, originally called the Quetelet Index, which is still one of the most well-known health indicators still used today.
Augusta Ada King, Countess of Lovelace (10 December 1815 – 27 November 1852)
Lady Augusta Ada Lovelace is known for her work on computers with Charles Babbage - she was the first person to recognise the technique of computing and writing programmes - she was effectively the first computer programmer. She also developed a vision of the capability of computers to go beyond mere calculating or number-crunching, while many others, including Babbage himself, focused only on those capabilities. Her mindset of "poetical science" led her to ask questions about the Analytical Engine (as shown in her notes) examining how individuals and society relate to technology as a collaborative tool.
Dr Rebecca J. Cole (March 16, 1846 – August 14, 1922)
Rebecca Cole graduated from medical school in 1867 and became a public health advocate, physician and hygiene reformer in the US. An evidence-based researcher, she took issue with the biased data used to conclude that a lack of hygiene was the cause of inner-city families’ high death rate from consumption. Although few records remain, we know she opened the Women’s Directory Center with Charlotte Abbey, providing medical and legal services to destitute women, was appointed Superintendent of a Home and was the esteemed colleague of the first US-educated female doctor, Elizabeth Blackwell.
Wilson Greatbatch (September 6, 1919 – September 27, 2011)
Wilson Greatbatch was an American engineer and pioneering inventor. He held more than 325 patents and was a member of the National Inventors Hall of Fame and a recipient of the Lemelson–MIT Prize and the National Medal of Technology and Innovation (1990). As a electrical engineer he helped develop the first implantable pacemaker, which has helped a lot of people, by giving them a chance for a second life since the 1960’s. He also introduced the use of long-lasting lithium ion batteries to the device. His company’s batteries were ones that were used to power 90 percent of all pacemakers and were used as well by NASA to power their equipment for space shuttle missions.
BLOGS/ARTICLES/WEBSITES
Physical health and Body diversity awareness is becoming more of a focus across all STEM disciplines as we become more inclusive and knowledgeable, here are some additional resources on how change is happening in this field of professionals.
Diversity in Science-
https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/diversity-in-science/topic/
Diversity in STEM: What It Is and Why It Matters-
https://blogs.scientificamerican.com/voices/diversity-in-stem-what-it-is-and-why-it-matters/
Celebrating Scientists with Disabilities -
https://royalsociety.org/topics-policy/diversity-in-science/scientists-with-disabilities/
12 Disabled Scientists who made the world a better place-
https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/87068/12-disabled-scientists-who-made-world-better-place
YOUTUBE
Here are just a few Youtube videos that provide a bit more information about what physical health and body diversity means and the science behind it. Enjoy!
What Does Diversity Have to Do with Science?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9mM93scwi8
This is How I Science | Promoting Diversity & Inclusion in STEM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KyiHh7m1l4c
Embracing the beauty of diversity in STEM education
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Abd308-o2gs
A Self-Care Action Plan