KINGSTON, R.I. – March 25, 2025 – Close to 500 students from 10 Rhode Island high schools will attend the Sixth Annual Biomechanics Day at the University of Rhode Island Wednesday, April 9, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Students will learn about biomechanics and other science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields by participating in more than 45 hands-on demonstrations, challenges, and competitions in URI’s Mackal Field House, 75 Keaney Road. Some activities will feature technology used in URI laboratories, such as virtual and augmented reality systems, motion capture technology, wearable technology, and photoelectric gait technology. Other stations will test students’ speed, vertical leap, balance, agility, and grip strength.
Students and teachers from Barrington Christian Academy, Bishop Hendricken High School, Central Falls High School, Coventry High School, The Greene School, Portsmouth High School, South Kingstown High School, St. Andrew’s School, Toll Gate High School, and West Warwick High School are among those expected to attend.
The co-organizers of Biomechanics Day are Susan D’Andrea and Ryan Chapman, assistant professors in URI’s Department of Kinesiology.
“I’m passionate about getting teenagers and pre-teens interested in STEM,” said D’Andrea. “I want them to understand that science can be interesting and fun, especially biomechanics because it’s something everyone experiences.”
Some of the URI laboratories that will be represented at the event include: the Motion VR Biomechanics Lab, Biomechanics and Wearable Laboratory, Wearable Biosensing Lab, and the Motor Control and Rehabilitation Laboratory. Students from URI’s Kinesiology Club, URI student-athletes, and URI’s head strength and conditioning coach Scott Leech will facilitate many of the stations.
Since it began at URI in 2019, the number of high schools and students participating in Biomechanics Day has grown. In 2024, 350 students from eight high schools attended.
“The goal is to introduce hands-on STEM experiences to high school students who may not otherwise have the opportunity to ever have those experiences,” said Chapman. “In doing so, I hope students who may have perceived STEM as daunting, scary, or something they couldn’t do, leave the event feeling like STEM disciplines are a great pathway for them.”
Kylie McPhee, a first-year student in URI’s Accelerated Bachelor’s to Master’s kinesiology program, has been helping D’Andrea to plan Biomechanics Day since September.
“This event allows me to introduce high school students to the exciting world of biomechanics and kinesiology,” said the Franklin, Massachusetts resident. “The students will interact with kinesiology equipment firsthand, including virtual reality, electromyography, wearable sensors, and much more.”
Some of the most popular stations have been those that test students’ physical abilities.
“Any station that engages young students through friendly competition usually draws the largest audience,” said Chapman. “I think the largest crowds last year were our two vertical jump stations and the 40-yard dash timing gate stations. President Marc Parlange seemed to particularly enjoy the grip strength station.”
Registration for this year’s event is full, but high school educators may contact D’Andrea at sedandrea@uri.edu about participating in the 2026 event.
URI’s Biomechanics Day event is part of National Biomechanics Day, a world-wide celebration of biomechanics for high school students and teachers that was founded in 2016.