Abstract
Following on the theme of this issue of Physics Education is a video produced by staff in the Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering at University College London. The UCL team have had extensive experience of running INSET courses for teachers and appreciate the problems in teaching the subject when there is no easy access to the equipment of a large hospital and the experts who use it.
The video comprises five sequences on x-ray imaging, radiotherapy, ultrasound (imaging and Doppler), nuclear medicine and magnetic resonance imaging. Each sequence includes demonstrations, interviews and explanations showing how the equipment works and what it is used for. An accompanying booklet contains the complete script of the video with some additional snippets of information.
Copies of the video are available from the Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering, University College London, 1st Floor Shropshire House, 11 - 20 Capper Street, London WC1E 6JA; orders should be marked for the attention of Dr Alan Cottenden and accompanied by a cheque for £40 made payable to University College London. Institute of Physics members and teachers in Affiliated Schools and Colleges can borrow the video from the InstituteÕs Education Department, but in view of the likely popularity, early booking is advised.
Also available from UCL is a set of computer disks containing examples of x-ray, ultrasound, gamma camera and other images for teachers who wish to demonstrate the advantages and limitations of the various diagnostic techniques. Each disk is supplied with a hard copy of the images and a description of what can be seen. A set of ten disks costs £30, and cheques should again be made payable to UCL.
Finally the UCL department organizes INSET days for teachers as part of its programme of events, and further information may be obtained from Graham Dean, Research Assistant in the Department of Medical Physics and Bioengineering (tel: 0171 380 9700, fax: 0171 380 9577).
Footnote It has been announced that the Institute of Physics day of activities at the 1997 Association for Science Education annual meeting in Birmingham will have Medical Physics as its theme.