Presque Isle students use X-ray vision to win award

PRESQUE ISLE — Envisioning medical technology in 20 years, a team of three Presque Isle High School seniors predicts that doctors will use “hologram X-rays” to help diagnose patients.

For their creative look at the future, the students — Shikha Bajracharya, Rachelle Smith and Kari Wells — have won one of 12 regional 1995 Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision Awards.

Participants in the world’s largest student science competition were asked to envision what shape today’s technology might take in 20 years.

The Presque Isle students decided on their final project by brainstorming and researching modern technology in different areas. After choosing medical technology, the girls sought the help of a couple of staffers at The Aroostook Medical Center in Presque Isle — Debbie Adams, R.N., cardiac nurse clinician, and Steve Bowler, director of public information.

The teammates came up with the idea of combining diagnostic medical imaging with virtual reality to produce hologram X-rays. Such X-rays would enable physicians of the future to view three-dimensional pictures of patients’ organs and body structures from the inside out, according to the students.

By winning the regional competition, the team was awarded $500 to complete a video depicting the past, present and future technology of its vision.

Nationwide, 5,200 teams made up of nearly 20,000 students entered the contest. A total of 48 winning teams, (twelve regional winners selected at each of four educational levels,) will now compete for a trip to Washington, D.C., and up to $10,000 in U.S. Savings Bonds.

The Presque Isle team participated in the event as part of a voluntary project for biology class. Their science teacher and team adviser is Richard Lord.

National competition winners will be announced in May.