What does physics have to do with medicine? Female students in grades 7 and 8 explored this question during the 2026 Girls’ Experiment Camp, including a visit to the EKFZ for Digital Health on October 23. There, they discovered first-hand how physical principles are used in medical diagnostics and treatment.

Under the theme “Diagnosis: Physics! – What do medicine and our bodies have to do with physics?”, the three-day camp combined experiments, workshops, and excursions to make science accessible. The program aimed to encourage girls to explore STEM subjects and to show how closely physics is connected to real-world applications. The camp was organized by the Chair of Physics Education at TU Dresden.

During their visit to the EKFZ, the participants moved through several hands-on stations linking physics, technology, and medicine. While measuring blood pressure, they learned how the measurement works and which physical principles are involved.

At another station, the students were introduced to laparoscopy and endoscopy: Using simulators, they were able to try out how instruments are navigated during minimally invasive procedures and experienced how much precision and coordination these techniques require.

The workshop also explored medical ultrasound imaging: The students learned how ultrasound waves are generated and used to create images from inside the body, and saw how the technology is applied in clinical practice.

The Girls’ Experimental Camp 2026 demonstrated in a practical way how fundamental physical concepts underpin many areas of modern medicine: from pressure and sound waves to minimally invasive procedures. It also showed that physics is not simply about formulas and theory, but about understanding and shaping technologies that are used in healthcare every day.

About Girls’ Experiment Camp

The Girls’ Experiment Camp is a 3-day workshop for female students aged 13 or 14. The camp aims to promote interest in the natural sciences, especially physics. Each year, a workshop is held at TU Dresden, organized by the Chair of Physics Education at TU Dresden, focusing on a new and exciting topic. The workshop is co-funded by the Wilhelm and Else Heraeus Foundation.