Each year, millions of people – men, women and children – fall ill but have their lives changed or even saved by medical technology. Today’s session will show you a few examples of the incredible range of inventions that have transformed modern medicine. As you will see for yourselves, biomedical technology represents a place where the basic science we learn in school comes together with materials science, engineering, and electronics.

Together, highly creative inventors fuse these ideas into almost magical tools. Imagine the following:

We’ve come a long way since the early days of medicine when untested, often poisonous, drugs were common, hygiene was unknown, and surgery was carried out with no anaesthetic using nothing more than saws and blades. While we sometimes take for granted the astonishing medical achievements of the last 200 years, huge challenges remain. We need creative and inquisitive minds to take us forward. That’s why you have such a crucial role to play in the evolution of both science and technology. You are the inventors of tomorrow and today you will get to have your say as part of our debate.

Enjoy the session and use the booklet to help you decide which device rocks the world as part of the Schools Science Battle of the Devices.

Professor Andrea Sella
Professor of Inorganic Chemistry at University College London & Chair of Battle of the Devices