President of the KNUST Physics Students’ Association of Ghana, Prince Odoi Asare, has highlighted how the work of physicists has shaped modern medical diagnostics, particularly the use of MRI scans. Speaking on the Teknokrat show with host Sika Audrey Dzifa, Mr. Asare explained that physicists are thinkers and problem-solvers whose research often leads to life-changing applications.
Citing examples such as Tim Berners-Lee, creator of the World Wide Web, and Albert Einstein, he said their theories and inventions have contributed greatly to today’s scientific and technological advancements. “One of the remarkable contributions of physics to medicine is the MRI scan.
Before a doctor can diagnose a disease like a cancerous cell or a bone fracture, they need an instrument. Physicists discovered the spin in nature and asked, ‘how can we use this?’
Today, it is a core principle in MRI technology,” he stated. Mr. Asare also mentioned other physicist-developed instruments, including ultrasound devices, which are used in detecting various health conditions in Ghana.
He called for greater investment in physics and research to boost Ghana’s innovation capacity. “If Ghanaians do not come up with our own inventions, which one can we truly call ours?
This is why we often rely on foreign technology, and that limits our sustainability,” he noted.