Wayne State biomedical engineer stars in "Super Strength" and "Sports Science;" Shows pack a powerful punch for national television audiences with hard-hitting Wayne State research

Biomedical engineering may not sound glamorous, but a Wayne State bioengineering researcher has found herself in the national limelight. Wayne State Associate Professor Cynthia Bir plays a starring role in two new shows by BASE Productions, a Fox Sports Network series called "Sports Science" and a National Geographic Channel feature called "Super Strength," which both air this month on cable television.

"The shows are appreciated by a lot of different audiences, different age groups and backgrounds," says Bir, who started her career as a research nurse, earned her PhD in biomedical engineering at WSU and joined the faculty in 2000. "This demonstrates ways you can take the principles of physics and human biomechanics, apply them to athletes, and bring them to life, to the big screen," Bir says. "A lot of what we did for the show was what would be considered soft science, but that's how it brings young people in."

A Los Angeles television producer first sought Bir's expertise several years ago for a new National Geographic Channel feature called "Fight Science." Her work measuring and mapping the speed, force and range of nerves, muscles, bones and weapons (both human and material), and the show's immediate success, ultimately inspired these two new programs.

"In 'Sports Science' we've applied the tools developed in the lab to record, measure and map the speed, force and range of the human body, specifically, the athlete," says Bir. "That paired with the computer graphics makes for a pretty cool show."

Bir and several other experts join NFL linebacker Joey Porter and former NHL great Luc Robitaille on the set in one episode of "Sports Science" to measure and help illustrate the forces involved in the "Hardest Hits". In another, they join Chris "Skywalker" Lowrey, a New York City streetballer and dunk champion, to measure his vertical leap and the forces in play that allow him to jump over a sports car on the way to a slam dunk.

"Super Strength" is being promoted by the National Geographic Channel with promos like, "We call them Super Human. And they can do the impossible. Shatter stacks of concrete with the skull, fists and forearms. Bend solid steel wrenches by hand. Roll a kitchen skillet up like a newspaper."

For all three shows - "Fight Science", "Sports Science", and "Super Strength" - the producers use high speed, high definition cameras to capture the athletes in motion, and in post-production, matrix-like CGI animation, to graphically illustrate their point. The post-production animators create 3-D models derived from the athletes and their choreography. The result is an impressive and dazzling meld of science and human sport taken to the edge.

Bir won't deny that the months she spent for two summers, first in 2005 on a dojo studio set, and last summer in a converted airplane hanger, was fun. But that's the point. "Students in America are falling further and further behind in science and math. Perhaps we can change this trend, turning them on to science by way of sports and shows like this," she says.

WSU researchers have played a critical role in the development of auto and sports safety design, pioneering the field of impact biomechanics with their work leading to many automotive safety design improvements. Bir added that Wayne State research on human body impacts, including crash tests and sports-related injuries, continues to spur the creation of safer cars, helmets and other protective sports gear.

"People locally may not realize that Wayne State's engineering sports and closed-head injury research has contributed to the safety standards set for sports-related helmets and other athletic equipment in the United States," says Francine Wunder, director of WSU corporate and public affairs. "We are thrilled Fox Sports Network and National Geographic Channel are highlighting this research, not only because it affects millions of people, but because it is a powerful story for engaging youth in Detroit and across the nation to discover the exciting possibilities created through the study of science."

"Sports Science" episodes continue on Fox Sports Network every Sunday at 9 p.m. "Super Strength" airs on the National Geographic Channel on Monday, Oct. 22 at 10 p.m. Check your television listings for repeat airings throughout the week.