Ahead of International Day of Women and Girls in Science this Sunday, 11 February, The University of Warwick is shining the spotlight on a physicist who is developing new technology to advance the diagnosis and screening of skin cancers.

Professor Emma MacPherson, who recently became the first ever female and youngest person to receive the International Society of Infrared, Millimeter, and Terahertz Waves (IRMMW-THz) Society’s Exceptional Service AwardLink opens in a new window, is investigating the use of terahertz radiation in medical imaging. Her latest research is published this week on the SPIE Digital Library.

Unlike X-rays, terahertz radiation is non-ionising; unable to pass through water, it does not harm tissues within the body. This means humans can be safely exposed to the rays over and over again, with none of the health risks associated with X-rays. While the potential benefits of terahertz radiation are known, the practical application of it is less well developed. That is why Professor MacPherson and her team at the University’s Department of Physics are building a screening device using terahertz frequencies – something she has been working on for two decades.

Professor MacPherson said: “Terahertz waves are between microwaves and infrared in the electromagnetic spectrum, and less energetic and harmful than X-rays and ultraviolet radiation. By using these waves, we are able to see changes in skin hydration levels. In areas of skin cancer, the flow of blood and water changes in the affected skin – this can be detected using terahertz. We’re now developing instrumentation to work accurately on people in the clinical setting.” 

Alongside her current project, Professor MacPherson has driven infrared and terahertz waves research over the years and supported the academic community. She hosted the IRMMW-THz conference in Hong Kong in 2015, arranging subsidiaries for students who couldn’t afford their own travel to the event. 

She has also helped set up a prize for students in the field and serves on the committee for the recently established Zhenyi Wang Award which is for young women involved in terahertz research. She is also one of only five women who sit on the IRMMW-THz international organising committee. 

This month, Professor MacPherson spoke of being “delighted” to receive IRMMW-THz Society’s Exceptional Service Award – which she is due to accept at the society’s conference in Australia later in the year. 

Professor MacPherson added: “Having worked in the field for more than half my life, it was an honour to receive the Exceptional Service Award. While typical winners have been over 60 and male, I have always found the community so welcoming and that has given me less apprehension of breaking the mould – always encouraging me to move forward. In fact, colleagues have actively helped me break down any barriers and I want to do the same for others.

“I was commended for organising the society’s conference in 2015 – something I did while on maternity leave. It was actually great timing for me, as I could keep my visibility up in academia, while enjoying some downtime out of the lab. I know this is something that many new mums in academia worry about – it’s definitely an issue we face, but it shouldn’t hold us back. I hope that this International Day of Women and Girls in Science I can offer inspiration to other women in scientific research.” 

Professor MacPherson, also a recipient of a Royal Society Wolfson Merit Award, is part of the Ultrafast Terahertz Photonics group at the University. 

Read more about her research here: https://warwick.ac.uk/fac/sci/physics/staff/academic/emacpherson/Link opens in a new window 

Professor MacPherson’s latest study is now published on the SPIE Digital Library, https://spiedigitallibrary.org/.

View it online at: https://doi.org/10.1117/1.APN.3.1.016012.

Download the Final PDF: https://caps.luminad.com:8443/stockage/stock/SPIE/LDL-SPIE-APN-23-110911/APN-23-110911_online.pdf

Media contact 

University of Warwick press office contact: 

Annie Slinn 07876876934 

Communications Officer | Press & Media Relations | University of Warwick Email: annie.slinn@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window 

9 February 2024