On Friday, Oct. 30, the Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences Society (CDSS) held a Potion Making event in the Lake Erie room of the Oakland Center, combining clinical concepts with Halloween fun. The event ran from 2 to 3 p.m., allowing new students to learn dilution skills while experienced students gained practice.
Attendees experimented with dilution by crafting various potions with a variety of soda flavors. Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences at OU allows students to study subjects like clinical sciences and biomedical imaging. Paola Trujillo Garcia, the CDSS treasurer, explained that studying Clinical and Diagnostic Sciences takes many science-related labs and courses.
“There are a lot of clinical and diagnostic sciences-related courses, like ‘CDS Foundation’; it’s all chemistry, biology and science-related courses,” Trujillo Garcia said.
The recipes were titled Witch’s Blood, Vampire Venom, Pumpkin Potion, Poison Apple Potion and Mad Scientist’s Serum. Each potion could be made by mixing cranberry juice, Pepsi, lemonade, Starry or orange juice. Students used the dilution formula C₁V ₁ = C₂ V₂ to create each potion. Trujillo Garcia highlighted the integration of chemistry skills and Halloween engagement as an educational and entertaining aspect of the event.
“It’s very similar to the chemistry courses we take — and this uses the same tools — which is cool.” Trujillo Garcia said.
Maria Rosvold, president of the CDSS, explained that clinical and diagnostic science students take chemistry classes in the first years of the program, and this event combined chemistry skills with a fun Halloween twist.
“We use chemistry techniques to make the potions and brush up on the skills with a fun twist,” she said.
Rosvold explained that everyone would be able to take a turn creating potions, no matter what skill level.
“I did a brief introduction to the topic at the beginning, and gave hints of what types of things to plug into the equation, so it is less scary,” she added.
Rosvold explained that the event allowed students to feel at ease practicing dilution skills in a fun format.
“The whole application of it into making potions puts a fun twist on it so you can see it in other applications besides the science field,” Rosvold said.
The event offered an opportunity for students to meet with others of the same major while practicing valuable healthcare skills. The balance of education and engagement is an important value of the CDSS. The CDSS is open to anyone interested in medical laboratory science, radiologic technology, nuclear medicine technology, histotechnology and pathologists and physician assistant sciences.
Rosvold said that the society offers many opportunities for clinical and diagnostic sciences students.
“Anyone with the major is welcome to come and meet others with the major, and we do a lot of different medical-related events and get-togethers,” Rosvold said.
The organization provides a space for academic support, networking, practicing skills and insight. The CDSS Potion Making event proved that the mastery of clinical concepts does not always require a laboratory setting.
Swapping out chemicals for various drink flavors allowed OU students to master dilution skills while unwinding from the stress of midterms.