Key Points
- Foundation intern Jackie Brenner presented the fundamentals of focused ultrasound as part of the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council’s Tech Tour program.
- Jackie spoke virtually to four groups of students ranging from 7th grade to high school seniors.
Foundation intern Jackie Brenner recently presented the fundamentals of focused ultrasound to local students as part of the Charlottesville Business Innovation Council’s (CBIC) Tech Tour program.
CBIC is dedicated to educating, celebrating, and advocating for Charlottesville’s technology community and to accelerating technology innovation and entrepreneurship in the region. For the last 16 years, their Tech Tour program has provided an opportunity for middle and high school students to learn about innovation and careers at dynamic high-tech companies.
The Foundation has participated in the in-person tours in previous years. The 2020 tours were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and this year the program went virtual.
In all, Jackie spoke to four groups ranging from 7th grade to high school seniors in Advanced Placement (AP) physics. She shared presentations on the basics of focused ultrasound and then fielded questions.
“With the growth of medical technology, it is essential to educate the younger generations about these tools that can improve health and also bring awareness to how various professions within STEM are interconnected,” says Jackie. “It was such an incredible experience presenting for the CBIC tech tours. I think this initiative is so important as it helps students stay motivated, applying what they are learning in school to real world applications. I enjoyed watching their inquisitive nature evolve as I fielded their questions in real time. The AP Physics students were especially excited about hearing how the physics of focused ultrasound can be used to create a noninvasive machine to treat patients with tumors! I thank the Foundation for giving me the opportunity to share my knowledge and passion.”