Louisville CyberKnife recently participated in the annual Science Celebration Days at the Kentucky Science Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
The Science Celebration Days offer guests the opportunity to interact with community partners and practitioners as they showcase their own real-world experiences. The celebration connects guests with partners to learn about a variety of fields and professions related to our health, bodies, minds, how we think, how we feel, and much more.
During the event, team members from Louisville CyberKnife had the opportunity to demonstrate what a treatment plan looks like for a patient undergoing CyberKnife treatments. They explained how cancerous lesions are targeted while sparing the surrounding healthy tissue, which helps prevent cognitive decline and enables patients to lead as normal a life as possible.
Additionally, they brought everyday items that were radioactive (in accordance with regulations, they brought exempted RAM quantities and kept them in secure containers) to show their radioactive properties using a Geiger-Muller counter. Some of the items they demonstrated included:
- Coleman Lantern Mantle: They explained how burning the mantle releases Thorium-232, which decays directly to Radon-220.
- Fiesta Ware Plate: They discussed how the glaze on this pottery, which gives it its vibrant color, is made from depleted Uranium Oxide (U-238).
Carla Ballard, Site Manager for Louisville CyberKnife, said, “Science Celebration Day was a wonderful opportunity to educate the public about radiation, its uses, and its safety, while also showcasing our CyberKnife technology.”
The event was a success and the Louisville CyberKnife team was able to engage with over 75 visitors, including children, educators, and chaperones.
Way to go Louisville CyberKnife! Congratulations on helping educate the community on CyberKnife technology!