MGH Martinos Center for Biomedical Imaging 2017 | Page 15

20 Years of FreeSurfer
It’s a sunny day in Southern California and the developers of FreeSurfer—a
suite of software tools for the analysis of neuroimaging data—are preparing
for a training session to introduce scientists to the many benefits of the
package. To help the scientists find the classroom they have hung “Free-
Surfer Course” signs around the outside of the building, a stone’s throw
from the beach and the restless waves of the Pacific. They switch on the
computers as they await the attendees’ arrival.
The door opens and a gentleman drifts in. He’s young and tanned and
dressed—if dressed is the right word—in flip flops and a tank top. It’s not
your typical look for a neuroscientist but no matter. All are welcome here.
He looks around the room in a quizzical sort of way and, after a moment,
asks a single question.
“Is this the free surfer course?”
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