A Scanning Electron Microscope for Undergraduate Biological Instruction and Independent Research.

利用扫描电子显微镜（SEM）、临界点干燥机和溅射涂层机，学院在其生物课程中引入了一门新的高级课程——扫描电子显微镜的原理和方法。通过本课程的学习，学生将加深对科学研究方法的理解，提高解释生物结构的能力，并提高技术技能。该设施的另一个重要好处是为学生提供了更多的研究机会。该系每年15个专业的毕业生中，有相当一部分人将独立完成超微结构方面的工作。职前生物教师，以及化学、地质学和物理学的高年级学生，也可以使用扫描电子显微镜和辅助的标本制备设备。主题包括选举光学（理论，透镜，分辨率），扫描电镜设计和操作，标本制备技术（固定，脱水，涂层），图像解释（测量和收缩），表面标记，元素分析，扫描电镜应用于广泛的生物体和问题，以及实验室安全。扫描电镜的能力对该系在发育生物学、植物解剖学、系统植物学和昆虫学等方面的工作产生了宝贵的二次影响。由于扫描电镜制备不需要耗时的薄切片，因此在这种广泛的本科应用中优于透射电镜。

Using the scanning electron microscope (SEM), a critical point dryer and a sputter coater, the College is bringing to its Biology curriculum a new upper-division course on the Principles and Methods of Scanning Electron Microscopy. Students enrolling in this course gain enhanced understanding of the methods of scientific investigation, greater ability to interpret biological structure, and improved technical skills. An important additional benefit of the facility is the increased opportunity for student research it affords. A substantial fraction of the Department's graduating group of 15 majors annually will have done independent work in ultrastructure. Pre-service Biology teachers, plus upperclassmen from chemistry, geology and physics, also will have access to the SEM and ancillary specimen preparation equipment. Topics include election optics (theory, lenses, resolution), SEM design and operation, specimen preparative techniques (fixation, dehydration, coating), interpretation of images (measurement and shrinkage), surface labelling, elemental analysis, SEM applications to a wide range of organisms and questions, and laboratory safety. The SEM capability is having a valuable secondary impact on the Department's work in Developmental Biology, Plant Anatomy, Systemmatic Botany and Entomology, among others. Since SEM preparation does not require time-consuming thin sectioning, it is superior to transmission electromicroscopy in this wide variety of undergraduate applications.