An Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) for Duke University

该奖项为购买环境扫描电子显微镜（ESEM）提供支持，用于检查完全水化的标本，这是传统扫描电子显微镜（SEM）无法实现的。ESEM是完全能够处理观察湿，脏，未涂层，甚至活的标本，以及动态生物过程的观察。ESEM无限期保持样品水化的能力允许在其自然状态下检查生物和其他湿样品。该仪器的最初用途包括植物学和真菌系统学的研究，神经嵴细胞迁移和其他发育过程的跟踪，包括成像磁盘折叠，以及未处理或免疫标记组织样本的检查。除了用于研究之外，该仪器还将用于培训本科生和研究生，并作为涉及高中教师的培训活动的一部分。

This award provides support for purchase an environmental scanning electron microscope (ESEM) to be used for examining fully hydrated specimens, a use not possible with a conventional scanning electron microscope (SEM). The ESEM is fully capable of handling observation of wet, dirty, uncoated, even living specimens, as well as observation of dynamic biological processes. The ability of the ESEM to maintain the hydration of a sample indefinitely allows the examination of biological and other wet samples in their natural state. Initial uses for the instrument include studies in botanical and fungal sytematics, tracking of neural crest cell migration and other developmental processes, including imaginal disk folding, and examination of unprocessed or immunolabelled tissue samples. In addition to its use in research, the instrument will be used in training of undergraduate and graduate students and as part of training activities involving high school teachers.