Providing Access to Scanning Electron Microscopy

洛杉矶自然历史博物馆(LACM)的Angel Valdes、Brian Brown、Kirk Fitzhugh、Gordon Hendler和Joel Martin博士获得了获得扫描电子显微镜(SEM)的赠款。扫描电子显微镜是生物和物理科学的基础研究工具，提供了光学显微镜无法达到的分辨率(放大倍数超过300,000倍)，光学显微镜的放大倍数不超过1,000倍。将购买具有可变压力能力的最先进的扫描电子显微镜和能量色散光谱仪(EDS)。变压能力对于检查未涂覆的样品是必要的，这在处理类型材料或易碎样品时是至关重要的。EDS单位将对地质和考古研究至关重要。对于大多数生物样品，将需要溅射镀膜机。我们选择了一台使用金、金/钯和铂等贵重靶材的高分辨率溅射镀膜机。扫描电子显微镜将构成一个新研究单位的核心，该单位由无脊椎动物动物学、脊椎动物动物学、植物学、地球科学、无脊椎动物古生物学、脊椎动物古生物学和人类学七个研究部门共享。LACM使用扫描电子显微镜的另一个重要组成部分是收集材料的鉴定。海洋无脊椎动物生物多样性处理中心、地球研究和脊椎动物古生物学部门的工作人员将定期使用扫描电子显微镜来识别矿物、陨石和生物标本。教育科亦会使用扫描电子显微镜，以加强公众对科学的认识，并突出博物馆学者的工作。使用扫描电子显微镜制作的图像将成为未来展品、课程材料和为教育目的制作的网站的组成部分。教育人员将能够安排参观扫描电子显微镜设施，研究人员将提供访问机器和解释扫描电子显微镜技术在自然科学中的应用。在LACM安装扫描电子显微镜将提供一个独特的机会，将正在进行的研究计划和教育活动整合为一个动态、互动的展览组成部分。扫描电子显微镜设施还将为附属研究助理和来访者提供一个工具，加强与区域、国家和国际同事的合作研究活动。扫描电子显微镜将是这一培训过程的关键组成部分，并将为LACM学生提供进行现场研究所需的工具。

PROVIDING ACCESS TO SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPYA grant has been awarded to Drs. Angel Valdes, Brian Brown, Kirk Fitzhugh, Gordon Hendler and Joel Martin at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County (LACM) to acquire a Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). The SEM is a fundamental research tool in biological and physical sciences, offering a level of resolution (magnifications over 300,000 times) not possible with light microscopy, which is limited to magnifications no greater than 1,000 times. A state-of-the-art SEM with variable pressure capability and an Energy Dispersive Spectrometry unit (EDS) will be purchased. The variable pressure capability is necessary to allow examination of uncoated samples, which is critical when dealing with type material or delicate specimens. The EDS unit will be essential for geological and archeological research. For most biological samples a sputter coater will be required. We selected a high resolution sputter coater that utilizes noble targets such as gold, gold/palladium and platinum.The SEM will constitute the core of a new research unit shared by seven research departments including Invertebrate Zoology, Vertebrate Zoology, Botany, Earth Sciences, Invertebrate Paleontology, Vertebrate Paleontology and Anthropology. Another important component of the SEM usage at the LACM will be the identification of collection materials. Staff in the Marine Invertebrate Biodiversity Processing Center, Earth Studies, and Vertebrate Paleontology departments will be using the SEM on a regular basis for the identification of minerals, meteorites and biological specimens. The SEM will also be used by the Education Division to enhance public understanding of science and highlight the work of museum scholars. Images produced using the SEM will be a component of future exhibits, curriculum materials, and web sites produced for educational purposes. Education staff will be able to arrange tours to the SEM facility with research staff who will provide access to the machine and explanations of the application of the SEM technology to natural sciences. The installation of a SEM at LACM will offer a unique opportunity for integration of on-going research programs and education activities as a dynamic, interactive exhibit component. The SEM facility will also provide a tool for affiliated research associates and visitors, enhancing cooperative research activities with regional, national and international colleagues. The SEM will be a critical component of this training process and will provide the LACM students with the necessary tools for their research in situ.