The purpose of the Microscopy laboratory is to provide students with the opportunity to explore the virtual world of species from the microscopic to the macroscopic using microscopes that provide a complete range of viewing magnifications. The microscopes available in the laboratory include a dissecting microscope, compound microscope, scanning electron microscope (SEM), and a transmission electron microscope (TEM). A field microscope is also provided for observing objects with no magnification or with normal eyesight. These microscopes provide a complete and realistic series of magnifications enabling students to view a wide range of images, subjects, and scales.


To use the laboratory, students select a species they wish to study using the species selector, which causes a thumbnail directory of microscope images belonging to the selected species to appear alongside the available microscopes. Each species may use a different set of microscopes depending on the size and type of species. Using the collection of thumbnail images, students can then enlarge these images for more careful viewing and analysis using the the Live Data display. The focus in this laboratory is on viewing and interpreting the images and not necessarily on sample or slide preparation techniques.