Microscopical Society of Southern California
News & Events

Origin and Development of the Light Microscope
a great presentation by MSSC member, Stuart Warter on the history of the microscope..

The Billings Microscope Collection of the
Medical Museum Armed Forces Institute of Pathology

"Evolution of the Microscope" displays items from the world's largest and most representative collection in tracing the development of the basic tool of the bioscientist over the last 400 years. The exhibit includes the 17th-century, handcrafted, leather and gold-tooled microscope used by Robert Hooke in the preparation of "Micrographia," one of the first books ever written about observations made through a microscope.

Available for free download in PDF format.

Richard Nelson's Scanning Electron Microscope Demonstration
"Seeing the Very Small"

Ever been stuck needing an illuminant, but with no batteries or power source to hand?
then check out this article by Richard J. Nelson on the LED "Forever Flashlight."

Olympus Bioscapes Digital Imaging Competition (annual)
Deadline for entries for the 2008 competition is September 30, 2008.

Submit up to five images and/or digital video clips to this competition, which will honor extraordinary microscope images of life science subjects. Submit entries by uploading them to the Olympus web servers, see http://www.olympusbioscapes.com/enter.asp First prize is an Olympus microscope or Camera equipment valued at $5,000. Nine additional winners will also
receive valuable prizes from Olympus. You do not need to be a user of Olympus equipment.

The Postal Microscopical Society (PMS), based in the UK, operates a postal circulation of boxes of microscope slides and notes to its members in the UK and the US. Unfortunately, in 2004, the Amercian circuit was closed down. Alexander Cummins is working to establish a new postal slide exchange for the US, called the American Postal Microscopical Society (APMS). If your are interested in participating, please send an e-mail to Alex giving your support and in your e-mail include your a) mailing address, b) your microscopic interests, c) your type and model of microscope, camera, i.e.: your basic setup, d) your experience level and e) details of your main interests and particular slide wish list. In response, you will be sent 10 microscope slides with notes to use for two weeks, before sending the box on to the next member in the list.

Alexander.Cummins2@verizon.net

Help with Mayo Brothers Research

An old friend of the MSSC, Kevin Bennet has been asked by Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN (where he holds a high level technical position) to research the Mayo Brothers' use of the microscope for early pathology uses....with the goal of making a historical display for the Clinic's welcome center here in Rochester. If you have any information to help further this research, please e-mail the MSSC editor.

 

Petr's Microscopy Resources list of international meetings for microscopists
See www.petr.isibrno.cz/microscopy/meetings.php