TEM, SEM, Confocal, µCT and Imaging Techniques - It's All Here
Welcome to Microscopy Otago's web site. We're here to ensure you obtain the best possible advice and training in using our equipment. Plus, help you make the most out of your data.
There is much more to microscopy than simply an image, a few minutes discussion prior to starting your investigation can save a lot of time, frustration and money, later on.
Latest Exciting Stuff
Science Learning Hub Collaboration with the OCEM
The Otago Centre for Electron Microscopy has been featured in the new Science Learning Hub, which provides teaching resources that are based around cutting-edge NZ scientific research. It's an MSI (formerly MORST)-funded project, and is a key part of the government's science engagement strategy. The Hub features numerous NZ researchers and their work, and provides teachers with supporting material, teaching ideas, and multimedia content (video clips, interactives, and animations). The site is aimed at teachers of years 5-10, and materials are designed to link closely with the national curriculum.
Profiles and videos have been made of several researchers at Otago and their work, including Dr. Browyn Lowe (Applied Sciences), Professor Dave Prior (Geology), Dr. Rebecca Campbell (Physiolgy) and Associate Professor Tony Poole (Medicine). Liz Girvan, Gillian Grayston and Allan Mitchell from the OCEM and Andrew McNaughton from the OCCM were also involved in the project. Check out the new resource Exploring with Microscopes.
Electron Microscopist Receives Award
Congratulations to Ms Liz Girvan who was recently awarded the 2011 Sir John Walsh Research Institute Research Support Award in recognition of her excellent assistance to researchers within the Faculty of Dentistry.
The award will provide Ms Girvan with assistance to attend a conference or workshop of her choice, to further polish her skills in the area of scanning electron microscopy.
New Cryostage
The Zeiss Sigma variable pressure field emission gun scanning electron microscope has been fitted with a cryostage, allowing yet more avenues of research to be explored. The Sigma from Carl Zeiss is ideally suited to examining rock samples, which is particularly useful as the samples will be coming from deep in the Alpine Fault. Equipped with X-ray geometry for both energy (EDS) and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy, analysis can cover many aspects of the rocks' properties. The new cryostage will be used to look at crystal orientation in ice core samples
The Sigma is able to view a sample 250mm in diameter and 145mm tall, and magnify it from 12x to 1,000,000x. It can simultaneously record EDS and electron backscattered data. If you're after X-ray and analytical geometry in material sciences - this is the beast for you.
Note: The facilites and expertise of the staff are available to anyone at the University of Otago and beyond. Please feel free to contact any of the staff members for advice before you begin a project. If we can't help you, we'll probably know who can.
