Microscience Microscopy Congress
Tuesday 2nd to Thursday 4th July 2019
The Microscience Microscopy Congress is organised by the Royal Microscopical Society, and the 2019 event was held at the Manchester Central Convention Complex again. As usual, it included a conference, an exhibition and workshops.
The exhibition is huge, and is where the commercial microscopy companies show all their latest equipment.
General view
There is also a section to appeal to the young researcher and people working with more basic light microscopes. In the Learning Zone there is a variety of light microscopes set up with different optical techniques that visitors can explore.
Light Microscopy Zone
There are RMS members there to help those less confident and to explain the principles of the techniques. Peter Evennett, Chris Hammond and Chris Kennedy, members of our Club, are prominent in this area.
Chris Kennedy and Peter Evennett (right)
Instruments of historical and scientific interest
The RMS invited us to this event to show people with little funding how to modify older microscopes and make modifications to tailor a system for a specific job. So we had a small display near the Learning Zone.
Pam Hamer and Jeremy Poole on the Quekett stand
Phil Greaves and Jeremy Poole on the Quekett stand
Jeremy Poole with a visitor
As part of this initiative, Jeremy Poole gave a workshop talk each day on converting old microscopes for LED illumination.
Jeremy Poole’s presentation
Click the arrows to move through the slides; click the symbol at bottom right for a larger version
The RMS organizes a photomicrographic competition along with the exhibition. From the many entries received the best ones were selected for a display of large prints. These were judged during the exhibition. There are sections for light microscopy life science and light microscopy in physical science. There are also sections for electron microscopists and video clips. The Club donated a prize for the person who came second in the light microscopy life science section. This was won by the image of ‘Mixed Messages from Microdots’ taken by Daryan Chitsaz at the Montreal Neurological Institute. Daryan was not at the exhibition but when the winner was announced Joan Bingley was presented as the donor of the prize.
Photomicrographic competition
Mixed Messages from Microdots
Two of the images selected for the final judgement were from microscopists we know well – Les Franchi and Mike Crutchley. The image provided by Les was similar to that displayed at our annual exhibition last year.
Crystal Maze by Les Franchi
Quite a few members of the Club from the local area took the opportunity to see very modern microscopes and visit our display.
Report by Pam Hamer, photographs by Joan Bingley and Pam Hamer