Students taking anatomy and biology classes on the Salem Campus are seeing things much clearer now, thanks to new compound microscopes in the anatomy lab. This type of microscope is used to look at the internal structures of thin samples such as cells or tissues.
The new Accu-Scope EXC-120 microscopes arrived on campus last December and are being used for the first time this semester. They were purchased with funds from the Centofanti Foundation.
According to Louise Steele, Ph.D., associate professor of biological science, the microscopes greatly enhance learning opportunities in the lab.
“The new microscopes are binocular, which means they have two eyepieces so that users can look at samples with both eyes. That gives students a better view and reduces eye strain,” she explained. “They also have an oil immersion lens that provides higher magnification. The new scopes have LEDs bulbs that produce even and consistent lighting for good-quality images.”
Steele added that the LED bulbs have a longer lifespan and will help extend the usage of the new equipment.
“The main reason that we bought the new microscopes was that parts were no longer available for our old microscopes. The new microscopes should serve students and the campus for many years to come,” she noted. “The lab now has 24 microscopes, so the students do not need to share with a lab partner. Each person can spend more time learning and exploring the tissues they are studying.”
Cutline A: Leah Meek, senior lecturer of biological sciences on the Salem Campus, instructs students using the new microscopes in the anatomy lab.
Cutline B: Zooming in on tissue samples.
Cutline C: Students appreciate the new technology on the Salem Campus.
Cutline D: Using one of the new compound microscopes in the anatomy lab.