EMPOWER Microscopy Delivers Intensive Light Microscopy and Image Analysis Training at UFS

EMPOWER Microscopy was invited by Prof. Carlen Pohl-Albertyn to run a 4-day Fundamentals of Light Microscopy and Image Analysis course at the Department of Microbiology and Biochemistry of the University of the Free State (UFS) in Bloemfontein, South Africa. The course, attended by >25 postgraduates in her group at various stages of their academic journey, consisted of a series of lectures reinforced by hands-on demonstrations on the microscopes available, and complemented by an arsenal of tools ranging from glass beads and Perspex cubes to diffraction gratings, polaroid filters and much more! After covering in detail the configuration of various microscope designs, emphasis was then placed upon laying down the necessary foundation to understand conjugate planes and appreciate the merits of Köhler alignment, the optical properties of objective lenses and the often-overlooked critical role played by the condenser lens settings. Covering the relationship between numerical aperture, resolution and magnification is an absolute must, which was then followed by venturing into contrast enhancement modes to image unstained specimens (phase, darkfield, oblique, DIC and fluorescence) and the hardware required. The last stretch of the course aimed to provide a starting point for participants to process, segment and extract quantitative information from images in preparation for statistical analysis and reporting.

I extend my gratitude to Prof. Pohl-Albertyn (UFS) for her invitation, and to Advanced Laboratory Solutions for the loan of a Nikon transmitted / reflected microscope and imaging system to make the demonstrations to the large class possible and easy.

Dr James Wesley-Smith

EMPOWER Microscopy

Linkedin.com/in/jameswesleysmith-empowermicroscopy