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The M&M 2020 Virtual platform is STILL OPEN!
Thank you to everyone who attended M&M 2020 Virtual earlier this month. If you haven't already, please take a moment to fill out our feedback survey by September 1. In the meantime, are you still catching up or re-watching some of the presentations that took place? Here's what you can do within the online platform:
- Registered participants can view pre-recorded content (talks, recorded demos, plenary session, exhibitor booth content, etc.).
- Interact with other participants - attendees and exhibitors - via text chat (video functions not available).
- The platform will close permanently on September 7, 2020.
- Some talks have been removed per the presenter's request.
Have a colleague or co-worker who missed the meeting? Registration is open until Friday, August 21! (Same registration rates apply.)
(Separate registration required for each individual participant.)
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Congratulations to this year's student poster award winners in the biological and physical sciences!
Congratulations to the 2020 Ultramicrotomy Award
by Diatome Winners!
First Prize | Emily Benson
Second Prize | Fengxia (Alice) Lang
Third Prize | Heather Pence
You can view a full listing of meeting award winners, here.
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Nominations for MSA Fellows, Class of 2021 Now Open
The Microscopy Society of America is accepting nominations for MSA Fellow, Class of 2021. This major Society award honors MSA members of at least 10 years for "significant contributions to the advancement of the field of microscopy and microanalysis" through both their scientific accomplishments AND service to MSA. In very special circumstances the 10 year membership requirement may be waived. Self-nominations will not be accepted. The Society encourages all of its members to participate in honoring eligible colleagues in the field of microscopy by nominating them for MSA Fellow. The deadline is September 30, 2020. For instructions on the nomination process and submission of a nomination, please click here.
MSA Society Awards Nominations for 2021 Now Open
This is an opportunity to participate in your Society's activities and to participate in honoring deserving individuals. All nominations are submitted entirely through an online form: filling-in the basic nominee information and uploading the required supporting documents. For more information on these awards and the nomination process, click here. The deadline is October 31, 2020.
Submit an Article to Microscopy Today
The Editors of Microscopy Today (MTO) encourage and greatly appreciate submission of articles from microscope users as well as microscope manufacturers and suppliers. Of particular interest are summaries of in-depth articles published in peer reviewed journals and articles that describe new equipment and applications. Microscopy Today is open access and there are no charges for publishing in MTO. All articles are available free to our subscription list of over 18,000 microscopists and through our collaboration with Cambridge University Press over 8,000 libraries worldwide. For further information email the Editor-in-Chief at [email protected] or visit
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CellProfiler Office Hours
Come ask us your image analysis questions! The CellProfiler team at the Broad Institute is hosting bi-weekly virtual office hours sponsored by the Center for Open Bioimage Analysis (COBA) where you can sign up for a 30-minute time slot to work one-on-one with an assay developer to help solve image analysis problems. More info can be found here.
This forum's focus is software-oriented aspects of scientific imaging, particularly (but not limited to) image analysis, processing, acquisition, storage, and management of digital scientific images. Everyone is welcome to ask questions. It's for beginners and experts; life scientists and computer scientists; for practical questions and theoretical approaches to solving scientific problems with images. The primary objective is to foster independent learning for everyone in the community. The forum is jointly operated by the Broad Institute and UW-Madison via the Center for Open Bioimage Analysis (COBA).
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 The MSA Facebook page regularly posts science news for you
High-sensitivity atomic force microscopy opens up for photosensitive materials
Atomic force microscopy (AFM) brought the atomic scale imaging resolution of scanning tunneling microscopy, a technique that won the Nobel Prize in Physics, to non-conducting surfaces. However, limitations remain when trying to use the technique at its most sensitive with photosensitive samples in liquids. Now researchers at Kanazawa University show how to overcome these constraints, by driving a cantilever a few micrometers in size at megahertz frequencies with stability and control in liquid and without potentially exposing the sample to light.
Read more.
New Super-Resolution Method Reveals The Fine Details
Since the early 1930s, electron microscopy has provided unprecedented access to the alien world of the extraordinarily small, revealing intricate details that are otherwise impossible to discern with conventional light microscopy. But to achieve high resolution over a large specimen area, the energy of the electron beams needs to be cranked up, which is costly and detrimental to the specimen under observation. Read more.
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StC Appointed Position Applications Are Open!
The Call for Applications for the Appointed Positions (Program Chair, Communications Chair, Regional Liaison Chair, PMCx60 Co-chairs, and Regional Liaisons) will remain open until all positions are filled. There are only a few roles left, so please contact [email protected] for updated information on which positions are not yet filled!
The application and role descriptions can be accessed on the MSA Student Council website, Responsibilities page. If you are interested in getting involved but aren't sure if you're ready for a full position, keep an eye on our communications for information about committees!
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Call for Applications
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Application for Appointed Positions
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Thanks for joining us at M&M!
Our interactions may have looked different this year, but we still were able to engage with the science of the microscopy community and network with scientists and technologists from around the world. Thank you for experiencing M&M with us!
If you attended the PMCx60 and have not yet provided your feedback, please fill out this form. We greatly value your opinions and ideas for improvement, and are continuously re-evaluating our program based on your assessments.
Here are a few highlights that we captured at the meeting:
Abby Carbone
 The Student Spotlight this month is Abby Carbone, a recent graduate from the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at North Carolina State University. Through her passion for science outreach and love for microscopy, Abby was quite busy during her undergraduate career. She worked on two research projects with Dr. Paul Maggard, synthesizing metal oxide photocatalysts as well as growing aerogels from liquid metals for chemical fuel generation. Abby also did an internship at Eastman Chemical Company where she was first introduced to electron microscopy through her research on thin films for medical devices. Abby later grew in her knowledge of microscopy through a summer REU at the California Institute of Technology working on a project with nanoporous metal for carbon dioxide reduction. She has additionally worked as the first Undergraduate Staff Microscopist at the Analytical Instrumentation Facility (AIF) at NCSU. Through her work at AIF Abby also had the opportunity to work on several projects with Protochips. This fall, Abby is beginning her graduate program in materials science at Stanford University.
 Scientific outreach is Abby's primary passion and hobby. Her professional aim, in fact, is to be the next Bill Nye, breaking down stereotypes about scientists and making science more accessible and inviting for everyone. She first became interested in outreach when her physics teacher father performed scientific demonstrations to her elementary class. Since then she has been the go-to person for outreach for the materials science and chemistry departments, AIF, and the Research Triangle Nanotechnology Network (RTNN) doing tours and demos for students of all ages and backgrounds. On her experience communicating to a wide range of audiences, Abby explains, "People are fundamentally interested in cool science, but when it's explained in a way that's inaccessible...of course people aren't going to be interested...so it's so important to explain [science] in a way that is engaging...you have to gauge what you're saying according to who your audience is." During the pandemic Abby started her own science vlog on Facebook for kids called Sciencing with Abby.
Having recently completed her bachelor's degree and gone through the process of grad school applications, Abby's advice for undergrads in the wake of intimidating research or applications is, "Someone has to do it, so why can't it be you?" She also encourages students to speak up for themselves and ask for opportunities. For those considering graduate studies, Abby advises students to treat applications like a class and give plenty of time to prepare, study for the GRE, apply for fellowships, and get feedback on everything you write.
In her down time, Abby enjoys swing dancing, calligraphy, and making gingerbread houses with her mom who does so professionally. Fun fact: Abby learned to hold a pastry bag before she learned to hold a pencil.
Join us in wishing Abby the best of luck on her first year of graduate school!
Congratulations to the 2020-2021 MSA StC Executive Council
Share your images with the community!
Want the world to see your awesome images? You could be featured on the MSA #MicroscopyMonday posts. Submit to the MOSAIC: click "Upload a Photo" at https://www.microscopy.org/.
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Local Affiliated Societies
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Local Affiliated Societies News
by Patty Jansma, LAS Director
LAS Meetings
Check the individual LAS websites for more details.
Support your local affiliated society! Invite students, early career scientists and technologists to your LAS meetings. Better yet, bring a new member to your local meeting and get them involved!
LAS Programs
As always, you may contact me at [email protected] with comments, questions or concerns.
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Renu Sharma, Chair
Join a FIG! FIGs are groups of scientists that practice or have interests in specific disciplines (currently 11) to which microscopy and microanalysis is applied. As an MSA member, you can join one or more (FIG Communities). FIGs not only boost scientific understanding through knowledge sharing, but also provide opportunity to network with scientists who share common interests. FIGs may organize lunches, symposia or pre-meeting congresses at M&M. A complete list of FIGs is on MSA website or by clicking here. You may contact the FIG leader directly or attend a business meeting at M&M to learn more. Visit the FIG Store to sign up. Are you already a member of a FIG? Consider volunteering and make an impact! It's members are what makes FIGs successful. Talk to your FIG leader. Interested in starting a FIG? Start by reviewing the updated version of the FIG Guidelines and then contact me. FIGs are for students too! If you are a student, your fees are waived for the first FIG you join.
Are you interested in highlighting your FIG in an MSA Update? Contact me for more information.
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