Educational Electron Microscopy over the Internet

The images produced by the scanning electron microscope are a powerful tool for introducing school students to the role of microsco py in science. A joint project between the CSIRO in Australia and the Western Pennsylvania School for the Deaf in the USA has been carried out to image and analyse hair samples. This project introduced students to the electron microscope as well as the scientific disciplines of experiment planning, sample collection, sample preparation, imaging and analysis. The use of email and the world wide web was crucial to successfully planning and carrying out this project which involved collaboration across two continents.