Hands-On Problem Solving with Remote Electron Microscopy George Motter Andrea Harmer Lehigh University

2 Lehigh University Department of Materials Science and Engineering One of the World's leading centers for Electron Microscopy Center for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology

3 Introduction to Two CAMN Projects The MatPAC –Graduate level The West Nile Virus Project –6th grade level Center for Advanced Materials and Nanotechnology

4 MatPAC

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6 Students have more diverse course choice Faculty interact with more students for potential recruitment PA universities more appealing because of choice, extra courses help round out departments, model takes advantage of every strength in materials science across the state Benefits of Shared Classes MatPAC in action

7 I2 enables students to access microscopes at Lehigh from their classroom EM images embedded in scientific inquiry can be effective idea stimulators Students can create their own images and artifacts Great introduction to nanoscience & technology Helping Students Understand Nanoscale Science Through Hands-On Problem Solving Inquiry and Electron Microscopy

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12 I2 enables students to access microscopes at Lehigh from their classroom EM images embedded in scientific inquiry can be effective idea stimulators Students can create their own images and artifacts Great introduction to nanoscience & technology Helping Students Understand Nanoscale Science Through Hands-On Problem Solving Inquiry and Electron Microscopy

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19 Student Comments on Most Important Aspect that someone tries our solution and it helps that we are trying to help scientists that we learn from it when we present, people understand makes other people know that kids are thinking that we work together and also have fun that we try our best that we could make a difference

20 How students felt about the WNV project Im included in doing something good for my community and country challenging, but fun discussed ideas like presidents and governors -- wicked discussions I feel important to be helping to solve a problem for a big situation Im proud I love science, amazing, interesting, cool people will like science more now because they will have more confidence that they can do better

21 Spring 04 Plans Pilot test K-12 student desktop use of remote electron microscope with West Nile Virus students Embed imaging opportunities into lesson plans Promote and study collaboration between researching scientists, teachers and students engaging in authentic and relevant problem- solving scientific inquiry using hands-on electron microscopy for better understanding of process

22 How it works

23 FEI/Philips XL30 ESEM

24 Why the XL30? Completely PC based control Easy to use interface Imaging of non-conductive or even wet samples Magnification of 500,000 times are obtainable –Translates to a resolution of 2.0 nm or 2 Billionth of a meter – DNA is 2.5 nm wide

25 Prior Work Bugscope, University of Illinois –Developed scaled down Java interface John Mansfield, University of Michigan –VBrick with computer overlay card –Developed first generation of current software

26 XL30 SEM Interface

27 How It Works Control Raw Video Linux MPEG4 Video Encoder Encoded Video VNC Session

28 XL30 Remote Software Advantages High Resolution Real Time (low encoding latency) Inexpensive – mostly open source Scalable Maintains full controls and user interface

29 Future Plans for the Software Continued development of encoding engine Upgrade VNC Better error correction Multiple streams from other cameras Image-only output for separate displays

30 Abe under the Microscope Optical SEM

31 Abe Under the Microscope Lets Play

32 Questions? George Motter Andrea Harmer