Microscopy and Photomicrography provides an overview of different types of microscopes and their uses. There are various kinds of microscopes that are used for different purposes depending on the specimen being studied. Examples include phase contrast microscopy for living specimens without dyes, dissecting microscopes for examining 3D specimens, and bright field and dark field microscopes for contrasting unstained samples. Students were taught how to use specific microscopes and served as mentors to teach their partners, with the author learning bright field microscopy and their partner teaching phase contrast microscopy. Understanding different microscopy techniques provides valuable knowledge that can be applied across science courses and careers.

1. Microscopy and Photomicrography
By Amanda M. Icazatti Burtelll
The majority of the things we study are perceived by the naked eye, but there is much more than
meets the eye. Microscopes give us the opportunity to investigate and analyze about
microorganisms and microscopic parts, as cells, in much details.
There are different kinds of microscopies. Every microscopy is used for different purposes and
requires a specific preparation of the specimen. Phase contrast microscope is used for living
specimen without the need of applying a dye to the sample. Something that characterized this type
of microscopy is the halo, which the specimen would have around it. The Normaski microscope
enhances the contrast of transparent samples, giving a perspective similar to the phase contrast
microscopy, except that there is no halo. A Dissecting microscope is used for the examination of
three-dimensional specimens, rather than examining specimens in slides providing an advantage in
scientific projects which requires the dissection and study of an organism and its parts. In Black
field and Bright field microscope, the field around the specimen would be black and bright,
respectively, which permits to contrast the unstained samples. Depending on the approach
scientists want to obtain and the type of specimen being studied, different microscopy techniques
can be applied. These microscopy techniques refer to the way the specimen is being cut and
manipulated for the study. There are transverse, longitudinal, tangential, and cross sections that can
be made to the sample.
As part of the learning process each of the students was taught to use a specific microscopy. Then
we were paired to serve as mentors, as a way to reinforce what we had learned. I was instructed on
how to manage a Bright-Field microscopy and educated my partner on its use. My partner taught
me how to use Phase Contrast, and I was able to observed Elodea nucleus and other cell structure
with it.
Knowing how to manipulate microscopes and the different techniques that are applied to samples
has enriched my process as a science student because is a knowledge that can be applied to all my
courses and future goals. The use of a microscopy can give scientists different perspectives on the
behavior and characteristics of an organism and it represents a very useful tool that can lead to a
better understanding of biological processes.