The LMB has continued its collaboration with the University Technical College Cambridge (UTCC), with students visiting as part of their microscopy challenge project. 16 A-Level students, who study microscopy as part of their biology course, spent an afternoon at the LMB, broadening their knowledge of electron microscopes (EM). After a fascinating introduction by the EM team, the students were able to operate the smaller EMs to view negatively stained adenovirus particles. They then had a tour of the cryo-EM facility to see the cutting-edge microscopes that generate atomic resolution images of biological structures.
The students also went on a tour through the Structural Studies and PNAC Divisions where they got a taste of the different expertise – biologists, chemists, physicists and computer scientists – who collaborate at the LMB. Finally, the students had the opportunity to talk with Ester Vazquez Fernandez, a postdoc in Structural Studies, who explained how cryo-EM plays a crucial role in her work. The students were interested to know more about her path to becoming a scientist as many of them would like to pursue a career in science.
The UTCC is a regional centre for science education, open to 14-19 year-old students with a passion for science, and the MRC is one of their sponsors. This latest visit was part of the on-going commitment by the LMB towards supporting the UTCC. It was a great success, with the students again learning a great deal from their experience and giving hugely positive feedback.
Further references:
University Technical College CambridgeLMB scientists help UTC students design a laboratory (2015)
LMB inspires the next generation of scientists with UTCC student interactions (2016)
