Programme

Whether your field is physical science, biological science or engineering our programme includes something for you as well as an opportunity for exposure to microscopy and microanalysis in other disciplines (see what they are up to on the ‘squishy side’ or the ‘hard side’). We also have some great workshops pre and post conference programme. 

Note that the programme summary may change, come back and check for what’s new.

Speakers

Our invited and registered speakers, from early career to emeritus scientists, will cover a wide range of topics (from AI to X-rays).

• Advances in High-Resolution Chemical Imaging Capabilities at Australian Synchrotron’s Infrared Microspectroscopy (IRM) Beamline and Their Key Research Applications. Dr Jitraporn (Pimm) Vongsvivut. Australian Synchrotron, ANSTO.
• Researching human fertility: ethical and technical challenges. Dr Karen Reader. University of Otago.
• Quantifying the Nanoworld: Measuring Mechanical Properties with High-Resolution AFM. Dr Elena Taran. University of Melbourne.
• 50 years behind the microscope. Dr Ian Hallett (Plant and Food Research) and Dr Allan Mitchell (University of Otago).
• X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS): from basic principles, to selected case studies and new capabilities at the University of Canterbury. Dr Vladimir Golovko. University of Canterbury.
•  Peering inside pathogens; Using cryoEM to image features inside of viruses.
• Imaging over Biological Scales using Optical Microscopy. Dr Paul McMillan. University of Melbourne.  

 Find out about imaging and microanalysis capabilities around Aotearoa New Zealand, for example.

• Wellington Bioimaging Group: enhancing regional imaging support and collaboration.
• The Centre for Electron Microscopy and Materials Science (CEMMS) at The University of Auckland – Review of NZ’s latest SEM, FIB-SEM and Nanoindentation Instruments.
• The Otago Micro- and Nano- Imaging facility (OMNI) at the University of Otago Medical School.

 Find out how scientists and engineers use imaging in their research, for example,

• Illuminating the response of tumour suppressor p16^INK4a to oxidation in human cells.
• Oxidation-induced amyloid fibril formation of caspase-8: a novel mechanism of inflammatory cell death with diagnostic potential.
• Comparative mechanisms of growth, regeneration, and reproduction in Bugulina flabellate.

 New and emerging methods, for example.

• Developing a deep learning tool for generalised volume electron microscopy samples segmentation.
• Developing new bio-based composites requires an adaptation of materials characterisation techniques.
• Application of poly-L-lysine covered glass for study of nematode eggshell topography in SEM.

Workshops

Do you want to learn how to process and analyse images to extract quantitative data using the powerful opensource package FIJI (a distribution of ImageJ)? Perhaps you use or want to use scanning electron microscopy and want to know more about SEM theory and practice. Or perhaps your interest lies in the latest in fluorescence light microscopy, either the new automatic computational clearing microscopes or about confocal techniques (fluorescence life-time imaging) that provides chemical information and more.

NOTE: for the AFM-IR workshop we request only one member per research group attend due to limited spaces.

For workshop details, head to the Programme page.

Prizes

• Keith Williamson Medal for talk by an early career researcher for inspirational research using microscopy.
• Poster prize for most engaging poster.
• Student presentation prizes.

Location

The 31st NZ Conference on Microscopy will be held at Lincoln University. The university is set in park-like grounds nearby Lincoln Township, an area rich in land-based research institutions and businesses. Both are 40 minutes south of Christchurch airport.