Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis Conference

The History of the Scanning Electron Microscopy Laboratory of Biological and Geological Sciences
Scanning Microscopy Laboratory of Biological and Geological Science, founded on December 1, 1977, was originated and organized by Professor Wincenty Kilarski. The experiences he gained with scanning microscopy while staying in the United States contributed to convincing not only biologists but also geologists to invest in a microscope. The microscope was purchased from a Japanese company JEOL and delivered to Cracow on January 21, 1976. It was placed in the Department of Cytology and Histology of the Jagiellonian University, which back then was called the Department of Cytophysiology. Wincenty Kilarski was appointed as the first director of the Laboratory and has held the office for 25 years.

In 1995 the Laboratory acquired a new scanning electron microscope manufactured by JEOL JSM 5410 thanks to the financial resources received from the Foundation for the Development of Polish Science. Additional funds obtained from the Scientific Research Committee contributed to the development of the analytical aspect of the Laboratory by purchasing an X-ray spectrometer made by NORAN used for qualitative and quantitative element assessment. At the end of 2001, a new scanning electron microscope, model S-4700 by HITACHI with field emission gun was purchased together with an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer made by NORAN INSTRUMENTS. The microscope with the spectrometer started operating in March 2002 and on June 6, 2002 there was a grand opening of the new Laboratory as a part of Scanning Microscopy Laboratory of Biological and Geological Science. The purchase of a new scanning microscope HITACHI together with a modern X-ray spectrometer has made it possible to further advance research on element composition of biological and geological material as well as offering new research opportunities not only to the employees of Biological and Geological Sciences of the Jagiellonian University but also to all those involved in technology, archeology and industrial applications. Major research opportunities include the ease with which a highly magnified image and high spatial resolution can be obtained, the power to operate at low accelerating voltage, obtaining images by means of an integrated detector of secondary and backscattered electrons.