Australian National University

MICROSCOPY STRATEGIC ADVISORY GROUP

The group met on Wednesday 3rd December in the Faculty Board Room, RSBS.

Present were: Prof. Jonathan Stone (Chair), Dr Paul Cooper (BoZo), Prof. Ian Jackson (RSES), Dr Zbigniew Stachurski (CSEM), Dr Sally Stowe (ANUEMU), Dr Rosemary White (CSIRO), Prof. Ray Withers (RSC),

1. Apologies: Dr Helen O'Neill, Dr Tim Senden, Prof. Simon Ringer

2. The minutes of the previous meeting were accepted.

3. ANUEMU
Focused Ion Beam. Dr Stowe reported that installation of the FIB/SEM had been successful, but it had been later relocated to a room with less electrical interference to gain full benefit from the SEM. The instrument had already produced results of interest to several biological projects. Staff were familiarising themselves with its operation and some user training had begun. Meetings of potential users had been held to gauge the level of interest in major accessories to enhance the usefulness of the instrument (eg better beam control for lithography, X-ray analysis, nanopositioning). By far the greatest enthusiasm was for lithography. Quotes had been obtained for the Raith lithography system favoured by the FIB manufacturer, and the agent would visit in a few days. It was envisaged that the major user departments would play the main role in obtaining funds for FIB accessories.

Light Microscopy. The application to the Major Equipment Committee for an upright light microscope to improve the existing confocal microscopy system had been unsuccessful, despite including 50% collateral funds.
However Professor Stone announced that a Ramaciotti Foundation grant for $25,000 towards the Apotome deconvolution microscope had been successful.

CM300 Operating Expenses. Problems with HT stability continued. Dr FitzGerald had projected a carry-forward of $2,000 to 2004. Major income in 2003 had been $10,000 from EME/RSPhysSE, $3K from Prof. Jackson’s research grants. This included film costs for those groups. Dr Stowe flagged that if the high costs of the last few years continued it was questionable whether sufficient funds could be raised from the user base to maintain the microscope, and alternative measures would need to be considered. Prof Withers pointed out that comparable microscopes in other places were supported by maintenance contracts of upwards of $15K per year. Professor Jackson reminded the group that RSES already provided substantial support through Dr FitzGerald.

Website and Web-based Booking System.
The ANUEMU website was now close to fully compliant with the ANU guidelines. The booking system was operating, there had been overall very favourable responses from users although work was still needed on the staff side of the interface. The BRF had decided to adopt the same program and would share the remainder of the development costs.

Analytical FESEM bid. An ”Intention to apply” for a Linkage grant had been lodged with the Research Office.

4. Laser Capture Microscope. Professor Stone said that a consortium with major support from RSBS groups would be formed to carry this bid forward. An intention to apply for a Linkage grant had been lodged.

5. ANU Microscopy Resources. Professor Stone pointed out that the group was setting itself high goals and that good progress was already being made towards achieving them. Even so, the group should consider whether there were still missing elements in ANU microscopy. A discussion ensued around the various forms of infra-red microscopy and spectroscopy and their availability in the ACT. Dr Stachurski agreed to find out the current status of the laser Raman microscope at Univ. Canberra, and whether it was still available to ANU researchers.

The meeting closed at 12.40.