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INDIVIDUAL USERS    NEW USER INDUCTION FORMS  -download
One of the main functions of staff is to teach users, and this is generally done on a one-to-one basis, as the user learns the techniques needed for their project. So please do not hesitate to ask staff for help or advice. Do not under any circumstances try to operate an unfamiliar machine without checking with staff, or show anyone else how to operate an instrument.         

UNDERGRADUATE COURSES
The facilities of the Unit may be used for undergraduate courses, as long as only small groups of students (8-10 people on SEM, 4 people on TEM) are in the unit at any one time. Organisers of courses who intend to use the EM Unit are asked to arrange with the Coordinator as early as feasible in the year.

1. The annual ANUEMU Microscopy, Imaging and Analysis series

2. In most years an advanced SEM course  with a visiting EM instructor from ProTrain, Steve Chapman,

3. From time to time, 1-day workshops on particular topics or for particular user groups.

Microscopy, Imaging and Analysis (MIA 2006)

Each year the EMU, together with staff from outside the Unit, organises a course running one day or more per week, covering a range of topics including  image analysis, TEM and SEM, LM and EDXA. Research students intending to use an appreciable amount of microscopy are strongly advised to attend at least part of this course.

To enrol: email stowe@rsbs.anu.edu.au   giving name, department, your course or position, the sessions you wish to attend, and either an account number with authorisation (ANU) or other billing information..
Accreditation: The course is not at the moment accredited. If you wish the course to form part of an accredited unit, discuss with your course supervisors and the ANUEMU- it may be possible to work out a suitable assessment mechanism.

Cost: ANU or other University staff and students - $50 per day non-refundable. Others -by arrangement.

 2. * Introduction to SEM  (Pre-req - 1). Monday April 10th.  Robertson Seminar Room
Organiser: Sally Stowe
An introduction to EM columns and to the principles  and operation of Scanning Electron Microscopes. Basics common to both SEMs and TEMs will be covered only once in sessions 2 and 3.

3. *  Introduction to TEM (Pre-req 1,2)  Wednesday April 12th Robertson Seminar Room
Organiser: Sally Stowe
Continuation of introduction to EM columns, and to the  basic principles  of  Transmission Electron Microscope operation.   

4. Biological Specimen Preparation for EM. Monday 24th April. Robertson SeminarRoom
Organiser: Sally Stowe
Room temperature techniques. An overview and some demonstrations of chemical and microwave fixation, embedding and sectioning, negative staining, critical point drying

5 * Light Microscopy -the basics.  Wednesday 26th April.  New Extension Seminar Room
Organiser: Daryl Webb
Overview of basic upright, inverted, and stereo microscopes, Kohler illumination, fixed tube length and infinity focus optics, what those numbers on the objective mean, phase and DIC (whats the difference, when do you need them?), and wide-field epifluorescence. Iatia Phase Reconstruction.

6. Resin Sectioning by Ultramicrotome. Thursday 27th April. ANUEMU microtomy area.

Organiser:Sally Stowe.
Hands-on practical session- making glass knives, sectioning for light and electron microscopy.

7. Laser Capture Microscopy. No pre-req, but 5 recommended Tuesday 2nd May new Extension Seminar Room
Organiser: Julie Christie
Introduction to the ANU's PALM LCM with dual optical tweezers.  Introductory talks before morning tea will be followed by hands-on sessions with small groups.  (part-day).

8.Advanced Fluorescence Light Microscopy (Pre-req 5 or equivalent ) Thursday May 4th. Robertson Seminar Room.
Organiser: Daryl Webb
Including scanning laser confocal, and wide-field deconvolution techniques including Apotome.

9. Cryoprocessing theory and techniques (half-day lecture session only). Tuesday 9th May
Organiser: Sally Stowe
Ice crystal formation and the advantages and disadvantages of different methods of freezing samples. Freeze subsitution, freeze-drying, freeze fracture, high pressure freezing,  TEM and SEM cold stage work. (nb SEM cold stage practical demonstration  in session 2.

10. X-ray Analysis of Elements. (2 or equivalent)  Wednesday 10th May
Organiser: Frank Brink
An introduction to the analysis of elemental composition by energy dispersive (EDXA) and wave-length dispersive (WDS) x-ray analysis.

11. Focused Ion Beam. Pre-reqs 2 or equivalent..Tuesday 16th May. New Extension Seminar Room. RSBS
Organiser: Darren Freeman
Principles and Operation, based around the ANUEMU FIB/SEM

12. TEM II  - basic theory and practice for Diffraction, Darkfield and Convergent Beam applications. Pre-req is good understanding and experience of basic TEM operation. Date TBA, depending on demand
Organiser:Frank Brink

 
  CHAPMAN 2006

Steve Chapman (Protrain Ltd) visits Canberra most years to give courses in SEM operation or EM maintenance. These courses are open to local, national and international participants, but there are a limited number of places.

The next workshop will be in held over 5 days from the 12th to the 16th June 2006,  and will cover SEM operation and basic maintenance, with some EDXA and FIB work. 

The course in 2006 will be run in association with Anaspec cc Australia.  The cost will be $800 for the 5-day course, which includes morning and afternoon tea but no other meals or accommodation.  Contact: Ruth O'Loughlin,  Ruth@anaspec.co.za

These highly recommended courses are enjoyable, intensive and interactive. Participants gain experience in getting the best possible performance from a range of SEMs.  Professional microscopists and actual and aspiring "power users"  are the main clientele.

Other workshops planned in 2006

mid-October - microscopy component in RSBS BioScience Methods Workshop.

December - "Microscopy Toolbox" for Summer Scholars

LIBRARY
There is a small library in the EM Unit, primarily for on-the-spot reference - removal of material is not encouraged. There is a fair selection of books on electron microscopy in the University libraries.