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Launch of Centre for Advanced Microscopy – University of Reading

A new state-of-the-art Centre for Advanced Microscopy (CfAM) – featuring some of the most powerful microscopes in the country –is being formally launched at the University of Reading on Monday 10 November by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Gordon Marshall. In addition to providing cutting edge microscopy facilities to researchers in life and physical sciences across the University, CfAM will help improve the University's business links as it offers the very best commercial services, supplying data and complete analysis services. Professor Geoffrey Mitchell, Director of CfAM, says the launch of the centre will help both academic and commercial researchers take advantage of the 'revolution in microscopy' over the last ten years. The CfAM currently houses Scanning Electron Microscopes, Transmission Electron Microscopes and an Atomic Force Microscope, allowing the analysis of all types of materials: soft or hard, synthetic or natural, wet or dry, complex or simple. The microscopes can work with sample sizes from milligrams to kilograms, and can provide images at atomic, through nano to macroscopic scales, as well as maps of elemental composition of samples. In 2004, the extensive facilities at the centre will be developed even further with the installation of an Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope, which will feature in a display at Monday's launch, along with demonstrations of the already installed microscopes. 'The new microscope will allow us to look at things as they naturally occur,' said Professor Mitchell. 'We could look at small living creatures, such as aphids, and the instrument has wide capabilities in the material and life sciences, in the automotive industries, and in the pharmaceutical industry for examining sensitive bulk drug crystals as well as formulated drug and drug delivery systems.' Along with the CfAM's sophisticated facilities, which also allow for a sample preparation service, the centre works with front-line researchers from across the life and physical sciences at the University, allowing the provision of a full consultancy service. end Notes for editors For more information and images/photographs, please contact Professor Mitchell on 0118 378 8573 or e-mail: g.r.mitchell@reading.ac.uk Alternatively, contact Craig Hillsley, Press Officer on 0118 378 8005 or e-mail: c.hillsley@reading.ac.uk