Todd Herman ’10 caught an image of a house fly he found on his window sill.
Alex Katz ’11 took photos of a dragonfly head from the Biology Department.
Suzanne Estok ’11, Rivka Fidel ’10 and Sarah Bacon ’12 studied volcanic glass Estok brought back from a term abroad in Italy.
Members of the campus community had an opportunity see what these and other students discovered under the scanning electron microscope (SEM) in “Astounding Images of the Microworld” at the F.W. Olin Center Atrium this week.
The show was the culmination of collaborative work by students in the Frontiers of Nanotechnology and Photography II courses, with related events co-organized by the Capital District Microscopy and Microanalysis Society (CDMMS).
The black and white images also included artistic renderings of carbon nanotubes, electospun fibers and clay nanocomposities with embedded quantum dots, as well as samples from everyday life – bees, sandpaper, a lady bug, a black-legged tick and metal shavings from the Wold Building under construction next door.
In all, 32 students from 11 departments participated. Students learned how to operate the microscope, see things in new ways and work with their peers in other disciplines.
Those who missed the show at Olin will have a chance to see select images at the Wikoff Student Gallery March 25-May 2 in an exhibit titled “Nano Grande.”
“Students from the nanotechnology course brought their understanding of SEM imaging technique and sample preparation, while the photography students brought their experience on image composition and aesthetics to the table,” said Palma Catravas, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering.
Electrical engineering major Joshua Hernandez ’10 said he enjoyed looking at specimens of gel sorbent with Pam April ’10, an art student.
Katz, a neuroscience major, spoke of challenges he encountered imaging the dragonfly, with its compound eye, trio of simple eyes, antenna, receptors and wind-sensitive hairs.
“This specimen had a lot of charging, because of how the microscope beam is set up. There’s a lot of tinkering and trial and error involved. It’s amazing how small you can really get.”
For most, work and fun were as collaborative as art and science.
“The smallest things made us infinitely happy with our images,” said Estok, a chemistry major.
Estok’s lab partner, Fidel, an environmental science major, recounted the joy of lab work.
“I liked working on composition, brightness and form. Sometimes we’d be there for four hours on a weekend,” she said. “This is my favorite lab all year, maybe my favorite Union lab ever. Once you find your image, it’s gorgeous.”
Fidel and Bacon, a psychology major, also teamed up on Sphagnum contortum, or peat moss.
Catravas and Kevin Bubriski, visiting professor of visual arts, worked with students on the show. Catravas taught SEM labs with Bioengineering Technician Mark Hooker. She and Associate Professor of Chemistry Michael Hagerman and Biology Lecturer Brian Cohen taught Frontiers of Nanotechnology, while Burbriski taught the photo class.
"The InterfaCE of Art and Science,” an evening colloquium at Olin Auditorium Tuesday by CDMMS member Sam Bowser, a research scientist at the Wadsworth Center in Albany, discussed practical aspects of art and science collaboration. Visual Arts Professor Walter Hatke and Sandy Wimer were among the photo competition judges.
Tuesday’s event was supported by a National Science Foundation grant. In addition to the upcoming Wikoff exhibit, project participants will be reaching out to the Kenney Community Center and STEP program.