Pros teach Mundelein High School students about scanning electron microscope

Students at Mundelein High School recently learned to use a scanning electron microscope that was loaned to the school for two weeks by nanoScience Instruments.

Diane Hickey-Davis, a representative from nanoScience Instruments, taught the students how to create images of a variety of materials, including those brought by representatives from Medline and Scot Forge Company. The students interacted with the industrial representatives as they viewed the magnified images and discussed how the materials are tested in their industries.

Mundelein High plans to include a scanning electron microscope among the state-of-the-art instrumentation to be incorporated in its research program, starting with the opening of the new building addition to be completed by August 2016.

"The instrumentation will be more than a wow factor," said David Greenwood, science department chair. "The instrumentation and research techniques will reflect those used in the neighboring industries. Students will have the opportunity to experience the types of research practiced in Lake, Cook and McHenry counties."

Mundelein High School will have two STEM labs once the building addition is completed and it will be coupled with Project Lead the Way instruction. The hands-on instruction by the professionals was one of many "Career Cells" provided by the high school to help students learn about future careers in a variety of professions.