Hitachi High-Tech Taiwan held tabletop microscope outreach classes for a total of 100 middle school students from five classes at National Experimental High School (NEHS) in Hsinchu Science Park between January 7 and 9.

The classes began with an overview of the Hitachi High-Tech Group and an explanation of how to operate the tabletop microscope. The students then actually operated the tabletop microscope and observed various objects they had prepared. They were particularly surprised by the anti-adhesion structure of a yogurt pot lid brought back from Japan and the surface of pollen when they observed them through the electron microscope.

At the end of the class, students engaged in research activities shared images taken with an electron microscope of the nymph of the 'gear-jumping insect' (scientific name: Issus coleoptratus, a type of planthopper).

We hope this class inspires students to deepen their interest in electron microscope research and to showcase their work at Taiwan’s annual National Science Competition (a science fair for elementary, junior high, and high school students).

Outreach science class conducted for students at NEHS

Students using electron microscope images to explain the planthopper larva gear mechanism

Students amazed by the intricate surface structure of pollen