Hitachi High-Tech's Kyushu Branch has continuously supported “The Wonders of the Microscopic World Through an Electron Microscope?!” —a hands-on microscopy event for children organized by Science Fukuoka Club, a community science education organization founded in 2011. This year, the branch supported the event held at the Fukuoka City Science Museum on April 4.

At the venue, two tabletop electron microscope experience booths and a stereomicroscope booth were set up, providing microscopy observation opportunities for 15 children and their parents. At the tabletop electron microscope booths, participants first learned about the features and principles of electron microscopes before each child observed familiar samples firsthand.

Participating children shared comments such as, “Although salt and sugar look like the same white grains to the naked eye, I was amazed to see their different shapes for the first time,” and “I would like to find out why ants have hairs on their bodies.” Parents also showed strong interest in the activities, the company, and the instruments, asking numerous questions throughout the event. The program provided an opportunity to share the excitement and wonder of science not only with children but also with their parents.

Participants listening intently to the explanation of how electron microscopes work

Scene from the event