Scanning Transmission Electron Microscope

Welcome to the official webpage for the George W. Burns Scanning Transmission Electron Microscopy (STEM) Lab at Ohio Wesleyan University. This site contains historical and current information about the lab, an SEM image database, and additional electron microscopy links. 

Scanning electron microscopy allows for higher magnification and better resolution than standard light microscopy. Since the sample is bombarded with electrons rather than light, the level of detail in a smaller area is much greater than a light microscope.

About the Lab

During October 1996, scanning electron microscopy was brought to Ohio Wesleyan University through an interdepartmental effort from Botany/Microbiology, Geology/Geography and Zoology.

The lab was named after Dr. George W. Burns (d. 1994), a botany professor (1946-1979), Vice President and Dean (1957-1961) and Acting President (1958-1959) of Ohio Wesleyan. Gordon ’54 and Helen Crider Smith ’56 wished for the lab to be named in Dr. Burns’ memory.

Sources of funding include the Smiths, Graham 'Deck' Stewart ’27, and the National Science Foundation. Dr. Laura Tuhela-Reuning, part-time professor and SEM technician, is the director of the lab and instructor of the SEM Theory and Practice class.

Originally, Ohio Wesleyan had a LEO 435VP SEM "Big George," an Oxford CT1500 cryo preparation system, and an Oxford ISIS system for energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS). Then in 2010, the National Science Foundation granted funds for the new Zeiss EVO LS10 SEM "Big George 2.0", which is able to process SEM and TEM images.

The George W. Burns lab also houses a Gatan ALTO 1000 cryo-preparation system and a 50mm2 Oxford X-MAX EDS detector.