Exploring the Invisible: A Hands-On Microscopy & 3D Imaging Workshop

Have you ever wondered what things really look like up close, like really close? In this interactive workshop, you’ll get a crash course in electron microscopy and discover how scientists explore the hidden details of the world around us. We’ll start with a quick, beginner-friendly introduction to what electron microscopes are, how they work, and why they matter in real-world science, from studying materials to solving problems in engineering.

Then, you’ll jump into two fun, hands-on activities:

1. See the Unseen with a Scanning Electron Microscope
Take control of a real scanning electron microscope (SEM) and examine materials at up to 5000× magnification. You’ll explore surfaces and structures in incredible detail—things you could never see with your eyes or a regular microscope.

2. LEGO X-ray Challenge: Build What You Can’t See
Work in teams to recreate a hidden LEGO model using a 3D scan from an X-ray CT system. It’s a race against time, can your team figure out the structure and build it first?

This workshop is all about curiosity, problem-solving, and getting hands-on with real scientific tools. No experience needed, just bring your curiosity!

Samantha Stambula

Dr. Samantha Stambula completed her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at McMaster University, where she used powerful electron microscopes to research new materials that could make cleaner energy technologies, like fuel cells, more efficient and affordable.

She is now the Manager of Education, Governance, and Outreach at the Canadian Centre for Electron Microscopy (CCEM), a leading research facility with some of the most advanced microscopes in the world. She leads outreach programs that bring real scientific tools into classrooms, including scanning electron microscopes, so students can explore and better understand the hidden, microscopic world around them.