Abstract
Light Sheet Microscopy in the MuseumLight sheet microscopy (or selective plane illumination microscopy) is an important imaging technique in the life sciences. At the same time, this technique is also ideally suited for community outreach projects, because it produces visually appealing, highly dynamic images of living organisms and its working principle can be understood with basic optics knowledge. Still, the underlying concepts are widely unknown to the non-scientific public. On the occasion of the UNESCO International Year of Light, a technical museum in Dresden, Germany, launched a special, interactive exhibition. We built a fully functional, educational selective plane illumination microscope (eduSPIM) to demonstrate how developments in microscopy promote discoveries in biology.Design Principles of an Educational Light Sheet MicroscopeTo maximize educational impact, we radically reduced a standard light sheet microscope to its essential components without compromising functionality and incorporated stringent safety concepts beyond those needed in the lab. Our eduSPIM system features one illumination and one detection path and a sealed sample chamber. We image fixed zebrafish embryos with fluorescent vasculature, because the structure is meaningful to laymen and visualises the optical principles of light sheet microscopy. Via a simplified interface, visitors acquire fluorescence and transmission data simultaneously.The eduSPIM Design Is Tailored Easily to Fit Numerous ApplicationsThe universal concepts presented here may also apply to other scientific approaches that are communicated to laymen in interactive settings. The specific eduSPIM design is adapted easily for various outreach and teaching activities. eduSPIM may even prove useful for labs needing a simple SPIM. A detailed parts list and schematics to rebuild eduSPIM are provided.
Highlights
Science outreach programs are important to communicate the benefits of scientific research to the public
In addition to designing and building a light sheet microscope for the museum (Fig 4A), we developed and programmed a suite of tools to aid in understanding the exhibit, to estimate and maximize educational selective plane illumination microscope (eduSPIM)’s reach and to ensure consistent imaging quality
We presented an educational light sheet microscope and discussed the key concepts of hardware design and sample preparation that are tailored to attract visitors with a non-scientific background
Summary
Science outreach programs are important to communicate the benefits of scientific research to the public. One of its main pillars is the special exhibition “Hi Lights!” in the TSD, where local institutes and companies showcase their work to the general public Within this framework, we designed and built an educational fluorescence light sheet microscope to demonstrate how advances in technology drive discoveries in the life sciences. Phototoxicity is minimized in two ways in light sheet microscopy when compared to confocal techniques: Firstly, only the imaged sample regions are illuminated. Our eduSPIM was built for a museum exhibition, but it is just as well suited for other teaching activities, e.g. in schools or universities Since it is fully functional, the eduSPIM design could be used in a lab where a simple, easy to operate light sheet microscope is needed
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