Imbert places third in UNE Student Confocal Microscope Digital Image Competition
BIDDEFORD — The microscopic world can reveal a bottomless spectacle on common models of study, including fruit flies and neurons. On June 25, the University of New England (UNE) Microscope Core Facility (MCF) held the first annual Student Confocal Microscope Digital Image Competition. The aim of the competition was to make UNE’s confocal scanning laser microscope more accessible to all students.
The competition was broken down into two categories; altered and unaltered images. Students who entered images into the unaltered category were barred from changing their images in any way after collecting the image using the Leica software. This category was aimed towards science students.
Finishing in a tie for third place was Ian Imbert, of Dover-Foxcroft and a Foxcroft Academy graduate and ‘15 Master of Public Health and ‘12 BS in Biochemistry, in Assistant Professor Tamara King’s lab in the Department of Biomedical Sciences.
The confocal uses lasers as a light source, which is scanned over a sample containing fluorescent labels. Only the confocal fluorescent signal collected by the microscope optics and passed through an adjustable pinhole aperture is used to create an image. Off-axis and out-of-focus signals are blocked, enabling collection of thin optical sections that can be combined to generate high-resolution 3D images. Researchers may use multiple dyes within a sample to analyze cellular relationships. MCF’s confocal system can scan at video rate to allow for live cell analysis. The confocal was purchased with a NSF Grant.
The various contest winners will be published in DUNE: DigitalUNE, UNE’s online repository. In addition there will be available to purchase a 2014-15 academic calendar sold in the bookstore, comprised of the confocal images from this years competition. All the entries will be featured in the Campus Center beginning Sept. 1.
Observer photo/Stuart Hedstrom
ARTIST OF THE MONTH — For the last several years, the Thompson Free Library in Dover-Foxcroft has hosted monthly art exhibits. For July the featured artist is Marie C. Dyer whose works include silk scarves and paintings and have been featured in Southern Living and the Chico’s catalog. On display in the library lobby are Dyer’s 100 percent silk scarves, from left, Lupine, Hibiscus Lilly Pads, Koi and Sweet Southern Rose and the acrylic on canvas painting “Driftwood.” Dyer will present a scarf painting workshop on Saturday, July 26 from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Ready Set Grow Center, 50 Engdahl Drive. For more information, please contact 564-8525, 239-560-1688 or Mariecdyer@gmail.com.
Photo courtesy of the University of New England
MICROSCOPIC PHOTO — Ian Imbert of Dover-Foxcroft, a biochemistry major at University of New England in Biddeford, won third place for his digital photography taken using UNE’s confocal scanning laser microscope. The image will be featured in a 2014-15 UNE calendar as well as in an upcoming Campus Center exhibition.
Observer photos/Jeannette Hughes
ANNUAL QUILT SHOW — The 27th annual quilt show was held at the Atkinson United Methodist Church on July 19, with this year’s theme of a beach party shown on one quilt with the boats and lighthouse. The show serves as a fundraiser for helping to cover heating expenses for the church during the winter months.
