Anonymous donor grants electron microscope to Elyria Catholic

Elyria Catholic High School is ready to show off its newest piece of technology; a scanning electron microscope, or SEM, which was purchased thanks to an anonymous donor. In a release on Monday, the school said that it would invite parents, prospective students and community members to take a glimpse through the microscope at its Fall Open House on Oct. 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. "The acquisition of this advanced instrument, made possible through the generosity of an anonymous donor who provided funding for its six-figure cost, positions Elyria Catholic at the forefront of high school STEM education," the release said. Elyria Catholic said it is the only school in Northeast Ohio that incorporates the Phenom XL SEM from Nanoscience Instruments in its curriculum. According to Nanoscience Instruments, an SEM creates images by focusing a beam of electrons onto a sample. The electrons interact with the atoms in the sample and produce signals that can then be used by the SEM to create an image of what is being observed. Because this process is not reliant on the size of light waves or limitations of the human eye, it can magnify an object many times more than a modern light microscope. A light microscope usually caps out at around 1,000 times magnification, while some SEMs can reach more than 1 million times magnification. The images produced give a topographical impression of the object that was scanned, and can appear almost three-dimensional. "It's rare for high school students to experience a scanning electron microscope, a tool that goes far beyond the limits of a traditional light microscope," Elyria Catholic science teacher Stephanie Piatt said in the release. "With the SEM, students can see micro- and nanoscale details in extraordinary clarity, connecting what they discover to science, engineering and even the arts. The SEM strengthens their learning and broadens their educational experience." The release added that in addition to its applications in science, the SEM will also be used by students in visual arts and engineering programs. Visitors will be able to learn more about the SEM, as well as other high-tech items that the school employs in its science classes, on Oct. 5. "This is a special opportunity for visitors to see science come to life in an extraordinary way," said Elyria Catholic President Annie Heidersbach in the release. "The SEM is part of the many exceptional learning tools available to our students, including the Anatomage Table, that empower them to explore, discover and excel in real-world environments. Thanks to the donor's vision and generosity, this technology fuels our students' curiosity and deepens their understanding across multiple disciplines." Contact Owen MacMillan at (440) 329-7123 or omacmillan@chroniclet.com.