Scanning electron microscope for Danish natural history museums
Name of applicant
Jørgen Olesen
Title
Associate Professor
Institution
University of Copenhagen
Amount
DKK 2,192,700
Year
2022
Type of grant
Research Infrastructure
Summary
The Natural History Museum of Denmark (NHMD) has more than 14 million preserved specimens, and around 10.000 living plants in the Botanical Garden. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) is a the single most important research tool at the Museum, allowing scientists (e.g., PhD-students, postdocs, international visitors) to study a large variety of museum specimens spanning botany, zoology and geology. The present microscope is outdated and newer models are significaly more user-friendly and allows for state-of-art non-destructive observation specimens, which is important for irreplaceable museum specimens. An updated scanning electron microscope at NHMD will ensure a continued large museum research on the museum's unique and diverse global collection of animals, plants, algae and fossils.