The Vice-President's Fund was founded in January 2008 to support worthy projects using microscopy to contribute to the public understanding of science or benefit the developing world. The maximum award available is £5000.
2011 Winners
The Vice-Presidents have decided to support the following 3 worthy causes.
Life Through a Lens - On the Road
This will take a fully developed workshop which will be housed at the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh in November 2011 to various schools in Scotland in 2012. The Workshop will use a mixture of experimentation, drama, microscopes and art to recreate and explore the endeavours of early scientists such as Robert Hooke and Anthony van Leeuwenhoek. It will take children and teachers alike on a journey of scientific discovery through the past and to an appreciateion of what frontiers modern day scientists are working on.
A Virtual Microscope Through Time
This project involves a web-based virtual microscope which has been developed by the Open University to allow the general public virtual access to a high-quality optical microscope and associated images of thin sections from rocks. To keep up with the fast moving pace of the developments in microscopy new samples will be sourced and photographed as 3D objects to bring alive the science of imaging and analysis to the non-specialist audience. Samples will include a 4600 million year old meteorite, an artefact from a 5000 year old Egyptian tomb and a piece of one of the solar panels from the Hubble Space Telescope.
Practical Microscopy for Student Teachers at Gambia College
This project will provide 4 one day workshops in practical microscopy to different groups of teachers and student teachers in The Gambia. The workshops will use a range of microscopical equipment, some of which will be left at Gambia College to enable them to be used for future instruction, and will also include sessions to help the teachers pass on the knowledge that they have learned to a further group of student teachers to ensure that microscopes are used more often in Gambian Schools thus benefiting the developing world.
How to apply
Download Application Form
Applications will be reviewed by the Vice-President and the Vice-President & International Secretary. If you have any questions, contact Melanie Reedman.
Funding can only be used to support the recipient's participation in the project.
View full Terms and Conditions Details of previous awards:
