Light Microscopy

The Light Microscopy Section was founded in 1979 to cater for all optical microscopists, and especially those with an interest in innovative techniques.

About

LM Committee


Techniques covered by the Section include: multi-dimensional imaging of live cells, organs and intact organisms; optical tomography; spectroscopic and functional imaging (e.g. FRET, FLIM etc); development of novel methods such as super resolution imaging, adaptive optics, optical fibres, GRIN lenses; laser-based and solid-state excitation methods; use of multiphoton imaging, confocal and scanning technologies; digital image acquisition, image filtering and analysis; automated and high-throughput imaging systems.

In addition to the overarching aims of the Society, the Section aims to advance optical imaging in the life sciences and physical sciences through education from high-school to advanced academic levels by holding courses, one-day workshops and 2-day specialist scientific meetings.


Sources of help and advice 

(Get help with planning and setting up a microscopy facility)

The confocal listserver, BioImagingUK listserver and microscopy listserver all provide a useful forum where you can contact other professional microscopists, who may well have the answer(s) that you are seeking.

Hint: set up a separate email account for these listservers – they generate a lot of mail responses.

Local and national networks of imaging professionals can likewise provide help and support. For example, within the UK a list of interested and active microscopy facility managers is maintained on our Facilities Database, in co-operation with BioImaging UK


Our regular events include;

Light Microscopy Summer School
The LM summer school is an annual, residential course which runs over 3 days and covers the principles of light microscopy as well as training participants in practical issues surrounding light microscopy. After introductory presentations, the course is taught predominantly through hands-on practical sessions. The course is suitable for both novices and more experienced users wanting to gain a greater understanding of the microscope.

UK Light Microscopy Facility Managers Meeting       
This meeting is aimed at people running or working in light microscopy facilities.  You can expect to find out more on the latest developments in UK Bioimaging and how we can feed into wider international groups that are starting up.  We will also discuss some of the basic elements (funding, impact measures) of running a core facility as well as the latest technological and application developments that effect ourselves and our users.

Frontiers in BioImaging
This is an ideal meeting for both new and established researchers to engage with a broad range of imaging approaches and to make valuable contacts with leading groups in the field.

Getting the most from your Confocal
The course enables students to fully appreciate and utilise the confocal microscope and develop their understanding confocal microscopy background as well as try FRAP, FRET and spectral unmixing. The 2-days consist of short tutorials followed by hands-on practice.

Please note that our meetings are aimed at advancing new or under-represented areas of imaging science and technology - They are run "by the members, for the members". Contact us with suggestions for future meetings.

The RMS is committed to being a welcoming, inclusive Society and encourages diversity across all activities and in the membership of our committees and groups.

If you are interested in joining any of the committees in the future, please visit our Join a Committee page.

RMS Section Awards

Launched in 2014, the Section Awards (formerly known as the Medal Series) recognise those who have made significant contributions to the field of microscopy. The RMS Section Awards celebrate outstanding scientific achievements across all areas of microscopy and flow cytometry with each RMS Science Section able to select a winner for their own award. 

Find out more

Award for Light Microscopy

Committee 

Kurt Anderson

Kurt Anderson

Light Microscopy Section Chair, The Francis Crick Institute

Gail McConnell FRMS

Gail McConnell FRMS

Light Microscopy Section Vice Chair, University of Strathclyde

Jessica Valli

Jessica Valli

Light Microscopy Section Deputy Chair, Heriot-Watt University

Richard Bowman

Richard Bowman

University of Glasgow

Siân Culley

Siân Culley

King’s College London

Viji Draviam

Viji Draviam

Queen Mary University of London

Joëlle Goulding

Joëlle Goulding

University of Nottingham

Krishna Inavalli

Krishna Inavalli

University of Southampton

Deirdre Kavanagh

Deirdre Kavanagh

University of Oxford

Mike MacDonald

Mike MacDonald

University of Dundee

Sebastian Munck

Sebastian Munck

VIB Bio Imaging Core KU Leuven

Aleks Ponjavic

Aleks Ponjavic

University of Leeds

Michael Schwertner

Michael Schwertner

Linkam Scientific Instruments Ltd

Mike Shaw

Mike Shaw

National Physical Laboratory (NPL) & University College London (UCL)

Christian Wilms

Christian Wilms

Cairn GmbH

Tim Young

Tim Young

Early Career Representative , University of Cambridge

AGM

The 2024 Annual General Meeting of the Light Microscopy Section of the Royal Microscopical Society will take place at 12:30pm on Monday 11 November 2024 during the Frontiers in Bioimaging 2024 Meeting.  

All the Society’s AGMs are free to attend for both members and non-members.

If you would like to attend the Light Microscopy Section AGM please contact Jade Sturdy.