The Early History of Microscopes

In this webinar, the speaker will focus on the intersection between art and science with an emphasis on the early history of microscopes. History makers and their early optical designs look like more works of art to us than instruments. Many different styles of microscopes reflected the apprenticeships and regions where they were made. Dr. Glavy will present the historical perspective of early microscope development and then focus on his collection of 18th century French microscopes. This webinar is meant to display how the art within the simplest of designs may inspire scientists and further apprentice the history that has led to advances in imaging.

In this webinar, you will learn:

• The early history of microscope development and uses
• Key historical figures that influence today’s science
• The simplicity of optical design that inspires us today

Joe Glavy is an Associate Professor at the University of Texas at Tyler. Joe received his bachelor’s degree from University of Buffalo and his Ph.D. in molecular pharmacology from Albert Einstein College of Medicine (Bronx, NY). As an NIH postdoctoral fellow in Gunter Blobel’s lab, he concentrated his work on the nucleus, and its major transporters, the Nuclear Pore Complexes (NPCs). Upon establishing his first lab, he and Dr. Martin Beck (Max Planck Institute of Biophysics) pursued the structural rings within the NPC. Their work was published in Cell, Science and Nature, and these new NPC architectures lay the foundation for understanding the NPC’s role in aging, cancer, and other diseases. Dr. Glavy has served as a member of the Public Information Committee for several years and has taken an interest in programs to help Post Docs and students develop their Elevator Speeches and refine their communication skills.