Highly Successful M&M 2009 Meeting

A limited number of copies of the M&M Proceedings for 2009 are still available for $95.00 per copy while supplies last. Please contact MSA for details.

Winner of the 2009 MSA Micrograph Competition: "Snow Crystals" (picture courtesy of Deborah Powell — University of Delaware)

The annual M&M meeting was held in Richmond, Virginia in late July. Following the Sunday-night welcome reception, the meeting kicked off on Monday morning with a special Plenary Session. Tom Pike (Imperial College, London) discussed the major results of the Phoenix Mars mission, with special emphasis on data returned from the microscope station, while Joe Michael (Sandia National Laboratories) described the role of microscopy and microanalysis in the highly classified and confidential government investigation of the 2001 anthrax letter attacks. The session also featured presentations of the Major Society Award Winners from MSA, MAS, and IMS, as well as Student Awards and Scholarships, and members of the first class of 59 leading microscopists designated as MSA Fellows were also formally presented with their certificates.

The meeting itself featured over 30 symposia describing latest developments in biological and physical sciences as well as updates on emerging trends in techniques and instrumentation. Highlights included two Memorial Symposia, a set of "Back to Basics" Tutorials, and continuations of the highly successful In-Meeting Intensive Workshops, and the special "Family Affair", which provided hands-on activities and demonstrations aimed at children of all ages. Lots of interesting posters and an extensive Exhibit, which showcased the latest and greatest in services and products in microscopy and analytical equipment rounded out the meeting. Attendance was down slightly compared to previous years, which was attributed to the prevailing economic climate, but the meeting was overall widely considered to be a highly successful event.

Winners of the major MSA Awards (from L. to R.): Jacques Duboochet (MSA Distinguished Biological Scientist Award), Robert Sinclair (MSA Distinguished Physical Scientist Award), Lynne Gignac (Chuck Fiori Outstanding Technologist Award), Mary Morphew (Hildegard H. Crowley Outstanding Technologist Award), and Eric A. Stach (Burton Medal).