Last year, inspect initiated in cooperation with Olympus Europa the application sponsorship programme "Experience another dimension". The programme contributed three to three innovative projects highlighting how different users benefit from the opto-digital microscope systems developed by Olympus.

This programme gave the three successful applicants support in the form of an Olympus opto-digital microscope system loaned free-of-charge for 6 months, including free installation, training and technical support. The range of Olympus microscopes included the Lext OLS4100 3D laser scanning microscope for surface inspection and the award-winning opto-digital DSX 500 and DSX 100 microscopes for a variety of measurement tasks.

History in a new light - the role of light microscopy in cultural heritage

Examining the past - at the Department of Conservation and Restoration, University of Antwerp (Belgium), researcher Dr Olivier Schalm employed the high-resolution of the DSX 500 to reveal interesting new avenues of exploration within cultural heritage. This novel research outlines how moving into the future, the latest high-resolution light microscopy is rapidly advancing the knowledge about the consistency of historic artefacts and ageing processes (Image 1), enabling Dr Schalm's team to take the right decisions in conservation.

CSI: Abertay - light microscopy in forensics research

Dealing with the now - from the laboratory to the courtroom, the possibilities presented with light microscopy facilitate a range of tasks throughout the area of forensic science. Researcher Dr Kevin Farrugia at the University of Abertay (Scotland) benefitted from the stitching function and 3D analysis of the DSX 100 (Image 2) to analyse various types of evidence in greater detail, including fingerprints on different materials, illicit drugs and pen marks. With its inherent speed and accessibility, it remains clear that as light microscopy evolves, it will continue to enhance forensics applications.

Alternative Materials for Alternative Energy

A preview of the future - moving towards sustainable manufacture of photovoltaics, Dr Manuela Schiek's research group in Oldenburg has discovered how the latest confocal laser scanning microscopy of the Lext OLS4100 is enhancing their research into organic semiconductors and transparent electrodes. Thanks to the quick and non-destructive nature of high-resolution analysis and the stitching function, the accuracy and efficiency of their research has been improved. The project highlights how as alternative energy becomes ever more vital, the next generation of light microscope technologies play an increasingly central role in driving the solar evolution (Image 3).

These three application examples of opto-digital light microscopy will be subsequently published in full length in inspect magazine throughout 2014.