You are warmly invited to attend a special research and innovation event celebrating 50 years of the Microscopy Society of Ireland (MSI), incorporating the Annual Rory Comerford Lecture.
This milestone event will bring together researchers, core facility staff, technical staff, innovators, PhD students, early career scientists, microscopy industry partners, and general microscopy entheusiasts from across Ireland to celebrate the past, present, and future of microscopy research.
We are delighted to welcome our invited speaker, Professor Michelle Peckham (University of Leeds), who will deliver the Annual Rory Comerford Lecture, titled: ‘History of Microscopy.’
Alongside the talks, there will be a poster session for PhD researchers, early career researchers, and core facilities.
Key details
| Time: | 10th April 2026, 10:30-16:00 |
| Location: | Central Quad, Grangegorman Campus, TU Dublin (more info) |
| Poster Registration Deadline: | 20th March |
| General Registration Deadline: | 31st March |
| Registration cost: | Free! |
Programme
Rory Comerford Lecture
Prof. Michelle Peckham
History of Microscopy
The microscope is named from the Greek mikrós (small) and skopeîn (to see). The first light microscopes were described over three hundred and fifty years ago, with the publication of Micrographia in 1665 popularising its use. A wide range of microscopes were then built but the understanding of how the image is formed in the microscope, was not understood until the 1880s. This meant standardisation of light microscopes, so that microscopy became reproducible and reliable (with the help of the Royal Microscopical Society). The development of the electron microscope in the 1930s, built on the principles of image formation already uncovered for light microscopy. In the past 80 years, the microscope has developed in many new and incredible ways becoming a key tool for many scientists. This talk will examine the development of the microscope and its amazing ability to see in ever more detail.
The current programme is provisional, so make sure to check back here for the latest information!
| Time | |
|---|---|
| 10:30 – 11:00 | Registration & networking with tea, coffee, and pastries |
| 11:00 – 11:15 | Official Welcome |
| 11:15 – 12:15 | Annual Rory Comerford Lecture History of Microscopy – Prof Michelle Peckham, University of Leeds |
| 12:15 – 13:15 | Fireside chat / panel discussion on microscopy |
| 13:15 – 13:45 | Lunch |
| 13.45 – 14.30 | MSI AGM |
| 14:30 – 15:30 | Early Career Researcher & PhD student Poster Session (With prizes for best posters) |
| 15:30 – 16:00 | Tea, coffee & MSI 50th birthday cake celebration |