Butterfly wings, toy cars, and pieces of yarn are all ready for their close-up thanks to the Rozsa Art Galleries' latest exhibit, "Nanowonder: Images from the Microscopic World," featuring photographs taken by the Hitachi Scanning Electron Microscope in a collaborative showcase of science and art.
Under glass displays and in small jars in the Rozsa Art Galleries, located in Michigan Technological University's Rozsa Center for the Performing Arts, sits an array of tiny objects: threads of string, a strip of elastic, a dead spider. In the palm of a hand, they may not look like much — but under the lens of a Hitachi TM4000 Plus tabletop scanning electron microscope (SEM), these minuscule objects are the gateway to unseen worlds.
Open to the public through Nov. 7, the exhibit "Nanowonder: Images from the Microscopic World" includes juried microscope photographs of insect wings, hair follicles, textiles, metals, rocks, minerals, and other materials, all captured by the Hitachi SEM, which can magnify samples up to 100,000x the naked eye.
"Nanowonder" is a collaborative effort across Michigan Tech's campus. The Hitachi SEM is in residency at Michigan Tech as part of Hitachi's Inspire STEM Education Outreach Program, which engages students from kindergarten through graduate-level studies in exploring this microscopic world. In fact, many of the photographs on display were taken during various outreach events at local schools, public libraries and on-campus events.
An Eye-opening Exhibit Opening
The capabilities of the Hitachi SEM were on full display Sept. 27 as a lively crowd of campus and community members of all ages gathered for the exhibit's opening reception. Many accepted the Rozsa's invitation to bring their own samples for magnification, and were dazzled as researchers operating the high-powered microscope projected magnified images on a large screen for all to see. Among the special guests was Sonnet the Pigeon, whose feather image was on display in the exhibition.
"The community engagement component of the Hitachi Inspire STEM Education Outreach Program was on full display at the reception," said Smitha Rao, assistant professor of biomedical engineering and one of the exhibit's organizers. "The event drew an enthusiastic response from attendees, reinforcing the vital role this initiative played in promoting hands-on STEM education in the community."
The exhibit and gallery reception were supported by a multidisciplinary Michigan Tech network, including the A. E. Seaman Mineral Museum, the Applied Chemical and Morphological Analysis Laboratory (ACMAL), the College of Sciences and Arts, the Department of Biomedical Engineering, the Department of Materials Science and Engineering, the Department of Visual and Performing Arts and the Rozsa Center.
Planning for the unique exhibit began in spring 2024, when Rao and ACMAL Director Elizabeth Miller approached the Rozsa Art Galleries about a potential collaboration. Terri Jo Frew, associate teaching professor and Rozsa Art Galleries director, was on board immediately.
"I quickly learned that the microscopic world is a fascinating place," said Frew. "Not only are the images taken with this device useful for various STEM applications, they also stand alone as powerful artistic images that evoke wonder and awe."
In addition to the exhibit, more images are available via SEM LENS, a digital gallery where visitors can also learn more about the interdisciplinary team of Michigan Tech faculty and staff who coordinate the Hitachi SEM outreach.
The Hitachi SEM will remain on campus following the exhibit, with more outreach events slated for the University's 2025-26 academic year. Its residency with Michigan Tech runs through spring 2027, and the SEM LENS team is looking forward to broadening community engagement.
"In the coming year, the collaboration will grow to include new partners and initiatives," said Rao. "Alongside existing contributors, the program will now bring the Hitachi SEM to faculty at the College of Forest Resources and Environmental Science. Looking ahead, the program is set to expand its reach in exciting new ways."
Michigan Technological University is an R1 public research university founded in 1885 in Houghton, and is home to nearly 7,500 students from more than 60 countries around the world. Consistently ranked among the best universities in the country for return on investment, Michigan's flagship technological university offers more than 185 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, computing, forestry, business, health professions, humanities, mathematics, social sciences, and the arts. The rural campus is situated just miles from Lake Superior in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, offering year-round opportunities for outdoor adventure.
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