Our history
Microscopy has been present in New Zealand for as long as science and the pursuit of knowledge has.
In 1946, the Dominion Physics Laboratory (DPL) in Lower Hutt decided to purchase New Zealand’s first electron microscope. Unfortunately, funding was withdrawn before the purchase was signed off and DPL resolved to build their own.
Two physics master’s students were tasked with the project: Keith Williamson and Norman Rumsey. Keith built the electron gun, lenses and specimen stage, and Norman built the stable power supplies. With ongoing improvements, this instrument was used until 1948, when Ernest Marsden (the then secretary of DSIR) purchased a Metro Vickers EM2 TEM. It arrived and was installed in DPL, with Keith being charged with its operation and maintenance. Along with Bill Bertaud, Keith made several modifications to increase the resolving power of the microscope from 10nm to 2.5nm.
In 1963 Keith was asked to set up a new electron microscopy facility in Palmerston North for DSIR. Around this time, electron microscopists began meeting regularly to discuss recent improvements and discoveries.
In 1965 the first formal meeting of what was to become the New Zealand Society for Electron Microscopy was held.
In December 1978 the group published the first edition of EM News, the periodical for sharing technical tips, information and commercial news. In 1980 the 10th meeting was held in Hamilton and the group voted to become an incorporated society, formalising itself as NZSEM.
In 1995 the society changed its name to Microscopy New Zealand to reflect the growing interest in the other microscopy technologies that were becoming increasingly available. The following year, EM News became Microscopy in Focus.
In December 2024, MNZ celebrated its 31st national microscopy conference.
Keith Williamson operating a Philips EM200 TEM
New Zealand Society for Electron Microscopy 8th annual conference, Auckland, 1977
New Zealand Society for Electron Microscopy 2nd annual conference, Dunedin, 1967
New Zealand Society for Electron Microscopy 11th annual conference, Palmerston North, 1981
New Zealand Society for Electron Microscopy 13th annual conference, Dunedin, 1985
New Zealand Society for Electron Microscopy 15th annual conference, Christchurch, 1989
New Zealand Society for Electron Microscopy 16th annual conference, Wellington, 1991
Microscopy New Zealand 19th national conference, Auckland, 1997
New Zealand Society for Electron Microscopy 17th annual conference, Palmerston North, 1993
Banner image courtesy of Claire Harlick-Malaghan Institute of Medical Research