Microscopes from SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Biology Get a Second Spin at Northern Adirondack High School
Rachel Wallace, an instructional support associate in the Department of Biology, stacks microscopes on a cart as she prepares to move them to the Stowell Hall loading dock for representatives from Adirondack High School.
Some of SUNY Potsdam’s used scientific equipment is getting a second life at a local high school, after the SUNY Potsdam Department of Biology donated 41 old microscopes to Northern Adirondack High School in Ellenberg, N.Y.
The biology department recently acquired 18 new Zeiss microscopes, and after conducting an inventory of its existing equipment, decided to donate a set of 41 older microscopes to other educational institutions who might need them. Under SUNY policy, the excess microscopes were first offered to other SUNY campuses, and when none expressed interest, the offer was opened up to high schools across the state.
In total, Northern Adirondack High School received 19 dissecting microscopes with separate light fixtures and 22 compound microscopes. Superintendent James Knight helped to collect them during a recent trip to campus.
SUNY Potsdam’s Department of Biology is grounded in the principle that every student should receive a quality education fitting their interests. Undergraduate research is embraced, with opportunities for hands-on learning in the fields of ecology, evolutionary biology, cell and molecular biology, environmental science, and anatomy and physiology. The department also operates the Wagner Institute for Sustainability and Ecological Research. For more information, visit https://www.potsdam.edu/academics/AAS/biology.
About SUNY Potsdam:
Founded in 1816, The State University of New York at Potsdam is one of America’s first 50 colleges—and the oldest institution within SUNY. Now in its third century, SUNY Potsdam is distinguished by a legacy of pioneering programs and educational excellence. The College currently enrolls approximately 2,500 undergraduate and graduate students. Home to the world-renowned Crane School of Music, SUNY Potsdam is known for its challenging liberal arts and sciences core, distinction in teacher training and culture of creativity. To learn more, visit www.potsdam.edu.