Education and Resources

The Advanced Imaging Core (AIC) actively supports training and education in microscopy and image analysis. We contribute to the Master’s Degree Programme in Biomedical Imaging (BIMA) and encourage users at all levels to explore these open-access opportunities.

1. Courses and Training

Online Courses & Video Series

iBiology Microscopy Series – The gold standard. Excellent lectures by world-renowned microscopy experts.
MyScope Training – Interactive virtual microscope simulators and quizzes to test your knowledge.
NEUBIAS Academy (YouTube) – High-quality webinars focused specifically on bioimage analysis workflows.
Nikon MicroscopyU – Extensive educational articles on optical physics.
Zeiss Microscopy Campus – In-depth guides on microscopy applications.
Bioimage Data Analysis Book – An essential open-access textbook (Pete Bankhead).
The Molecular Probes Handbook – The definitive guide to fluorescent labeling.

2. Experimental Design

Plan your experiment before you book the microscope.

Accuracy and precision in quantitative fluorescence microscopy – A foundational guide to collecting quantitative data.
Designing a rigorous microscopy experiment – Validating methods and avoiding bias.
Believing is seeing – The deceptive influence of bias in quantitative microscopy.
Practical considerations for data exploration – A guide to bridging raw data and scientific insights through visualization.
FPbase Spectra Viewer – The best modern tool for checking fluorophore compatibility and microscope filters.
SVI Nyquist Calculator – Calculate the ideal sampling rate (pixel size) for your objective lens.
Thermo Fisher SpectraViewer – Classic tool for checking dye excitation/emission curves.

3. Publication and Reporting

A guide to accurate reporting in digital image acquisition – A checklist for describing microscope hardware and settings.
A guide to accurate reporting in digital image processing – A checklist for documenting your analysis workflow.
Creating clear and informative image-based figures – A guide to accessibility and figure design.
Community-developed checklists. Community-developed checklists for publishing images and image analyses
Avoiding a replication crisis in deep-learning-based bioimage analysis – Essential guidelines on validating and reporting Deep Learning models.

4. Active Communities

Microscopy is a global community. If you are stuck, these are the best places to ask for help.

Image.sc Forum – The central hub for the global bioimaging community. Best for software and analysis questions.
GloBIAS – The Global Bioimage Analysts’ Society, connecting experts and researchers worldwide.
FocalPlane – A microscopy community site hosted by The Company of Biologists featuring news and career advice.
QUAREP-LiMi – The community dedicated to Quality Assessment and Reproducibility in Light Microscopy.
Microlist – A comprehensive database of microscopy jobs, software, and events.

Podcasts

The Microscopists – Hosted by Peter O’Toole (sponsored by Zeiss). Inspiring interviews with world-leading microscopists about their careers and the future of science.

Where to start?

New to Microscopy
Focus: Basics of fluorescence and optics.
Watch: iBiology Series | Practice: MyScope Simulators
New to Analysis
Focus: Learn what a digital image actually is (pixels, bit-depth).
Read: Intro to Bioimage Analysis | Do: Fiji Beginner Tutorials