Studying Plankton Just Got Easier

Peering into a microscope aboard the R/V A.E. Verrill while underway can be daunting for the most experienced sailor, much less a group of eager students who may be getting their feet wet for the first time.

The Discovery Hall Program of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab has installed new technology designed to widen the view for student groups exploring Mobile Bay.  The Kenavision Pupil Cam, a digital camera that slides directly into the eyepiece of a conventional microscope, delivers high-resolution images displayed real time, on a screen installed in the interior of the vessel.

Educators can now easily identify microorganisms; even zoom in for a closer look in an onboard classroom setting using a microscope everyone can see without the risk of motion sickness.