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The Internet Microscope. James Marrow and Brian Derby Manchester Materials Science Centre UMIST and University of Manchester Grosvenor St, Manchester, M1 7HS, UK ABSTRACT The Internet Microscope is an image library, with a difference. Its web site (www.umist.ac.uk/~intmic/) is dedicated to the explanation and illustration of the relationship between microstructure, properties and processing in materials science. A growing selection of the samples is aimed directly at schools and colleges. The microscope has been used with undergraduate teaching at the University in conjunction with computer presented multiple choice questions. It has replaced microscopy laboratories for a class of 100 engineering students, for whom materials science forms a small but important part of their syllabus. The microscope also allows students to test and revise their knowledge of phase diagrams. The Internet Electron Microscope is an exciting development of the existing web site. It makes use of the concept of "Learning by Doing". It will give schools and colleges on-line control of a free, simple and easy to use scanning electron microscope. Samples will range from sugar cubes to silicon chips, offering a real experience of microscopy. INTRODUCTION There is a particular need in Materials Science for teaching material that enables students to understand the relationship between processing of materials and their microstructure. We also have a duty to inform the public about our subject. This is particularly important for preuniversity students, who are often unaware of the importance of materials science and engineering. The Internet is a very good medium for the presentation of educational material, with software tools that now allow academic staff to develop material easily. This article describes the "Internet Microscope". This is a web-based educational resource for materials science microstructures. The Internet Microscope is now being developed for use by schools and colleges. A recent grant, awarded by the EPSRC under its “Partnerships for Public Understanding” program, is enabling us to develop an on-line scanning electron microscope, "The Internet Electron Microscope" which will allow students and the general public to obtain their own images of a range of samples, via the Internet. THE INTERNET MICROSCOPE The Internet Microscope [1] at the Manchester Materials Science Centre was developed to provide easy access to images of materials’ microstructures to assist teaching and revision. University students often had difficulty relating the metallurgical microstructures that they had and sketched observed in laboratory classes to those encountered later during case studies. Metallographic samples deteriorate rapidly, and maintaining a full set of samples in good condition for revision and reference at all times throughout the year was not practical.

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