Hitachi High-Tech Taiwan carried out online lessons for the first time this year due to the ongoing impact of COVID-19. Two lessons were held in February and March with the support from teachers at the National Experimental High School at Hsinchu Science Park (NEHS).

In February an online lesson was given to introduce the company and the basic operation of the tabletop microscope. Then in March an actual unit was delivered to the school and an outreach lessons was held.

For the lesson in March, the class observed part of a squid radula which the teacher had prepared. Taking control of the microscope, the students made observations for their own research projects. One group was researching tardigrades (also known as water bears). The students did their best to prepare an observable sample, but tardigrades are tiny creatures and proved highly elusive as the students searched for them.

Two groups from NEHS received the prestigious First-Rate Award at this year's National Primary & High-School Science Fair (North Section 2) for their research projects using the TM3030 on sacculina (a kind of parasitic crab barnacle) and tortoise beetle larva droppings. The highest award the school has ever received!

Hitachi High-Tech Taiwan are proud to have assisted in such a project and going forward, will continue with activities that support students' research.

An elusive water bear shows its claws during the lesson at NEH

Students from NEHS Receiving the First-Rate Award for Research Carried out using the TM3030

Images captured by the TM3030 for the award winning research project
(Tortoise beetle fecal shield and sacculina)