New microscope to give kids a closer look at science

Plainsboro Public Library

By: John Saccenti – Staff Writer
PLAINSBORO – PLAINSBORO – The Plainsboro Public Library wants kids to get an up close look at the world of science.
To meet that end, it has set its sights on a Wentzscope, an easy to view microscope used at top science museums including the New York Hall of Science, London Zoo and the Virginia Museum of Natural History.
"It’s massive and has very special lenses so you don’t need to be real close to it, you just look at it and see a huge image of what you’ve put under it," said Library Director Virginia Baeckler. "It’s particularly good for youngsters."
Ms. Baeckler said the microscope will cost $3,000, which the library has. But in order to purchase a laminating system so users can make their own slides, the WATS group, a science oriented youth group that meets once a month at the library, is seeking to raise $2,000.
Ms, Baeckler said the library prefers the lamination system because glass slides can be difficult to work with and fragile, a feature that won’t work well in the library’s dedicated Science Center. The system also will allow students to bring their own items in, laminate them, and have their own slides to use with the microscope.
The lamination system and microscope will be an improvement over the library’s current equipment. The library’s current microscopes are susceptible to breakdowns, partially because they are digitized and wired to computers.
"I think they will love it," said WATS member Sadwhi Tripathy, a Plainsboro resident and junior at Rutgers University. "I work at the library in the children’s section, and I see children coming up there, see them working with the microscope, and the kids absolutely love looking at it. They bring little bugs in over the summer and look at them."
Ms. Tripathy said the WATS group also serves as mentors to younger students, working toward getting them excited about science, engineering and more.The WATS group holds panel discussions with local female science teachers, doctors and scientists and encourages members to be aware of careers in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Since it began, it has been involved in community programs such as Founders Day and the library’s Haunted Tonight, acting as the "science back up" to librarians by creating slime, performing dry ice experiences, and holding star gazing nights.
The group not only works with the library on programming, but works toward introducing younger library patrons about the wonders of science.
"We wanted to have an astronomy night, and along with Plainsboro Park Rangers we hosted a night of stargazing for the community, anyone was welcome to come out, and we talked about constellations and anything going on in space," said Ms. Tripathy. "It allows high school students to explore how to go about introducing science into the world of little kids so they’re excited about science at a young age."
The Wentzscope will be housed in the library’s Science Center, which is used for the robotics club, science story telling and more.
Donations toward the lamination machine should be made payable to Plainsboro Public Library, 9 Van Doren St., Plainsboro, N.J. 08536, and include the word "microscope" in the memo line. The Plainsboro Library and WATS are not for profit organizations. The Library’s Tax ID Number is 22-2726100. Take a quick trip to the WATS website at www.youngerscientists.org for more information. jsaccenti @centraljersey.com.