Dr. Dave Eslinger's "Alien" Microscopy Class...

We sat in a dimly lit room, all eight of us, hunched over microscopes, searching for life in samples of murky water, moss and leaves collected from all kinds of dubious sources in our natural world. Dr. Dave Eslinger and Caroline Heape were our guides.

There would be silence for a few moments then you’d hear, “I found one!” or “Look at that!” or “What IS that?”

While Caroline helped us focus our microspores for best viewing, Dr. Dave, our fearless leader and microscopy superhero, identified one alien after the other. We heard words like Tardigrade, Waterbear, Moss Piglet, Armored Rotifer, Bdellod Rotifer, Colpoda, Ciliates, Flagellates, Nematode, and hairy-bellied Gastrotricha. What a ride it was watching these strange microscopic lifeforms gracefully glide, awkwardly squiggle, or jerk spasmodically. We laughed, we dove deep, we learned!

After a discussion on how we were “murdering to dissect,” a wise student in attendance named Bill quoted from William Wordsworth:

“Sweet is the lore which Nature brings;

Our meddling intellect

Mis-shapes the beauteous form of things: -

We murder to dissect.

Enough of Science and Art;

Close up those barren leaves;

Come forth, and bring with you a heart

That watches and receives.”

Yes!

And Dr. Dave added his own sage-like wisdom when he advised, “Watch those feeding currents!” …A profound way to home in on microscopic lifeforms, and surely a good reminder for us students to remember as we live our daily lives.

The book Dr. Dave most highly recommended on the topic of microscopy was “Das Leben Wassertropfen” or “Life in a Water Droplet.” The book is only available in German, but Dr. Dave said, “That is what Google Translate is for if you want to read the words. The photos are excellent!”