A.P. Alves de Matos PhD @ SPMicros2024 Conference: Advancing Microscopy in Materials and Life Sciences, INL Braga
Our integrated member of CiiEM, A.P. Alves de Matos (Biologist, Ph.D.) participated as an invited speaker, presenting on the evolution and contemporary role of electron microscopy in scientific research.
He explored how electron microscopy, once a niche technology in the post-war era, became a mainstream tool by the 1980s, transforming both biology and materials science. Matos highlighted significant technological strides, such as enhanced resolution, the advent of cryo-electron microscopy, and the integration of chemical analysis techniques, which allowed scientists to visualize biological specimens and materials at the nanoscale. This era opened up new avenues for research that continue to impact scientific discovery today.
He also emphasized how the 1980s represented a turning point for electron microscopy, establishing the foundation for future innovations in digital and computational microscopy. Recent advances, particularly in cryo methods, are now driving groundbreaking developments in structural biology, reinforcing the crucial role of electron microscopy in modern science.