CAM at Northwestern University

Workshop attendees grouped together. In the background there are trees and mountains. The Workshop title is Democratising Microscopy in Latin America: Imaging Across Scales and Regions, and it took place in Banos, Ecuador on 12-15 October 2025.

Thank you to the organisers Constadina Arvanitis, @mariodelr.bsky.social, Helena De la Torre, @marianadeniz.bsky.social, María Fernanda Latorre Barragán and Licyel Lenny Paulas Condori.

Find out more about this week's Workshop: biologists.com/workshops/gl...

#BiologistsWorkshops

We heard the story of lightsheet microscopy in Colombia from Iván Rey Suarez, before moving on to discuss how bioimaging networks such as @latambioimaging.bsky.social act as catalysts to overcome challenges.
Learn about Iván’s career: focalplane.biologists.com/2023/11/14/a...
#BiologistsWorkshops

Aníbal Vargas Ríos presenting on LiSIUM

Aníbal Vargas Ríos updated us on the success of LiSIUM and then discussed differences in engagement when offering webinars in Spanish, highlighting the importance of considering language in democratising access.
#BiologistsWorkshops
lightsheetchile.cl

Tobias Wenzel x2; on a screen and behind a lecture. Behind Tobias is a banner from The Company of Biologists.

Our morning session started with talks on the open science ecosystem from Tobias Wenzel & Hernán Grecco. Both speakers emphasised the importance of training. Quote of the day so far, “By democratising science, we strengthen democracy!”
#BiologistsWorkshops
focalplane.biologists.com/2022/10/11/a...

The pride of CAM- Director Dina Arvanitis teaching the basics of microscopy at the Company of Biologists-funded workshop we organized in Ecuador! 🇪🇨 Go Dina! @nu-bsa.bsky.social @nufeinbergmed.bsky.social @vgelfand.bsky.social

Dina Arvanitis @camatnu.bsky.social presented fluorescence microscopy 101, discussing the pros and cons of different methodologies. Take home messages: fancier microscopy ≠ better research; think NA, NA, NA!
#BiologistsWorkshops

People gathered in a wood and glass building with flowers and fruit in the foreground.

People being served drinks in a sunny glass and wood building with lots of greenery in the background.

Our attendees receive a special welcome in Baños, including our Workshop organiser, Licyel Lenny Paulas Condori. Licyel set up ‘Microscopia Para Todos’, a STEAM outreach programme in Bolivia.
Read more about Licyel & her project⤵️:
focalplane.biologists.com/2023/04/25/a...
#BiologistsWorkshops

People smiling at the camera while sitting at a long dinner table.

Room set up for a meeting

The attendees are gathered, and the meeting room is ready.

The next organiser that we are highlighting is Fernanda Latorre Barragán. You can read about Fer’s career in this interview with @marianadeniz.bsky.social from 2023.
#BiologistsWorkshops
focalplane.biologists.com/2023/07/25/a...

It looks amazing! Thank you @biologists.bsky.social for the grant and helping us make this happen!

Picture of a purple Heathrow POD

It was an early morning POD for the @biologists.bsky.social team heading to Ecuador for our Workshop on ‘Democratising Microscopy in Latin America’. Follow along with us at #BiologistsWorkshops
You can read more about our @biologists.bsky.social Workshops here: www.biologists.com/workshops/

Picture of four people with laptops sitting around a round table with a window to a green space.

View from a window with plants in the foreground and steep mountains rising up behind.

Final planning with some of the organisers!

Helena de la Torre is one of our local organisers. Helena studied at University of Glasgow before returning to Universidad Técnica de Ambato in Ecuador.
Discover more about Helena's career: focalplane.biologists.com/2023/07/18/a...
#BiologistsWorkshops

Baños welcomed us with sunny skies!

One of our Ecuadorian organisers @mariodelr.bsky.social has been a key driving force behind this Workshop.
#BiologistsWorkshops
Learn more about Mario’s career path: focalplane.biologists.com/2023/08/22/a...

Along with co-organiser @marianadeniz.bsky.social, Constadina (Dina) shared a fantastic interview series on FocalPlane highlighting @chanzuckerberg.bsky.social funded researchers that are passionate about expanding global access to microscopy.

focalplane.biologists.com/2024/01/24/t...

a blue sky with a lot of clouds moving in it Alt: a blue sky with a lot of clouds moving in it

After 20 hours of travelling, some dinner with Constadina Arvanitis @camatnu.bsky.social, & a few hours of sleep, we'll be heading to Banos soon!

We were planning to share a picture of the view as we descended into Quito but unfortunately a thick layer of cloud had other ideas.
#BiologistsWorkshops

Picture of a sunrise over clouds.

Sunrise over Spain, next stop Quito!
One of our Workshop organisers @marianadeniz.bsky.social was featured as one of our #100Biologists earlier this year. Mariana is the author of our Latin American Microscopists interview series.
#BiologistsWorkshops
focalplane.biologists.com/category/lat...

Thanks for highlighting the work of Nikon Center Manager at CAM, Mariana De Niz. All the best at the Ecuador workshop!!! @nu-bsa.bsky.social @latambioimaging.bsky.social @bioimagingna.bsky.social

So humbled and grateful for this opportunity, but want to emphasize that none of this would be possible without @marianadeniz.bsky.social who not only had the idea and did the work for the nomination, but saw in me something that I did not. It has been an honor to work with and learn from her. (1/2)

CAM Director Dina Arvanitis is currently in Banos, Ecuador, where she is co-organizer of the @biologists.bsky.social workshop Democratizing Microscopy in Latin America together with Mario Del Rosario, Fernanda Latorre, Helena De La Torre, Licyel Paulas, and Mariana De Niz. @nu-bsa.bsky.social

ICYMI: Join us for this joint virtual event with @navbo.bsky.social, organized by #ASIPmembers Dr. Dalal and Dr. Sullivan https://navbo.org/calendar #VascularBiology #Pathobiology

We are all very proud of Maureen and her impressive work!!! We will miss her a lot at CAM, but wish her the best in her future endeavors.

Congratulations to @davesullivanphd.bsky.social and team. Thanks for the acknowledgement to CAM :) You've done beautiful work!! @nu-bsa.bsky.social

Congrats to CAM team member @marianadeniz.bsky.social for being selected for the BINA Board as an intern! @nu-bsa.bsky.social @nufeinbergmed.bsky.social @bioimagingna.bsky.social

Join the discussion! 🌎🔬
We're excited to announce 𝗞𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗶𝗿𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮 will talk about "Pathways and Detours of an Imaging Scientist in Latin America" in our next Spotlight Seminar on 𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗿 𝗣𝗮𝘁𝗵𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗜𝗺𝗮𝗴𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗦𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝘀𝘁𝘀.

Register at tinyurl.com/gbispotlight

@latambioimaging.bsky.social

Excited to hear about the careers and paths from incredible leaders Dina Arvanitis (CAM Director)🇺🇸, Christina Baer (🔬Director at UMass Chan Medical School)🇺🇸, Claire Brown (🔬 Director at McGill University)🇨🇦 and Valeria Piazza (Optics leader at CIO)🇲🇽. @nu-bsa.bsky.social @nufeinbergmed.bsky.social

Thanks a lot to Katiannah Moise @tgsatnu.bsky.social @nu-bsa.bsky.social for her fantastic talk earlier this month, where she told us about her PhD work on vascular biology.

Black background slide thanking BINA 2025 supporters with their many colorful logos included and a QR code to direct those interested in joining Bioimaging North America

Happy #Fluorescence Friday!
#microscopy community, @bioimagingna.bsky.social is grateful for support from CZI & many generous corporate bioimaging community members!

Join membership is free & open to all https://buff.ly/3D0K2lP to get details on our free & online monthly offerings.

🌟 Join the UNESCO webinar on Remote Access to Imaging Facilities!

Discover real-world user cases and how imaging scientists, core facilities, and networks are shaping research worldwide.

Don't miss this chance to connect with experts!

🔗 Register now: tinyurl.com/UNESCO-GBI-w...

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CAM and the Center for Autism and Neurodevelopment at Northwestern University @nupress.bsky.social have collaborated in acquiring the first Mirava Microscope- Abberior. The first of its kind in the USA, this cutting-edge technology will become operational in spring 2025! @bioimagingna.bsky.social

@the.3i.social is ready to roll with its #lightsheet #microscope at @paulamonterollopis.bsky.social Tissue Clearing workshop #TCW2025 See you Monday!

Tissue Clearing Workshop2025!! I think this is my 7th one including workshops in Europe…Let’s go! And thanks for @paulamonterollopis.bsky.social for all the hard work putting this together