The optical microscope – en route to extinction?

Abstract

Change in medical curricula is a worldwide trend. Concomitant with this is a change in the role of the microscope and its contribution to a student's career. In this questionnaire–based study the perceptions of medical, dental and veterinary students to microscopy and alternative forms of histology tuition, as well as the role of microscopy in their future careers, was assessed. Veterinary students indicate a strong preference for the microscope and microscopy training due to the importance of the microscope in their chosen career, whilst medical and dental students are somewhat ambivalent. However, the students would not choose to eliminate the microscope entirely from their studies.