The Microscopy Society of America (MSA) is a vigorous professional society of close to 3000 members, founded more than a half century ago. The membership is an unusual mix of scientists, engineers, and technologists in diverse fields of biological, materials, medical, and physical science and technology.

Education is a primary function of a scientific society. Microscopists exchange professional information at meetings and in technical publications, but MSA is also very conscious of the importance of improving the scientific awareness of the general public. MSA has chosen to do so with an educational outreach program at the middle school level, called Project Micro (Microscopy In Curriculum - Research Outreach). Our goal is to place MSA-member volunteers in the classroom, to help teachers use microscopes to introduce scientific inquiry.