Workshop: Smartphone for Microscope and Diatoms Identification

The Workshop on “Smartphone for Microscope and Diatoms Identification” was successfully held on 12 September 2025 at Acintya Prasada, 5th Floor. This workshop provided a unique opportunity for participants to learn directly from an international expert about innovative, low-cost approaches to microscopic observation and diatom identification.

The session was led by Prof. Shigeki Mayama from the Department of Biology, Tokyo Gakugei University, Japan, a renowned specialist in diatom taxonomy and freshwater ecology. In his presentation, Prof. Mayama introduced the principles and practical techniques of integrating smartphone cameras with optical microscopes to capture high-quality micrographs. This approach offers an accessible alternative for documentation, teaching, and preliminary research, particularly in resource-limited laboratory settings.

A major focus of the workshop was the identification of diatoms, highlighting key morphological characters used in taxonomic analysis. Participants were guided through practical examples demonstrating how smartphone-assisted microscopy can support accurate observation of valve structures, ornamentation patterns, and other diagnostic features essential for diatom identification.

The workshop encouraged active interaction between the speaker and participants, fostering discussions on methodological challenges, best practices, and the potential applications of smartphone-based microscopy in education, biodiversity surveys, and environmental monitoring.

Overall, the workshop successfully enhanced participants’ practical skills and introduced innovative techniques that bridge digital technology and classical microscopy. The event contributed to capacity building in microalgal research and reinforced the value of adaptable, cost-effective tools in advancing scientific observation and learning.