Precollege science education in the United States is not what it could, and should, be. Our media are full of discussion about what should be done. One thing that’s certain is that the problem won’t be solved simply by throwing money at it; a solution requires people - lots of them. Scientific societies are a major resource; they can organize and train member-volunteers to help teachers bring "real" science to the classroom. The Microscopy Society of America became part of the effort several years ago with Project MICRO (Microscopy In Curriculum - Research Outreach). MICRO’s goal is to put MSA members, teaching materials, and microscopes in middle school classrooms nationwide. The MSA-sponsored program manual, Microscopic Explorations, is described below (see Brady and Willard, in section IA).

A preliminary search of available books to verify the need for a new microscopy-based manual for middle schools has grown into a useful bibliography of books, videotapes, CD-ROMs and websites on microscopy and related topics, for children, their teachers, and parents; it was published in the MSA Bulletin several years ago. An expanded revision is presented here to help microscopists with their individual educational efforts, in schools and at home. The collection itself is shown at MSA meetings, and is also used as reference materiel for program development and as a supplement for workshops. The grade levels listed are approximate; most can be used with younger or older children. For this listing, all books with ISBN numbers have been checked against Books in Print; detail on out-of-print books has been removed. Thanks to the Internet, most of these items can be ordered from almost anywhere.

If you share MSA’s concern about the quality and importance of science education, consider becoming a MICRO volunteer. You can learn about Project MICRO and MSA’s many other activities and services at http://www.msa.microscopy.com . An up-to-date version of this bibliography is also maintained there.

Purchase of all of these books, videos, and CD-ROMs would be both expensive and inadvisable; the reviewer’s personal favorites are RECOMMENDED. If you are aware of materiel that has been missed, or if you want more information about MSA's Project MICRO, please contact MICRO Coordinator Caroline Schooley, schooley@mcn.org, Box 117, Caspar, CA 95420.