FAQ

Questions from those who have already applied

Before your session

How many specimens can fit in the ESEM? How big can they be?

The stub upon which the specimens are mounted is 5 cm in diameter. A picture of a sample stub can be seen on our microscope page. Large insects like caterpillars and moths may have to be dissected to fit on the stage. In cases such as this, tell us which parts of the insect are important to you, so we don't cut them away.

How should we prepare them?

Make sure your insects are dead - this is very important! You can see the preparing for a session page for how to prepare and ship your bugs.

When should we send them?

As soon as possible, once your experiment time has been scheduled. Larger specimens take longer to dry out; if we don't get them in time, then we can't use them.

To whom should we send them?

See the preparing for a session page for mailing instructions

I'm new to Bugscope and don't know what to expect. How can I prepare?

Read up about our electron microscope so the students know how it differs from the light microscopes that they're familiar with.

How will my computer need to be set up?

You will need to have a computer with access to Zoom. We suggest connecting your computer to a projector in your class to make it easier for the whole class. For more information about the computer requirements. see the preparing for a session page.

After your session

Where are my chat records and images?

Currently, we are working on databasing sessions to make it easier for Bugscope participants to access their session data. However, for right now we are emailing links to participants containing their Bugscope session recording as well as any images taken during a session. You can also visit our archive page.

Where is the feedback form I am supposed to fill out after my live session?

We currently don't have a feedback form, but if you would like to send us a follow-up email or send us a postcard we would love to hear about how you and your class felt about your Bugscope session! For postcards, you can use the same address you used when shipping your bugs to us.

Questions from those thinking about applying

Who sees my application form?

Your proposal will be sent to the Bugscope Team and volunteers. The Bugscope Team will be able to see the whole application, while volunteers will only see the proposed date, time, and grade level of the students.

How long before I know if my application has been accepted?

If your application is successfully submitted the form will disappear and be replaced with a confirmation message saying "Application Submitted." A confirmation email will also be immediately emailed to the email address you entered. If you don't get that email, please contact us to troubleshoot an issue with spam filtering, etc. Once we've received your application, it takes one to two weeks for us to review it, make a decision, and contact you to schedule the session.

How much does it cost to participate?

Nothing! Bugscope is free.

My group isn't part of a public school. Can we still apply?

Yes. Although we give priority to schools, we also encourage science clubs, museum programs, boys & girls clubs, etc., to apply. If you are uncertain if your group would qualify, just email us.

We don't live in the United States. Can we participate too?

Yes. We accept applications from other countries, although due to time zone differences, it may not be feasible to run a session when your students are in class. We are in the Central Time Zone, GMT-06:00.

Additionally international sessions, you might not be able to mail in insects due to USDA laws and shipping costs, however, we do have insects available in our lab which we use for sessions when classes can't send in insects.

FAQ