Mesquite seventh graders had an opportunity to learn to use the scanning electron microscope in the first outreach presentation of the NSF Science Talent Expansion Program at Vanston Middle School on May 16, 2007.

The outreach program marks an important step in an ongoing partnership between the Mesquite Independent School District and the NSF STEP team at Eastfield College.

Throughout the school-day, Vanston students took turns operating the portable scanning electron microscope under the supervision of Jill DeVito (NSF STEP Research Coordinator), four Eastfield College student volunteers (Funmi Afolayan, Mariano Coleman, Sara Hays, and Francisco Serrano), and Vanston science teachers Melanie Albright and Tituba Adams.