"On Your Site" Courses

Each year, McRI instructors teach a number of microscopy courses at universities, corporations and public laboratories throughout the United States and in other countries.

Microscopy Courses That Come to You

‘’On Your Site Courses’’ by the McCrone Research Institute (McRI) are an integral part of our mission of teaching and conducting research in applied microscopy. At this time, we know of no other institute with our experience and ability to offer microscopy courses to students anywhere in the world.

Our curriculum focuses on the application of microscopy for chemical, environmental and forensic solutions. Every course is based on lectures, demonstrations and laboratory practice. Students learn each technique by hearing about it, observing how it’s done and then doing it themselves. Live video is used extensively for both macro- and micro-projection in lectures and classroom demonstrations. Each student is supplied with a polarized light microscope and all necessary accessories, reagents and text materials. All of our courses are taught at the graduate level with intensive, hands-on exercises. Therefore, a student who misses a half day during the first three sessions will be left behind.

Thanks to the passion and vision of our founder, Dr. Walter C. McCrone, McRI has taught more than 27,000 students in more than 2,100 classes since 1960. As a not-for-profit teaching and research institute, McRI is committed to a noncommercial, academic setting. We are not affiliated with any particular microscope manufacturer, nor do we have a division that sells microscope accessories and supplies, and we do not (directly or indirectly) benefit from consulting work with our students’ companies.

Courses for Your Specialized Needs

McRI is a dedicated and dynamic educational organization, which why we are committed to teaching most of our one-week courses at your location. Our “On Your Site” Courses provide the instructor and host company the unique opportunity to

• Decide which topics in the course to emphasize.

• Raise difficult technical questions for discussion and study.

• Give supervising personnel and management the chance to sit in and learn with the students about material and equipment.

Each course, which is designed for up to 18 students, offers a strong foundation in both theory and application. Confidential treatment is understood and practiced. An McRI instructor will consult with you and plan a detailed course curriculum. We bring all materials and equipment for each of your students: microscopes, audio-video cameras and monitors, text and reference books, prepared microscope slides, manipulative tools, reagents, index liquids, projector slides, etc.

Our instructor and driver will arrive at your facility by noon Sunday to set up the equipment and prepare for the course, which begins Monday morning. We kindly request that you provide a room large enough (at least 8×12 meters) to accommodate tables and chairs for 18 students and projector equipment. Our electrical requirements are about 1,000 watts.

A course can be scheduled for any time of year. Because we can offer only a limited number of “On Your Site” Courses each year, we ask that you plan ahead and contact us at least six months in advance of your desired course date. Please keep in mind that travel distances and regional weather conditions must be considered to ensure that our van arrives on time to your location.

Here, There and Everywhere

Each year, McRI instructors teach a significant number of microscopy courses at a variety of companies, institutions and organizations throughout the United States and in other countries. Past clients include McClellan Air Force Base, 3M Company, National Institute of Justice, NYU Institute of Fine Arts, Illinois Institute of Technology, Cornell University, Syntex, Parke-Davis, Du Pont, Procter & Gamble, Bristol Myers/Squibb, IBM, National Gallery in Washington D.C., The Getty, Courtaulds, Smithsonian, Campbell [Conservation] Center, and more than 40 federal and state government labs.

McRI is also proud to have taught courses abroad, including England, Germany, Italy, Israel, Australia, Korea and Canada. Learn more about our clients and affiliations.

Advantages of “On Your Site” Courses

We offer the flexibility to tailor courses to suit your company’s individual needs, with your input on which topics to emphasize. Other benefits include:

• Lower cost per student. We come to you, so all student travel and related costs are avoided. Please contact our registrar to inquire about costs.

• An opportunity to raise troublesome technical problems for discussion and study.

• An opportunity for your supervising personnel to sit in on lectures.

• A chance for management to learn what equipment is most useful in a microscopy laboratory.

• An evaluation of your personnel for a career in microscopy.

For more information, please contact the registrar at 312-842-7100 or at registrar@mcri.org.