The Natural Sciences Division at the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown purchased forty new Leica DM500 microscopes for teaching labs from a generous gift from Walter A. Neiser, A & S ’71, and Sharon Neiser from Bentonville, AR.
Walt and Sharon had humble beginnings in Pennsylvania and moved into prestigious careers at the Walmart Corporation living and working nationally and then to Arkansas.
The newly purchased microscopes will be used primarily by students in General Biology labs, enabling the department to replace all the microscopes in critical introductory courses. By purchasing all microscopes at once, Natural Sciences will enable every student to utilize the same model microscope, increasing efficiency, consistency, and ease of teaching and guidance. Microscopes are critical tools for the instruction of chromosomes, cell division, various cell types, and different organisms!
The Leica DM500 Compound Microscope has a built-in mechanical stage, four objectives ranging from 5-100x magnification, and LED illumination for bright field microscopy.
The Chair of the Biology Department, Dr. Rebecca Webb said, “On behalf of Pitt Johnstown and our entire Biology department faculty, we would like to extend our deepest gratitude to Walt and Sharon for their generous donation to support our scientific initiatives. Walt and Sharon’s commitment to philanthropy and advancing scientific knowledge plays a crucial role in empowering science educators like us to make meaningful contributions to educating our students and to the field of biology. The Neiser’s support will directly contribute to the advancement of our students, ensuring that the next generation of scientists is prepared to tackle the challenges of tomorrow. “
President Jem Spectar said, “The University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown thanks Walt and Sharon for their incredible friendship and generosity. We are deeply grateful for their continued and steadfast support”.
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