Since 1870, we have fostered a community where anyone can learn and grow their microscopy practice.
About
The San Francisco Microscopical Society is a community of aspirational, amateur, and professional microscopists. Our mission is to be a focal point for all microscopists across all disciplines of both science and the arts. We welcome all people of any age or background – from those who have not used a microscope to those who have been working with them for decades. Since 1870, we have fostered a society where anyone can learn and grow their microscopy practice.
Sign up as a member to get access to our online community platform and events. These are friendly spaces where you can ask questions and meet people from a multitude of disciplines. Our in-person activities are primarily focused in the San Francisco Bay Area, but we welcome members from any location and offer many virtual opportunities to connect.
Board of Directors
Janai Southworth
President
Janai is a Naturalist and artist dedicated to the study of San Francisco Bay’s smallest residents. Volunteering with the Greater Farallones National Marine Sanctuary and the California Academy of sciences she applies her Fine Arts background to create high-impact imagery for science communication and local outreach. Through her work, she invites the public to appreciate the complexity of our local charismatic micro-fauna—one plankton tow at a time.
Nate Dube
Vice President
Nate's microscopy journey began with an interest in Victorian diatom arranging that evolved into a fascination with the idea of microscopy as an outlet for artistic expression. Constantly experimenting with new tools and techniques for creating and photographing slides, Nate hopes to inspire curiosity and make the microscopic world more approachable for all.
April Ornelas
Treasurer
April Ornelas is a business owner, married mom of two boys and an avid reader and writer. Professionally she is a Project Manager and Bookkeeper with 14 years of experience in the biotech field. She was educated in the fields of electron microscopy and office administration. Life and work experience has led her to a passion for helping small businesses get their financials in order to position themselves for success.
Ken Schneider
Recording Secretary
Ken is a pathologist and biodiversity enthusiast, especially interested in learning about obscure or "difficult" taxa. He is a long-time volunteer in the Entomology department at the California Academy of Sciences with some expertise in the spiders of the western U.S.
Lena Blackmon
Corresponding Secretary & Editor
Lena is developing a form of microscopy to quantify the flexibility of molecules on cell surfaces as a part of their PhD work at the University of California, Berkeley. Their other research interests include computer vision algorithms and microbiology. Lena’s values include scientific literacy, educational equity, and community belonging. Outside of the lab, you can find Lena growing vegetables and writing poems. Lena is the Editor for the SFMS newsletter, MicroNews.
Board Members
Diana Ceron
Board Member
Diana is an aspiring microscopist and student researcher at San Francisco State University. In the lab, she studies how a single-celled organism called Stentor coeruleus moves, regenerates, and responds to its environment through microscopy and imaging-focused projects. Outside of research, she loves collecting water samples from Golden Gate Park and imaging the microorganisms found there. She cares deeply about microscopy outreach and is excited to keep sharing the microcosmos with the community.
Anna McGaraghan
Board Member
Anna is a STEM educator and ocean scientist, as well as a mom, an artist, and an open water swimmer. Her love of the ocean and all marine creatures has led her on many salty adventures. When not science-ing or trying to keep up with two teenagers, she hikes, cooks, and pets the neighborhood cats.
Eric Weinstein
Board Member
Eric Weinstein works in the ocean as a Freedive instructor. He spends half the year teaching in Honduras and half the year teaching in the Bay Area. When Eric is home, he spends his time volunteering at the marine mammal center with the animal care crew and hiking in the berkeley hills. Eric’s goals for this year are to Freedive down to 90 meters and to join team USA Freediving.
Ariel Waldman
Curator
Ariel Waldman is an Antarctic explorer and microscopic wildlife filmmaker. An art school graduate who pivoted to science, she was recognized by the Obama White House as a Champion of Change in citizen science. Ariel is a National Geographic Explorer and the global director of Science Hack Day. She previously served as the advisory chair to NASA’s Innovative Advanced Concepts program.
Myron Chan
Emeritus Board Member
A third-generation San Franciscan with a degree in Zoology, Myron Chan joined SFMS in 2009 and served as Treasurer from 2009-2021. An astronomer, engineer, and tinkerer since a young age, Myron has a passion for turning 'trash' to treasure and has been building telescopes and refurbishing microscopes for over 5 decades.
Henry Schott
Emeritus Board Member
Henry Schott is the Co-Editor of Micro-News, the newsletter of the SF Microscopical Society. He joined the society in 1986 and served as president, vice-president, and treasurer in the past. He is a retired teacher from Merritt College in Oakland where he was the chair of the Biology Department.
Constitution
Code of Conduct
The San Francisco Microscopical Society is an inclusive community based on treating all individuals respectfully, regardless of gender, sexual orientation, age, disability, ethnicity, national origin, race, religion (or lack thereof), body size, or microscope preferences. So please don’t be nasty or mean. Be nice. Be considerate. Be civil. It’s easy. If you are being harassed, notice that someone else is being harassed, or have any other concerns, please contact the Board Members of the San Francisco Microscopical Society directly at hello@sfmicrosociety.org.
Read the Constitution of the San Francisco Microscopical Society.
Header image above features a mast cell showing histamine granules, by the University of Edinburgh.