Seeing the Unseen: From Microscopy to Landscape-Scale Visualisation

We’re excited to continue the Bioeconomy Series with our next event on Wednesday 18 March, turning our focus to the powerful technologies that help us see systems at radically different scales — from the nanoscale world inside materials and organisms, to entire landscapes viewed through advanced visualisation tools.

This session explores how cutting-edge imaging and data technologies are transforming the way we understand biological, environmental, and production systems. What can we learn when we zoom right in — and how do those insights connect with what we see when we zoom right out?

Duane Harland (Bioeconomy Science Institute) will take us deep into the world of advanced microscopy, showcasing the detailed technical capability and expertise housed within Bioeconomy Science Institute. Using real-world examples from across the science spectrum, Duane will explore different modes of electron microscopy imaging, alongside the challenges and opportunities of big-data image analysis. His talk will highlight how the latest instrumentation is pushing the boundaries of what can be observed, measured, and understood at the smallest scales.

Balancing this microscopic perspective, Assoc. Prof. Stuart Charters (Lincoln University) will shift the lens to the landscape level, discussing advanced technologies for large-scale visualisation. His contribution will explore how spatial data, modelling, and visual tools help us interpret complex systems across farms, catchments, and regions — and how these approaches support better decision-making in land, environment, and resource management.

Together, the speakers will connect insights across scales, demonstrating how advanced visualisation technologies — from electrons to ecosystems — are reshaping research, innovation, and our understanding of complex bioeconomic systems.

Join us for an engaging session that bridges the micro and the macro, and discover how seeing differently can lead to smarter, more integrated science.

Wednesday 18th March 2026
1.00pm-2.30pm
Inaka, Waimarie Building, Lincoln University

Timings

1:00 – 1:10 pm | Welcome and introductions

1:10 – 1:25 pm | Presentation 1 – Prof. Anita Wreford, Lincoln University

1:25 – 1:40 pm | Presentation 2 – Dr. Steve Thomas, Bioeconomy Science Institute Maiangi Taiao

1:40 – 2:10 pm | Moderated discussion and audience Q&A

2:10 – 2:30 pm | Networking