Last week myself and my new PhD student (more about her later) traveled to Aarhus, Denmark for a training workshop. The training was held by Unisense, which is a company that makes microsensors for measuring chemistry at really small scales. Some of their sensors are 10 µm wide, which is thinner than human hair! We saw sensors being made, received a lot of information about potential applications, and got to play with all the new equipment.
Much of our recent research has focused on the sediment surface in stream ecosystems. The stream bottom (or benthos) is where most stream organisms live (e.g., invertebrates, algae) and where those organisms interact with toxic chemicals that might be in the sediments. There are dramatic changes in chemical and biological conditions as you go vertically from the water in a stream into the sediment. For example, stream water is often fully saturated with dissolved oxygen but within a few millimeters into the sediment all of that oxygen is gone. Small changes in the depth to which oxygen penetrates into the sediment can make a big difference in how many elements cycle in the stream. Standard sensors cannot measure at this small scale, but Unisense makes the very tiny sensors that can measure at a µm scale.
While at the University of Michigan I had access to Unisense microsensors and used them on quite a few projects (typically measuring oxygen). I even took the sensors outside to work stream-side, which wasn't exactly easy. This equipment is made for indoors with access to power outlets. We had to make due with a car battery, power inverter, and lots of AA batteries. Luckily Unisense is making a new battery powered field system that has simpler power requirements and is also waterproof. While in Denmark we were able to test out this new equipment before it is for sale. We are looking forward to purchasing the field system and are excited about the research possibilities!