We are delighted to present a special issue of Periodicum biologorum, dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Croatian Microscopy Society as an independent Society and the 40th anniversary of its foundation.
Since its establishment in 1983, the Croatian Microscopy Society has been playing a vital role in advancing microscopy in Life and Materials Sciences. The Society began its work as a Section of the Croatian Society of Natural Sciences, which established the Periodicum biologorum in 1886 as the first Croatian international journal in the field of biological sciences. The journal still provides an important platform for Croatian and international researchers to share their findings with a global audience. Given that the Society's history is also deeply entwined with that of the journal, it seemed appropriate to honor this significant milestone with a dedicated issue.
This entire volume of Periodicum biologorum is intended to be a testament to the enduring legacy of microscopy as a crucial tool in scientific research and its pivotal role in advancing our understanding of the natural world. The articles featured in this collection, written primarily by Croatian scientists, cover a diverse range of scientific subjects relating to microscopy presently being explored in Croatia and beyond. Furthermore, it serves as a testament to the persistence of the employment and advancement of microscopic techniques in this region. We take great pleasure in offering our support as Guest Editors to share the scientific achievements of our colleagues through this issue.
The volume has been thematically divided into three sections, each offering a distinct perspective on microscopy (Figure 1). The first part is devoted to the history of the Croatian Microscopy Society (1) and the Spiridion Brusina Medal, awarded for an exceptional contribution to Croatian science (2). It features a special presentation by Prof. Miran Čeh, a longtime honorary member of the Society and recipient of the Medal for his remarkable contributions to microscopy in Croatia. The presentation (3) highlights the Centre for Electron Microscopy and Microanalysis (CEMM) at Jožef Stefan Institute in Ljubljana (Slovenia). The second part provides an overview of the current research of Croatian scientists and members of the Croatian Microscopy Society, covering a whole range of topics and focusing on plant biology (4,5), zoology (6,7), neuroscience (8) and chemistry (9). The third thematic unit presents a series of methodological review papers (10-14) that provide a comprehensive overview of various microscopic methods and their applications in different fields of biology and medicine. The volume ends with an exploration of the education methodology in the field of biology (15).
As we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Croatian Microscopy Society, we acknowledge the contributions of its members to the broad fields of biology. Our gratitude goes to the authors for their scientific contributions and to the reviewers for their valuable comments and assistance. We hope this Special Issue of Periodicum biologorum will serve as a testament to the rich legacy of Croatian microscopy and inspire future generations of scientists to continue exploring the mysteries of this wonderful biological world.
Figure 1. Graphical Abstract of the Special Issue