History of Electron Microscopy in Switzerland

In 1989 the Swiss Society for Optics and Electron Microscopy (Schweizerische Gesellschaft fOr Optik und Elektronenmikroskopie - Societe Suisse dOptique et de Microscopie Electronique) formerly founded as Schweizerisches Komitee fOr Optik -Comite Suisse dOptique could celebrate its 40th anniversary. Already during and mainly just after World War II the then newly invented electron microscopy was introduced also in Switzerland and its importance quickly increased. In 1955 our Society was split into two sections i.e. for Optics and for Electron Microscopy both with their own secretaries. Other foreign Societies for electron microscopy in Europe and all over the world have celebrated their anniversaries in the last few years and held reviews at these occasions. In view of this and facing the fact that many of the pioneers and founders of our Society might help to record the history of electron microscopy in our country the board of SGOEM-SSOME has decided to have a short review of its history written and published. This short review has now developed into a book. viii I would like to thank here all the authors who have contributed to this volume very much. My special thanks go to Prof. Dr.John R. GOnter without whose circumspective and energetic work this review of the history of electron microscopy in Switzerland would never have appeared.