Dear MSSA Friends,

It gives us immense pleasure to invite you to join the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa’s 59th Congress

(MSSA 2026) hosted by Stellenbosch University.
 
Date: 30th November – 3 December 2026
Followed by Post-conference workshops on the 4th and 5th December 2026
Venue: Protea Hotel, Stellenbosch
 
Yes, after 12 years, Stellenbosch is back, hosting this prestigious and impactful conference. We are so excited! We live in an era of imaging scientists, core facilities and science/technology platforms. We witness multiscale and multimodal imaging techniques, coupled to AI-driven, automated image processing pipelines that generate data of unprecedented detail (and size!). We live in an era of in-situ cryo EM, quantitative mapping and elemental analysis with highest precision, ultrastructural detail and resolving power. We also live in an era of open access, open source and open code, as well as FAIR principle of image data handling. With microscopy being the next omics, and almost every disease being exacerbated in South Africa, the responsibility but also opportunity is high. This is the era that MSSA wishes to embrace successfully and confidently, shining a bright light for microscopy and its role in STEM for South Africa and Africa.
 
It is hence in this context, that the mission of the Microscopy Society of Southern Africa is crucial: to promote and develop microscopy as well as associated techniques at all levels in the Southern African region.
At MSSA 2026, we look forward to strengthen our microscopy community, by interacting and networking, engaging on the latest technological developments in light, electron and laser microscopy, in the life sciences and material sciences alike. We look forward to encourage and expand knowledge in microscopy technologies through our technical forum and exhibition lounges and workshops and  to provide stunning opportunities for the trade, microscopists, PI’s and students. In doing so, MSSA is building a strong imaging community that enables ground-breaking research that benefits our society.
 
We trust that you will be able to join us at the MSSA 2026 Conference, and look forward to hosting you all!!
 
With all the best wishes
Prof Ben Loos, Dr Chantelle Venter, Lize Engelbrecht
Conference Convenor