New Technologies and Approaches for Building Affordable Science Equipment

The lack of laboratory infrastructure and experimental supplies is a large hindrance to scientific research in many parts of the world. This talk will highlight how recent advances in off-the-shelf technologies can be used to make low-cost, high-quality laboratory equipment and tools available to researchers worldwide. Three novel approaches will be described: Cellscope, a research-quality microscope technology based on a cell phone camera; Tekla Labs, an online depository of detailed do-it-yourself blueprints for building standard laboraotry equipment using locally available supplies; and the use of 3D-printers to make basic supplies and consumables.