Frugal science: Building an army of scientists around the world
Growing up in India, Manu Prakash couldn鈥檛 afford a microscope. He challenged his brother and himself that he would build one out of cardboard and duct tape. So he stole the fat lenses from his brother鈥檚 glasses and created his own.
鈥淢y brother was not happy,鈥� Manu said, 鈥渂ut that was the moment that changed my trajectory into science.鈥�
Now, Manu is the co-inventor of a that costs less than $1 to make. He鈥檚 donated the Foldscope to people around the world 鈥� 50,000 so far to hundreds of countries, with plans to donate a million. These paper scientific tools don鈥檛 require electricity and can withstand the rigors of the field.
Manu discussed his STEM journey and offered advice to the Intel ISEF 2017 finalists. He believes and practices , the idea that science is for everyone, not just for the people who have access to it or the money to get resources.
鈥淲e need a lot more people thinking about these problems,鈥� he said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 possible to make these instruments completely human-powered.鈥�
Manu鈥檚 approach to frugal science is to give himself a lot of constraints when trying to invent solutions or tools that would survive in the field without electricity or in rural clinics. For instance, the Foldscope is built out of origami, weighs less than 10 grams, and offers 700 nanometer resolution.
Once he donated Foldscopes, one community in Madagascar created paintings of species they found in their backyards.
We need a lot more people thinking about these problems. It鈥檚 possible to make these instruments completely human-powered.
He also created a , based on a whirligig toy. You can prick your finger, get a drop of blood, and do sample prep with the whirligig that is completely human-powered. In a rural clinic in Madagascar, doctors were using a large centrifuge as a doorstop because they hadn鈥檛 had electricity in the area for five years and couldn鈥檛 power the tool. The whirligig is able to spin as fast as 1 million rpm, enough to separate blood plasma and parasites.
鈥淵ou鈥檝e got to share what you do with others,鈥� Manu said. 鈥淭he real power is within the community, not in the tool.鈥�
Manu encouraged the finalists to become mentors for others. 鈥淚 can make as many microscopes as are needed, but I cannot make mentors,鈥� he said.
Earlier in the day, Manu snuck into the poster exhibition room, where the nearly 2,000 finalists display their projects, and was 鈥渁bsolutely inspired by the creativity I see in that room and the grace and humility you bring to science.鈥�
You鈥檝e got to share what you do with others.
Manu admitted that he鈥檚 been feeling depressed with the current state of science denial and other challenges. 鈥淚鈥檝e been depressed, but not anymore,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 see in you a future.鈥�
The world is living through very tough times, Manu explained. 鈥淐limate change, biodiversity loss, science denial. It鈥檚 daunting. But solutions are sprinkled everywhere,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e have to build an army of scientists around the world.鈥�
We have to build an army of scientists around the world.
Once you leave this room, Manu said, engage others in science. 鈥淪hare your passion for science to the people who can鈥檛 afford it,鈥� he said. 鈥淪cience is not a sprint, it鈥檚 a marathon. And I鈥檓 so honored to be here at the starting line with all of you in this marathon.鈥�
