Communicating Foldscope observations via sketches (no cellphone necessary)

Feb 12, 2016 • 8:39 AM UTC

Unknown Location

140x Magnification

Microorganisms

Manu Prakash

I am a faculty at Stanford and run the Prakash Lab at Department of Bioengineering at Stanford University. Foldscope community is at the heart of our Frugal Science movement - and I can not tell you how proud I am of this community and grassroots movement. Find our work here: http://prakashlab.stanford.edu

258posts

1180comments

41locations

I have not posted something for a little bit. I was in a contemplation mode; although regularly collecting data. Lots of thoughts, plans and boots on the ground for planning of phase2 of the Foldscope release. More news on that sometime soon; but now onto this post.
I returned from India; and was amazed by how kids/students who had never used a microscope made fantastic observations. I truly believe everyone has a unique lens to look at this world; and Foldscope provides a means to see the world. But the Foldscope community provides a place where you can have your own voice heard – and get feedback on your thinking process.
But I saw a lot of kids (almost all); who had no cellphones or any camera phones for that matter. I have also noticed that most people who don’t have camera phone – use Foldscope all the time but do not make posts. It’s crucial for this community to be equally accessible for everyone. So I decided to a little experiment.
For next couple of days; I will make all my posts just doing Foldscope based direct observations and drawing what I see and think about “live” in my sketchbook.
This is an experiment, and here is my first entry. What I observed was alive, dynamic and dancing in front of my eyes. I have tried to capture what I saw, quickly. I did not want to perfect these sketches but just act as a place holder for my thoughts. Also this allows me to share my observations with everyone. I will also make usual “cellphone” recording for same specimens and share them at a later time. This will allow me to ask people about the experience of reading a post based on a sketch or a video/photos with a cellphone.
Needless to say – it was such a pleasure to just pick a pen, draw, pick a Foldscope – look, pick a pen – draw and back and forth. I have often made an analogy of how I think of a Foldscope; just like a pen. Today I tried to use a Foldscope as a pen. It was quiet a lot of fun.
So, if you are reading this; and you don’t have a cellphone but you have a Foldscope. Pick up your almighty pen and share what your world looks like; through the lens of a Foldscope.
Cheers
Manu