2018 April: FoldScope — a functioning origami microscope!

For our final Speakers Night of the season we will be hosting a very unique hands on workshop.

You will get to build and use a  FoldScope, a functioning origami microscope made from paper.

These were developed by Manu Prakash and his associates with intent of making microscopy available to everyone around the world. Here is Prakesh at a TED Talk describing his microscope and how it can revolutionize health care in developing countries. https://www.ted.com/talks/manu_prakash_a_50_cent_microscope_that_folds_like_origami .

FoldScopes have become very popular with professional and amateur scientists and naturalists around the world for exploring the microbiome. The microbiome is a diverse world populated by creatures smaller than the eye can see.

You will be using your FoldScope to look for creatures such as rotifers, nematodes, copepods, vorticella, tardigrades, and other fascinating creatures.

For more info about FoldScopes  https://www.foldscope.com

Here are several photos of the folding process of making the FoldScope, as well as one hurried photo of a prepared slide of marine diatoms.  (The prepared slide came with a used microscope I was given in elementary school. The slide is now approaching 70 years old, and is rather faded … I think this view is better than I could see with the cheap microscope back then. Such horrid microscopes are still being sold and bought today …)