Foldscope in MasaiStanford
4 minute lesson
How Paper Microscopes Can Change the World
The experience of exploring the world on a microscopic level is out of the question for a lot of children around the world, but this innovation is changing that.
Microscopes are often priced so high that they’re unavailable to most classrooms, and in some places in the world, they are even unavailable to health professionals.
Without access to microscopes, the diagnosis and treatment of many diseases is far more complicated. Luckily there are innovators like Manu Prakash and the Foldscope team. They’ve created a nearly indestructible paper microscope that costs less than one dollar to build, yet has the power to change the world.
Why It Matters
Beyond the obvious medical implications, the Foldscope offers a unique opportunity for students to explore the world around them. When you put the right tools in the hands of the curious students who face unique problems on a daily basis, the solutions you get to those problems are opened up to a world of innovative thought.
We all grow when more people are able to share their observations!
Let's Talk About It
KQED QUEST
Your public media resource for science and engineering stories from the San Francisco Bay Area and beyond.