Open Labware has the potential to lead to a true democratisation of science research and education. The low costs and easy online availability of designs mean that access to lab equipment becomes largely independent of major financial backing. Instead, the know-how and time to assemble and invent designs are the main driving force.

While this is principally attractive for any researcher or educator, two main scenarios stand out: Science education in general, and scientific research in financially disadvantaged labs worldwide. However, it is typically exactly these scenarios where knowledge and training in effective use of 3-D printing and off-the-shelf electronics is particularly sparse. Here, with just a little training and the promotion of available technologies and online resources educators and scientists can be given a powerful set of tools to take their scientific future into their own hands.

Teaching how to build your own equipment

To therefore promote the possiblities of Open Labware and related fields, we run regular hands-on workshops in different countries around the world. Here, we teach local scientists to assemble 3-D printers, how to programm a microcontroller or how to build and use existing Open Labware designs in their own work.

Want to learn more? Check out our course website!

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Events and courses (selection)

• Cape Town, South Africa (upcoming in 2018)
• Ibadan, Nigeria (upcoming in June 2017)
• Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (2015)
• Tübingen, Germany (2015)
• Cambridge, UK (2015)
• Durban, South Africa (2015)
• Kinshasa, DRC (2014)
• Nairobi, Kenya (2014)
• Rabat, Morocco (2013)