Exploring the Microbial World with Foldscope: Affordable and Accessible Microscopy

The article below is based on a podcast interview with Holly Stuart.

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Have you ever wondered how we can make science education more inclusive and engaging? Imagine having the power to explore the microscopic world in the palm of your hand, without the intimidating cost and complexity of traditional microscopes.

Microscopes are often expensive and delicate, which can hinder hands-on learning. This is a significant problem for many students and teachers.

But there is a solution in the form of a paper microscope called the Foldscope. It’s an affordable, durable, and easy to use tool that makes exploration through microscopy accessible. This tool is especially relevant for educators seeking to break down barriers in science education.

In this article, you’ll learn how Foldscope works, how it came to be, and its real-world applications. Additionally, you’ll discover how to identify specimens using community platforms and practical tips for incorporating Foldscope into your classroom. Keep reading to discover this excellent microbiology tool.

Making microscopy affordable and accessible

Foldscope was designed with the core mission of promoting equity and accessibility in science education. Traditional microscopes are often complex and expensive, creating significant barriers for many students and educators. Foldscope addresses these issues by offering a highly affordable, user-friendly alternative.

Costing approximately $2 to make, Foldscope provides access to microscopy, ensuring that financial constraints don’t limit scientific exploration. So, every student in a classroom can have their own microscope, transforming the learning experience. With each student able to independently explore specimens, the learning process becomes more interactive and engaging.

Accessibility in science education extends beyond affordability. Traditional microscopes, often seen as delicate and intimidating, can deter hands-on learning. Foldscope, crafted from paper, removes this intimidation factor. It is resilient, easy to use, and highly portable. Users can bend it, submerge it in water, and even repair it with tape if necessary. This robustness encourages students to experiment and engage with the tool without fear of damage or failure.

One of the most innovative aspects of Foldscope is its independence from electricity. Unlike traditional microscopes that require power sources, Foldscope uses ambient light, enabling students to explore the microscopic world anywhere. This feature allows outdoor exploration and ensures that students with limited access to electricity can still engage in microscopic studies.

How Foldscope works

Foldscope is constructed from waterproof paper and magnets that hold its components in place, allowing it to function similarly to traditional microscopes. It includes a stage for placing slides, which can be moved along the x-y plane to examine specimens in detail. The microscope also has a focus ramp, a folded piece of paper that adjusts the distance between the lens and the sample, ensuring clear viewing.

Foldscope is compatible with both paper and glass slides. The paper slides from Foldscope resemble playing cards and can be reused by applying clear stickers instead of traditional glass coverslips. This feature makes Foldscope especially appealing for educational settings, where students can create, study, and reuse slides without the risk of breaking glass.

There are multiple Foldscope models with varying magnification capabilities, but the Foldscope 2.0, offers up to 340x. The 50x lens is particularly useful for viewing larger specimens, such as insects, allowing users to observe entire organisms in motion. The 340x lens provides a closer look at smaller details, expanding the range of what can be studied all the way to bacteria. All of the magnification lenses attach to the microscope using magnets.

Development of Foldscope

Foldscope was born out of a need to address the challenges faced in diagnosing malaria in resource-limited settings. Manu Prakash, a professor at Stanford University, and his graduate student, Jim Cebulski, conceptualized Foldscope during a trip to India. They observed the scarcity and inaccessibility of microscopes necessary for malaria diagnosis, as these instruments were either broken, unused, or simply unavailable. Recognizing the global health implications, they aimed to create a portable, cost-effective microscope that did not require electricity.

Manu Prakash set an ambitious goal: to develop a fully functional microscope costing just $1. This challenge led to extensive brainstorming and prototyping. Inspired by the principles of origami, the team explored ways to utilize paper as the primary material for the microscope. They leveraged the concept of folding structures to create a durable, lightweight, and portable microscope.

Foldscope underwent several iterations before its first commercial version was released in 2016. Initially, prototypes were made from white paper, but the final production model featured a blue and yellow design. Continuous feedback from users led to further refinements, resulting in the launch of Foldscope 2.0 in 2023. This new version included more lenses for varied magnifications, a thicker focus ramp for improved clarity, and the innovative use of paper cards for slides.

Real-world applications and impact

Foldscope is not just an educational tool; it has applications in scientific research and fieldwork. Researchers worldwide have tested the use of Foldscope for various purposes, including:

• Agriculture: soil and plant microbes examination
• Water Quality: microbial analysis of water and food samples
• Healthcare: preliminary detection of infections and study of cancer cells

Foldscope’s affordability and portability have revolutionized research, especially in under-resourced regions. It empowers scientists to explore the microscopic world, enhancing our understanding of microbial life and its ecological impact. By bridging the gap between high-cost equipment and accessible diagnostic tools, Foldscope is transforming scientific research globally.

Exploring the microbial world with Foldscope

It may seem surprising that you can use Foldscope to observe microbes, but I’ve tried it out myself and was able to view yeast and bacteria in a kombucha sample. The microscope’s 340x lens provides the magnification necessary to take a look at these microorganisms.

Below is a comparison of kombucha viewed through the Foldscope vs. my Swift 380B microscope at 100X.

There is a bit of a learning curve when using the Foldscope 2.0 for viewing bacteria, but the Foldscope YouTube channel has “expert tips” videos that help when you feel like you’re struggling to get it into focus. For instance, I used the trick of turning the lens 90 degrees and adjusting the focus to get the best image.

How to identify specimens

To identify a newly discovered organism with Foldscope, you can use community platforms like Microcosmos or iNaturalist.

The Microcosmos was specifically designed for Foldscope users and serves as an extensive online repository and growing database of microscopic images and videos. Users can browse for similar specimens or upload unidentified specimens and seek input from other members. The community-driven aspect ensures that even those without extensive microbiological expertise can benefit from the insights of experienced members.

Another option for identification is iNaturalist, where users can upload images and receive potential identifications based on visual characteristics. While this tool provides initial identifications, you can cross-reference with the Microcosmos community to confirm your ID.

Educational applications of Foldscope

Foldscope is a great tool for educators who want to introduce students to the microscopic world. You can get a classroom kit that includes 20 Foldscopes and multiple reusable paper slides.

Here are a few tips to help you get started using Foldscope in the classroom:

1. Empower Student-Led Exploration: Encourage students to assemble their Foldscopes and explore various samples. This approach fosters curiosity and engagement, enhancing the learning experience beyond traditional methods.
2. Merge Art with Science: Incorporate an artistic component by encouraging students to document and share their microscopic discoveries through drawings or photography, highlighting the beauty of the microbial world.
3. Enhance Learning with Outdoor Exploration: Take advantage of Foldscope’s portability for outdoor classes and field trips. Explore diverse samples like pond water and soil, connecting classroom learning to real-world environments for enriched experiences.
4. Use the Resource-Rich Support: Access the Foldscope website and YouTube channel for extensive tutorials, guides, and videos. These resources cater to different learning preferences, ensuring a smooth learning experience. They also offer online or in-person workshops to train multiple teachers.

Using Foldscope to explore the microbial world in education and beyond

Recognizing the importance of microorganisms underscores the need for accessible tools like Foldscope. This innovative microscope empowers students to explore and uncover the hidden wonders of the microbial world, transforming science education. Beyond education, Foldscope’s applications extend to research, agriculture, and healthcare diagnostics, opening new possibilities for scientific discovery and practical solutions in various fields.

Summary

• The Foldscope is a paper-based microscope designed to make science education more inclusive and engaging.
• Foldscope is resilient, easy to use, and highly portable. It can be bent, submerged in water, and repaired with tape.
• Foldscope uses ambient light instead of requiring a power source, allowing students to explore the microscopic world anywhere.
• Foldscope enables every student in a classroom to have their own microscope, making the learning process more interactive and engaging.
• Made from waterproof paper and magnets, Foldscope functions similarly to traditional microscopes.
• Foldscope 2.0 offers lenses with magnifications of 50x, 140x, and 340x, expanding the range of observable specimens.
• Foldscope’s affordability and portability have revolutionized both education and research, particularly in under-resourced regions.
• Beyond education, Foldscope is used in agriculture for examining soil and plant microbes, in water quality for analyzing microbial content, and in healthcare for preliminary infection detection.

Further Reading

• Making Microscopy Accessible with Foldscope – podcast interview with Holly Stuart, the Education Specialist for Foldscope Instruments
• Engaging High School Students in Microbiology: A Teacher’s Perspective – podcast interview with a high school educator that uses Foldscope
• Activity: Exploring Microbes in Your Fish Tank with the Foldscope Microscope
• Activity: Discovering Microbes with a Foldscope
• Learn more about Foldscope’s story
• Get an individual Foldscope 2.0 (with 340x magnification to view bacteria!)
• Explore Foldscope classroom kits (20 Foldscopes or 100 Foldscopes)