Mark Pickering on Punk microscopy: democratising discovery with globalisable to global problems

UCD Earth Institute coffee morning research talk on Punk microscopy: democratising discovery with globalisable to global problems by Mark Pickering from the UCD School of Medicine, 25 April 2024.
Microscopic imaging is increasingly important in many research areas, driven by new technologies leading to new imaging capabilities. However, this has led to imaging systems that are increasingly complex and expensive, and therefore inaccessible to much of the world.Talking a back-to-basics, DIY approach can create accessible, shareable tools, removing economic and technical barriers to entry. We have used this approach to develop several open and accessible microscopes, and are currently directing these towards the global problem of marine microplastics pollution.
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