Course Lectures 2022
We’re posting all course lectures online for the world to share. Stay curious!
View Frugal Science lectures on our YouTube channel or watch the full playlist below!
Frugal Science 2022 - Labs and Lectures:
Lecture 2: Fundamentals of Frugal Optics
Can we image cells using a phone? Watch to learn some fundamental principles of frugal optics!
Lab 1: Exploring Frugal Optics
Can we design a microscope that snaps together like LEGOs? Explore the UC2 platform with fun optics demos.
Lecture 3: Fermi Problems
How might we calculate the number of piano tuners in Chicago? Or the number of mosquito bites per day worldwide?
Lecture 4: Measurements at Ocean Scale
How do we monitor the 350 quintillion gallons of water in our oceans?
Lab 2: Exploring Frugal Optics Part II
Explore the UC2 microscope platform and demo the Octopi and SQUID microscopes from the Prakash Lab!
Lecture 5: The Diversity and Challenge of Plastics
Plastics are indispensable but can cause huge damage to global ecosystems. Learn about their properties and distribution worldwide.
Lecture 6: Biomaterials
Is there more biomass than anthropogenic mass? Learn how biomaterials may replace or improve upon modern polymers!
Lab 3: Project Kickoff and Idea Board
Explore the projects proposed by Frugal Scientists around the world on the Idea Board!
Lecture 7: The Untold Story of Foldscope
What happens when you give a million kids a $1 paper microscope? (Hint: a lot of fun ideas!)
Lecture 8: The Art and Science of Paper
Explore the wonderful properties of paper! Is it as uniform as it appears? Is paper chiral?
Lab 4: Project Framing
What does “frugal” mean in context? How do you decide the constraints for a Frugal Science project?
Lecture 9: Paper-Based Diagnostics
What can we do with the unique properties of paper? Can paper help alleviate the disease burden worldwide?
Lecture 10: COVID and HIV Vaccines
How might we design a vaccine for HIV? Why has this been a harder problem than for COVID-19?
Lab 5: SnapDx and Project Discussion
We take a deep dive on the SnapDx low-cost diagnostic platform and hear the first concepts from project teams!
Lecture 11: Flexures and Compliant Mechanisms
How can LEGO bricks outperform high-precision machinery? Explore the beauty of compliant mechanisms!
Lecture 12: Building Global Communities
How might we build communities to respond to a crisis? Explore how grassroots movements can make a big difference!
Lecture 13: Project Pitches I
Lecture 14: Project Pitches II
Hear from teams working on water purification in Lima, HPV diagnostics in Lebanon, and global menstrual diagnostics.
Teams share their progress on zoonotic spillover, flexible makerspaces, and polio braces!
Lecture 15: Open-Source Licenses
How can projects be spread around the world, for free? Explore how to leverage open licenses for your ideas.
Lecture 15.5: Project Pitches III
Learn about frugal projects for detecting sickle-cell anemia, diagnosing chronic kidney disease, and building a biolab at home!