Open-Source Lab (book)

For other uses see: Open Source Lab (disambiguation)

The Open-Source Lab: How to Build Your Own Hardware and Reduce Research Costs by Joshua M. Pearce was published by Elsevier. ISBN: 9780124104624

The academic book is a guide, which details the development of free and open-source hardware primarily for scientists and university faculty. It provides step-by-step instructions on building laboratory hardware and scientific instruments. It also provides instructions on digital design sharing, Arduino microcontrollers, RepRap 3D Printers for scientific use and how to use open-source hardware licenses. The Guardian discusses how ideas in the Open Source Lab could enable 3D printing to offer developing world scientists savings on replica lab kits.

The author, Joshua Pearce, claims the method enables researchers in every discipline to develop research tools at low costs following his previous research in open source hardware published in Science. These claims have been generally supported by others using the techniques, such as those in the in DIY Bio community While discussing the book in an interview with 3-D Printing Industry, Pearce has claimed to save thousands in his own lab. and his various studies on the economics of printing lab equipment, such as a PLOS ONE article on open source optics have generally found over 90% savings. A study on the use of 3D printing in this context cited this book as also being good for the environment.

Uptake

Copies of the Open-Source Lab were a prize in an Instructables "Build My Lab" Contest sponsored by Tekla Labs and numerous research groups and non-profits have begun to open source lab equipment:

• Tekla Labs - Tekla Labs is creating a library of open source DIY (do-it-yourself) documents that guide in the construction of quality lab equipment.
• Open Source Physiology Lab - devoted to the collaboration and development of 3D printing physiology equipment
• Open Lab Tools - U. of Cambridge - created open source microscope prototype that cost around US$800, whereas conventional microscopes cost between US$15,000 and US$80,000
• Open Neuroscience
• Backyard Brains micromanipulator
• Sensorica
• Hackteria
• Gnome X Scanning Microscopy
• 3D printed scientific equipment in Africa- “TReND in Africa” (Teaching and Research in Neuroscience for Development) is a higher education charity dedicated to improving university level science education and research in sub-Saharan Africa.
• DIYBioprinter