Open technology for equity
A device or a course only helps if people can build it, repair it and adapt it where they are. This project gathers open hardware and open teaching that we have contributed to. The flexure stage for microscopy (Sharkey et al., Review of Scientific Instruments 2016) and autohaem for blood smears (McDermott et al., Review of Scientific Instruments 2022) are designs that anyone can print and improve. The flexure stage is also a core technology of WaterScope, a separate project that tests drinking water for bacteria. Together with the Centre for Global Equality and their partners, student projects in Technology for the Poorest Billion tackle problems of international development and are shared through an open repository. We also advised the student team behind BlueTap, a chlorine dispenser for drinking water, on a design that is now in the public domain (UK patent application GB 2617399 A, 2023).