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STEMtastic Adventures!:
Project Foldscope

What is Foldscope?  

An Ultra-Affordable, Inspiring, Classroom-Ready STEM Education Solution.

Foldscope is the paper microscope that combines low-cost materials with precision optics. This innovation results in microscopes that are both high-quality and affordable. Foldscope microscopes have a range of magnifications (50X-340X). You can visualize tiny microorganisms to larger samples like insects, plants, fabrics, and tissues. Foldscope can also attach to mobile phones for imaging and is very portable, durable, and waterproof. With that versatility, the possibilities are endless!

mEducation Alliance in partnership with Rotary Club Washington Global and Foldscope Instruments is helping bring the magic of discovery to 1000s of children in low-resource settings around the world.

Together, we’re empowering young learners with Foldscopes that make science hands-on, fun, and accessible.

About the Initiative

We are working to equip and train thousands of children with Foldscopes, placing the tools of scientific exploration into classrooms and community centers that often lack access to laboratory materials.

For less than the cost of a cup of coffee, each Foldscope opens a world of microscopic wonders and ignites curiosity that lasts a lifetime.

 

Why Foldscopes Matter

Foldscopes transform science education—from paper to possibility—by putting discovery directly into a child’s hands.

  • Ultra-affordable: A low-cost microscope that removes financial barriers to scientific learning.

  • Classroom-ready: Durable, portable, and designed for real-world learning environments.

  • Inspiring: Encourages exploration, creativity, and scientific thinking in children everywhere.

Project Partners

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mEducation Alliance:  For many years, we have featured Foldscopes at our global and regional events. They perfectly encapsulate our mission of bringing Marvelous Education to learners around the world. 

Rotary Club Washington Global: Some of our staff are active members of this club! Engaging Rotarians and other partners around the world to support Foldscope delivery and training emplifies Rotary’s motto of “Service Above Self”. 

Join Us! Let us know if you want to be another global partner.

Please contact medalliance@meducationalliance.org for more details.

Our Vision

We believe every child, no matter their geography or circumstances, deserves the chance to explore, question, and discover. Foldscopes turn that belief into reality.

A world where any student can see bacteria on a leaf, the structure of a fabric thread, or hidden particles in the air is a world where science is truly accessible.

From paper to possibility, we are putting discovery in every child’s hands.

Learn more:

Origin Story

Born at Stanford University and published in 2014, the Foldscope was created by Manu Prakash and Jim Cybulski to solve a global problem: a lack of accessible scientific tools in resource-limited areas.

Designed from low-cost materials like cardboard, a Foldscope provides research-grade microscopy at a fraction of the cost of traditional equipment. Its development is a flagship example of frugal science—innovation that democratizes access to scientific exploration.

What a Foldscope Can Do

For just a few dollars, students gain the ability to explore an entire invisible world—sparking curiosity and building scientific thinking

Foldscopes:

  • We will distribute Foldscopes with a minimum of 140x magnification, but this can be up to 340x
  • Let users view bacteria, blood cells, and microorganisms such as Copepods, Tardigrades, Tetrahymena, Diatoms, Rotifers and Nematodes
  • Enable the observation of insects, plant tissues, fabrics, and even air-quality particulates

Why This Matters for Low Resource Schools

Most low-resource schools lack microscopes and basic laboratory tools, making interactive science learning a significant challenge. Without the ability to see science, students often struggle to experience its relevance and excitement.

By introducing Foldscopes and accompanying educator training, this initiative:

  • Brings microscopy into the classroom affordably
  • Provides students with hands-on scientific experience
  • Supports national education goals around STEM advancement
  • Helps teachers incorporate inquiry-based learning
  • Ensures science becomes engaging, tangible, and fun

Foldscope in Action

Join Us

Together, we can empower the next generation of scientists, innovators, and problem-solvers. Rotary Clubs and partners worldwide are invited to support this global effort through:

Raising awareness of the initiative

Sharing the program across networks, communities, and schools

Funding and supporting shipments of Foldscopes and training materials

Help us spark curiosity and open new worlds for children worldwide

Sponsor Us

Jax Chaudhry

Jax Chaudhry leads Project Invent, a national nonprofit that empowers youth with future ready mindsets for individual success and global impact, through invention. Originally from the Southside of Chicago, Jax loves working with students, families and partners to ensure every student can attain success as they define it. For more than 10 years, she has worked with elementary schools, high schools, education nonprofits and led regional teams and operations to ensure student success.

Michael Leventhal

Kenneth Y T Lim operates at the intersection of neuroergonomics, the learning scienceMichael Leventhal is co-founder of RobotsMali, a pedagogical and AI4D laboratory and STEM education center in Bamako, Mali. RobotsMali has trained thousands of students from elementary school to high school in computer science, robotics, and artificial intelligence, coached national robotics teams that have won 32 medals in international competitions, and developed technologies using AI and robotics for the social and economic development of Mali. Before becoming an educator in Mali, Michael worked as a technologist in Silicon Valley.s, and cognitive psychology. In 2023, he and his team were identified by UNESCO to share their work on the affordances of Generative AI for meaningful teaching and learning, during UNESCO’s first annual flagship event Digital Learning Week, international forum on the implications of Generative AI for education, in the session on ‘Preparing students and teachers for responsible use of AI’.

Enouce Ndeche

Enouce Ndeche is the founder and Director of Vijana Amani Pamoja ,VAP a community scheme based in Nairobi Kenya that uses the power and the popularity of the game of soccer/football as a catalyst for social, educational and economic empowerment.Enouce holds a degree in sociology from Egerton university and he is also the 2020 individual award recipient “Diversity and Inclusion Eminent Leader Award Enouce is also a certified Sports Philanthropy and Executive, George Washington University and is a 2023 Gratitude Network fellow.

Kenneth Y T Lim

Kenneth Y T Lim operates at the intersection of neuroergonomics, the learning sciences, and cognitive psychology. In 2023, he and his team were identified by UNESCO to share their work on the affordances of Generative AI for meaningful teaching and learning, during UNESCO’s first annual flagship event Digital Learning Week, international forum on the implications of Generative AI for education, in the session on ‘Preparing students and teachers for responsible use of AI’.