About Us

What if every person in the world could carry a microscope around in their pocket? That is the idea behind the foldscope, a print-and-fold paper microscope that can be made to perform brightfield, darkfield, fluorescence and polarization microscopy, and can reach submicron resolution. With applications ranging from global health to citizen science and education, Foldscope co-founders Manu Prakash and Jim Cybulski want a foldscope in the hands of anyone, anywhere, interested in viewing the microscopic world.Since inception, Foldscope has been tackling the idea of equality of access to scientific tools, starting with powerful yet affordable microscopes such as the Foldscope.

Here’s Our Story

From a very young age, children are curious about nature and different organisms around them. But they have no clue about the microscopic world that encircles them. And when they learn about this in schools or at home, they do not have the tools to observe it.

Microscopes are out of reach, expensive and available only to high school students, and that too probably for just a few minutes for each student. If only a child could see the cells, structures and microorganisms around them, would it not make understanding science simpler and ignite the young minds?While trying to find how we can make microscopes more available and equitable, we came across Foldscope and here’s where our journey began! 

Mission Magnify and gratify students’ curiosity.

Vision Bridge the gap between curiosity of students and access to scientific tools with inexpensive resources.